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.
Good morning MIP family and happy Thursday to one and all....
Today's Courage to Change reading discusses the unity we can discover through diversity in Al-Anon. We learn from Tradition 4 that each group is autonomous - free to conduct meetings in a way that works for it's members as long as it abides by the Traditions and doesn't harm the overall unity of the program. Some groups align with the suggested format while others tweak it to meet their needs.
The important point of the reading is that when we keep an open mind, no matter what group in what city we attend, we can/will find the support we know and appreciate in Al-Anon. No one way works for everyone and different can be a good thing!
Each member of Al-Anon plays an essential part in the fellowship supporting one another as we recover from the effects of the disease. Our individual differences make us richer as a whole when we support and remember the program's solid foundation of love and support.
The reminder for today ---- In the perfect order of my Higher Power's world, all things are beautiful. I will pray to let go of my own rigidity, that I might see the beauty of unity in diversity.
The quote for today --- from Ralph Waldo Emerson - "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
This is so true for me. I find that when I go to a different meeting, if it's a little different, my first physical reaction can be anxiety. I have been a structured creature for so long that I truly have to focus on the principle that change is good when I face it. I have never left any meeting feeling worse than when I arrived - no matter the location, format, topic, etc. When I leave and feel I did not get what I wanted/needed, my sponsor has told me - in the spirit of the program - to look within for why. I have found this to be true - something in me resisted the message of the meeting and for me to continue to grow and keep my serenity, I had to determine what my barrier(s) are as they have me resisting an open mind.
I am grateful for the diversity I see and experience in meetings. No matter what brought another to a meeting, I believe they arrived in my life for a reason - it's my job to determine what the lesson is. Focusing on listening AND learning keep me grounded in this program, and I pray each day to be humble enough to continue growing and learning.
I have to admit - I chucked out loud at the hobgoblin quote....mostly because of the word usage but that quote took me back to PTA meetings. Let's just say that my experience is they could have used their own traditions and principles to understand and appreciate the diversity of their members!
Make it a perfect day all!
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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
IAH Thanks for sharing on this important reading and concept. When i first heard this, I thought it impossible as in my family, if we id not walk "lock step", you were the enemy and there was no room for diversity . I liked the thought that:" in the perfect order of my higher power's world all things are beautiful. We can pray to let go of our own rigidity that we might see the beauty of unity in diversity." I attempt to do this every day and I am amazed that I can see more beauty.
Good morning IAH
I have learned to enjoy diversity too and I think practicing principals above personalities within al-anon has helped me learn to enjoy people's good qualties instead of being stuck on their 'negative" qualities, or those that don't align with what I think/like/believe.
I've joked before that since al-anon, 'the people around me got a lot nicer" lol!
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If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see? (Lewis Caroll)
IAH, thank you for the C2C. As I've always heard, people are brought into our lives for a reason, sometimes just a season, and sometimes for life. I'm a big "unity" person. I don't like division at all. I'm sure it's part of what has caused me to be an enabler too. However, I am learning how to be positive, without enabling.
I consistently try to change for the better. However I have a hardtime outside around crowds. If I don't know anyone I rather be put in the corner so no one notices me. I know this comes from within mysef.
