The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
The C2C reading for August 1st speaks about our motives for attending our first Al-Anon Meeting. It states that most of us do so because we're trying to learn how to get somebody to stop drinking.
When we keep coming back we discover the truth that we didn't cause the alcoholism, can't control it and can't cure but that we can apply the 12 steps are lives so that we can find sanity.
This is why the focus must be on ourselves.
It suggests that the more we keep the focus on ourselves - we observe some of the unhealthy coping mechanisms that we have developed as a result of living with the disease. The sharing openly about these we became willing to let go of the them as they no longer work and were self-destructive. By doing this we regain our true self and begin to grow again.
The reading suggests we do not respond well when someone tries to impose their will, so that why have we tried to impose our will on this? There is only one person I am responsible for that is ME
. The quote is from in all our affairs; "Today I will keep hands off and keep my focus where it belongs on me."
Love this reading as it sums up my experience with the program I actually came because I felt as If I was insane and had no where else to go.
Happy August to you both and as always, thank you for the ESH & the daily reading....
You know your day has been different than planned when one arrives to 'this' in the evening, but it's been a good day here - just up and out early, early early!!
I was directed to my first Al-Anon meeting by my sponsor. I felt at the time it was because she was tired of listening to me. I didn't stop to consider how crazy I truly was until I went to a meeting. I found calm, rational persons discussing there qualifiers with love and compassion - even laughter when appropriate!
It was similar to my first 'other program' experience. There was a peace in the room, and there was kindness, love, compassion and a reality check for me....in both, these folks were experiencing life like mine - for some, much worse than mine and yet, they were kind, calm, and not crazy.
It took me a while to realize my sponsor suggested Al-Anon because she cared and loved me and knew I needed to find another way to live. I will be forever grateful for her suggestion and my action. I was anxious, crazy, scared all wrapped in one with total chaos at home, yet found peace among great folks at my first meeting and everyone since.
Hugs to you both - great reading and grateful for the journey!
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
I absolutely do not like it when someone tries to impose their will on me yet I know that I have tried to impose mine on my Ad. That was wrong and I allowed myself to be sucked into the drama. The boundary with a child was blurry for me a bit I think as somehow I believed I was responsible for her choices. As she is now a little bit older and no longer a minor it is a tiny bit easier to separate that.
