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 9 speaks about living with the disease of alcoholism and the negative tools that we developed in order to do so. The big ones are: denial of reality and pretending that all is well.
The reading suggests that prior to program we never were able to feel comfortable being ourselves around others--. Because we were always too busy trying to be what we thought they wanted us to be.
Attending meetings we begin to discover that we are not that strange. After all we can listen to other peoples share and can identify. Meetings help us to realize that there are many people in this world like us-- they have been affected by anothers Alcoholism. We dont have to lie to people in these meetings, and eventually we learn that we dont have to lie to anyone, anywhere.
We come to see that we can live our life for inner peace and not one for outward appearance. What an unusual thought that was!!! My family always loved to impress the neighbors and I did likewise.
Living with joy and problems, confirms that we are members of the human race. What sets us apart is the path on which we are placed to walk. No one can walk it for me, nor can I change my path to suit anyone else.
The quote is from the Al-Anon book,As We Understood; the shell that had enclosed my life, that had prevented me from living and loving, has cracked, and the power of the Al-Anon program is filling the void that for years kept me at a distance from life.
This is indeed a powerful quote, and promise and so very true.
"We can live our life for inner peace and not one for outward appearance" ... what a powerful idea. Thank you for bringing this up. For me, it's a keeper.
Boy howdy - what a great daily! And Betty - thank you as always for posting it and your ESH.
That 'outward appearance' element of existing started for me early in life. It began with my FOO and it continued into my adult-hood. We never talked about issues, emotions, important problems, we all just acted as if things were peachy!!
So, I tried to continue that. This denial of reality was such a sickness that it just about took me down. How freeing was it for me to arrive at Al-Anon and be heard, understood and told I was loved? Beyond freeing - it was a life changer/saver for me.
I love that quote - so freakin' real and true and such a gift to live and strive for inner peace for just me. All of my relationships in my life have improved dramatically by me keeping my focus on me. Love you all and am so grateful for Al-Anon and what I've been given as a result of being willing to work on me...
(((Hugs))) and Happy Sunday!!
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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
