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 am posting a day early as I'm having company from out of town tomorrow....
The daily reading talks about how important the phrase we here often -- Keep Coming Back -- is. No matter how short or long we've been exposed to our program of recovery, we are reminded that we can come back to the program basics at any time! Many of us have grown hardened in our fights with alcoholics or flights from alcoholics and find it hard to sit still for the process of recovery. Many of us had to have answers right away or take action right away. Slowly we learn to sit still, to listen and to heal - finding a bit of relief at each meeting.
Difficult times come and go even after long term Al-Anon recovery. With each new challenge, many of us still need reminding that "there is no situation to difficult to be bettered and no unhappiness too great to be lessened."
The reminder -- If I feel discouraged today, I will turn to the basics of the Al-Anon program. I'll get to a meeting, call my sponsor, go back to the First Step. One day at a time, if I keep coming back, I know my situation will improve.
The quote from One Day at a Time in Al-Anon -- "If I really want to learn how to fit easily and happily into my environment and my relations with other people, Al-Anon has something for me."
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I love when we close our meetings, and say, "Keep coming back - it works if you work it and you're worth it." It's such a perfect closing and a needed reminder for me that I will always need this recovery program. When I am ready to process, the tools of this program have never let me down. No matter which tool I pick up, I can find relief from that which has affected my spirit - a reading, a sponsor call, a meeting or some step work.
The program and all that is given to us have restored me to sanity and allowed me to love myself again. For me and my spiritual growth, that was absolutely necessary before I could love others exactly as they are. The program is where I learned that no matter what I am going through, I can and will be OK if I rely on my HP and lean into my program. Keep coming back affirms for me often that there is a solution and answers will come to me if I am open to them.
Have a great day tomorrow all - looking forward to spending time with my friend who is battling cancer. My sponsor bought a book to pass along called, "Imagine Heaven" - we've had many discussions about leaving this earth and what might be there when we die. Because of Al-Anon, I've been able to listen, share openly and just love her as she is right now. If the mood is proper, I'll pass along the book. If not, I'll wait for the proper time. I do trust that I will know when to share it and I'm grateful for that...
(((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
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this important subject IAH. "Keep coming back' is a tool I neglected when I first entered program I thought, I will learn the concepts and leave because I will"Know it all" (my major defect in action" ) I did just that and thought i was doing fine until my 16 year old son began to use drugs after his father's passing and I reverted to my old non program ways - Tools flew right out he window. I reentered program and found a sponsor who explained that this is a "we " program and that 'we" cannot do it alone. I have reduced my meetings attendance from one a day to one a week but I still "keep coming back ". Have a lovely day and thanks for your service
Thanks for this daily and your service IAH ,like always filled with inspiration ,wisdom,and knowledge ,I love that also,to keep coming back.....hugs lu
