Today was my face to face meeting.  I have been attending this meeting for a year now and it is a great, diverse group that I am privileged to share this journey with. However, with a group of any size, sometimes there are things that will rub others wrong.  I generally get along with everyone, but every now and then someone rubs me wrong.  I don't like it, I dont justify it and I am not proud of it, but there it is.  I especially dont like to feel like someone is trying to run roughshod over me.  It is my ego, or pride rearing its ugly head and I feel defensive and it BUGS me!  So, I was set to lead this meeting and on the way in the building I said Principles above Personalities as a mantra to myself walking in the doors. 

During and after my meeting today, I saw miracles.  One of the folks I was put off by in the past spoke in the meeting and looked in my eyes and shared some incredible pain and hope and strength and I felt compassion for her and I appreciated her strength and her program.   In my heart it felt as if she shared just with me.  Wow

After the meeting the second person who has on occasion rubbed me wrong, asked to talk with me. I usually run back to work after the meetings but my HP told me to pause and he would work out the details.  This person also privately shared some things with me and asked how I had dealt with things in my life.  I was able to share my failings and victories with her and although I said I have no pearls of wisdom, I think she just needed to be heard.  And I was privileged to listen to her and to share with her. 

I left the meeting seeing what my HP had me to learn today.  That we all have our days when we rub others wrong or we feel we have been rubbed wrong.  But we keep coming back and sharing our stories and listening intently to others and learning and growing and see this program come alive each week.  I am so grateful for my group and I cannot imagine my life without it.  I would never trade in the tools I have gained since becoming part of Al-Anon.  I see miracles and I am grateful. 

Thanks for letting me share!