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.
Today's reading is about the power of meetings, shares and how it all works. Often times, we are in pain and just struggle to spill it out - almost held hostage by our pain and fear. The reading discusses how so very often, another member of our fellowship will open up and share, and it's exactly what we are feeling or worrying about. As the meeting progresses and others share their ESH, we so often hear exactly what is needed. Amazing how our Higher Power works through others and we get what we need when we truly need it.
Even when our minds are clouded with pain, active listening can bring help, hope and suggested solutions. It's often so hard to ask for help in troubled times, and we worry about judgement, perceptions and more. Yet, the beauty of Al-Anon is that even when we can't get our share out, if we keep an open mind and just listen, the answers come.
Today's reminder -- One of the miracles I have found in Al-Anon is that help often comes when I most need it. When I can't bring myself to reach out for help, it sometimes comes to me. When I don't know what to say, I am given the words I require. And when I share what is in my heart, I may be giving a voice to someone who cannot find his own. Today I have a Higher Power who knows my needs.
Today's quote -- from the Navajo rain dance ceremony -- "As I walk, As I walk, The universe is walking with me."
I am one who came to the program with the hopes others would show me how to cure/fix my A(s). Boy - I was seriously put off when instead they suggested I work on me. I had no words as I did not expect this - I wanted solutions, answers and quick fixes. *Sigh* is how I first felt after my first meeting.
I left and did not return for a bit. I went back to my own insanity - trying the same things over and over, expecting different results. I finally hit a bottom and lost all hope and felt so very broken. I returned to the program and couldn't speak - I couldn't even look others in the eyes. Yet - when I opened my mind and actively listened, the three Cs were my first 'hook'. When I embraced those 3 little statements and accepted those into my heart, I felt a bit of calm. Just that and the loving welcome of others who had hope and were able to genuinely smile and make eye contact gave me the needed lift to return.
Living One Day at a Time in Al-Anon makes things easier. There are still days where I am met with uncertainty about my best next step. It has been true in my life over and over again that when I attend a meeting, no matter the topic, I hear what I need to process and progress. If I take the action suggested - attend meetings, prayer/meditation, use the literature, sponsor, slogans, principles and steps, I can almost always find what my HP wants me to know or do. Practice, practice, and more practice has brought me peace I never realized I could have with this disease all around me.
Sometimes showing up is all we can do, and that's perfectly fine! Keep coming back - 3 simple words with so much meaning...Grateful for all of you, the program and MIP!!
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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
This reading reminded me of how I felt in my first meetings. I came to meetings for several weeks maybe even months before I felt I could share. Not because I didn't want to share but because I was so afraid I was going to cry I was going to let my guard down and then I wouldn't be able to build it all back up. I had survived my whole life by being reserved and careful about everything I said. Expressing emotions in my home as a child had severe consequences. When others would openly cry I wished I could but I had built up such a wall I just felt like for ME to do that it would catastrophic and that I wouldn't be able to stop crying. Attending meetings weekly without sharing didn't open my mouth but opened my mind. Hearing others sharing their ESH was comforting, I could look at new ways of viewing things. I started to realize that I didn't need that wall built up around me in my meetings and I started to let it down a bit. And by doing that I realized I didn't need it as much as I thought I did in the rest of my life either. I could let down my walls just a little at a time and try it out. I am so grateful that I didn't have to share when I wasn't ready and that no one pushed me to share or talk when I didn't want to. My face to face meetings were a safe place where I could simply go and listen and absorb. And now I share regularly without fear.
Wonderful shares about today's reading. Everything in the program is a process and in our immediate gratification world, that can be hard to accept. Thank you, IAH and KT for your ESH!
Good evening IAH, thank you for sharing your thoughts on today's important reading. I know that I for one used my denial and pretend tools to cover up my pain and pretend all was well.
Entering Al-Anon and finding people who had developed constructive tools to live by and could share their pain as well as their growth was my turning point. I kept coming back and listening with an open mind because they had what I knew I needed.
Thank God for Al-Anon and Al-Anon for God.
I'm a little late responding. today because it was my last beach day, and I needed to go.
Yay for you that you got a beach day in! We were to play 4 games of softball tonight - rain-out make-up games. The weather forecast all week long was not good for yesterday or today around my neck of the woods. As the day progressed, it got dry enough that we went to play. We got rained out during the first game, dry play for most of the 2nd game; lightning came in, so they cancelled the last 2 games (again) and I drove home in the rain! We've had some strange weather this year - telling ya that!
Truly glad you got to the beach - it always makes me wish I were closer to one. Playing ball tomorrow in a tourney so up/out of here very early! I appreciate everyone's input/shares on today's reading!
If you don't see me in the morning, you'll know why!!
(((Hugs)))
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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
