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.
I see that after 500 posts/replies a person here becomes a guru. I am not sure exactly what a guru is. For me, guru is a strange name in alanon since the program speaks of all of us being equals. We are on our own journeys and we work our program differently. We learn from each other, old and new the same. We are not to judge each other or feel we are better than anyone else from what I understand. Learning how to be humble or have humility is part of our step work too. Personally, I wish there was no such thing as a guru. I value the program for allowing each of us to be equals no matter what we do or who we are. your friend in recovery, cdb :)
That's a good point, cdb. It seems to be one of the most powerful things about alanon and other twelves step programs: "Our leaders are but trusted servants. They do not govern." At my regular face to face meeting, this is taken so seriously, and we all learn from each other, new or not so new. Thanks for being here. Blessings to you! mebjk
The important thing is that we all think of each over as equals!! We are all here for the same reason. John himself only has like 95 posts, so I see it as a number and nothing else, except, some have attempted to ESH more than others due to their time availablility and their choice in how they work their indvidual program. I know I run in steaks here depending on how my recovery is going.
Josey
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Julianne - It's best to move on. You cannot look back in anger in life. It's too short
I don't think the "guru" has anything to do with Alanon. I think it is from the forum.
We are all equals here and how many posts a person has is no way to define where they are in their own program. I value ESH from all members equally. A newcomer here to the forum is not necessasrily a newcomer to the program and even if they are, their input can be invaluble to me.
Even the steps is no way to determine how far a person has progressed. We are never finished and I know myslef I can return to the beginning at any time depending on what is going on in my life.
We never complete recovery, we are in it for life.
Guru just means we are ratchet jaws. :) Many forums assign names due to number of posts. Nothing really to do with Alanon, just the way the board program is set up.
Christy
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
The word guru came up awhile back on another post and someone put that it is an alanon term. That is one reason I was interested in this topic. I am not sure if ratchet jaw was suppose to be funny but I do know that each and every post or reply I put comes from a deep part of my heart along with alot of thought and concern. It takes alot of time to post and reply and I just happen to be fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to have the time due to being disabled. I have felt that this is one way I can do service work too with my alanon program. cdb
CDB, Ratchet jaw wasn't necessarily supposed to be funny. It just is a term for "chatty" that my Dad used to use. You'll have to forgive me CDB (please), my mind isn't really where it should be and I certainly meant no harm. I perhaps could have worded it differently.
Christy
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
I've never heard the term used to apply to alanon. I'm pretty sure it just comes with the board software, here. I go to another forum that has something along the same lines . I agree with you that we should all be equal - all of us have times when we help, and times when we NEED help.
Just giving something a try here... look at your board status now and it simply says..
~*Service Worker*~
Not "Guru"...
Simply because it takes a true committment to service to post 500 messages or replies to messages on a board like this.
Thanks for being here and posting or replying to the post of so many. Your ES&H is valued here, thanks for your willingness to share it with us in such an abundant way.
John
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" And what did we gain? A new life, with purpose, meaning and constant progress, and all the contentment and fulfillment that comes from such growth."
Ok, now I have to reply,,,lol, I am only 51 , yet I am called a senior member??? Where I live a senior starts at 65! I am kidding of course, and John keep up the good work, I am just thankful for this board and the chat room, period, no matter what it says under my name! Too funny!
I was so excited as I approached 1000 posts to see what would happen to my Guru - would it change, be something new? Hmm my friends and I pondered the question. I wanted to submit many posts to get to 1000, but I held myself back and was patient.
Sadly I remained Guru, but I adjusted and lived with being Guru. I kinda liked it. It was fun while it lasted.
It really amazes me that I am no longer Guru.
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Megan
If you want things you never had you need to do things you have never done
I'm fine with it either way. I do remember as a newbie thinking that the gurus were the top of the heap! While I value any response to the posts I get. When I was new seeing the title guru, senior member was a way of giving me perspective. But we are who we are, regardless of title. I will do my best, to maintain the title of whatever John decides, be that Snoopy or Goofball, or Queen of Nile lol!
Live strong, Karilynn
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
The first time I saw they used the term "guru" here on the message I was quite amused actually... nothing to really take seriously, I think they just change it depending how many posts you have actually made.
I too wanted eagerly to get to 500 posts, so that my name would flip...being in & out of Al-Anon for 22 years, I figured I had some valid things to say & reached out to others a lot so I could get to 500.
Service worker, well, any one willing to listen & worth their grain of salt is a "counselor" in a way, I guess as we listen ~ we are "service workers" (obviously! haha)
IMHO, we could be all called Angels... angels are messenger's of God & surely we all have a little of that in us when we reach out in love to others. And certaily anywhere you hear or see God working, know that it is an Angel! Anything spoken in truth, is also Angelic.
with lots of love & light, -Kitty
-- Edited by kitty at 17:06, 2006-03-20
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Light, Love, Peace, Blessings & Healing to Us All. God's Will Be Done. Amen.
Now I feel bad for megan and others that liked the guru name :( I agree that the new term does not fit in with the other names now either in my opinion. It must be so hard on John to try and please so many people. Next time I will try to google search my questions :) cdb
Can I add to this posting that I think the "guru"'s would perhaps be the members at a f2f meeting with the "God Eyes" ( a term that a wise long term member uses). Those people who have been in the program who have "the peace and love" of the program shining in their serene eyes, and laughing and joking with other members. And when you go to a meeting and see their kindness and composure, you want what they have. And when they share about their little corner of hell that they have come from and through, and may still be living in, you really want to come back and see how to get there from here. Listening to the "guru's" at f2f meetings, getting hugs, and hearing about how to apply program tools to any crises is what keeps me grateful everyday for Al-Anon. The 30 year members can teach me so much, and they have said I have given them insights too.
