Later than planned today - we have a broken faucet on a major tub so....had to switch my morning things around a little bit!!!

Happy Friday to all...

Today's reading reminds us of what brought us to the program - a friend or family member drank too much!!!  We were unhappy about it and life, but did not realize we needed help too.  The writer suggests they went to a weekly meeting unless something better came along, did not get a sponsor and floated with some relief for a bit.

Then - as it happens - came a crisis.  The leisurely approach to recovery came to an end, and the pain was almost too much.  The writer suggests she was lucky - learned enough to pick up the phone and another member helped make it through the crisis.

At this point, the realization of how much recovery was needed just for her/him became obvious.  More meetings, service work, reaching out to program friends and voila - recovery truly began!!  Today, recovery is top priority and wonder remains on where life would be without the crisis point.

Today's Reminder --- Sometimes the greatest growth comes through pain, but it's not the pain that helps me grown, it's my response to it.  Will I suffer through the experience and continue as before or let the pain inspire changes that help me grow?  The choice is mine.

Today's Quote from ... In All Our Affairs --- "I had learned in Al-Anon to look for opportunities for growth in every situation.  This attitude allowed me to gain many spiritual riches from the pain I was experiencing."

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I came to the program because my sponsor suggested it.  I was unhappy - actually angry - when I was told I needed to work on me.  I had arrived wanted the fix, the cure for my qualifiers.  After all, they were the crazy ones, not me.

I did not come back until my pain was great enough that I wanted to die.  I was trudging through life - an extremely miserable person who only saw all that was broken.  I saw the joy, serenity and genuine smiles in others who came before me and stuck around to share with me, and wanted what they had.

I am so grateful today for the pain that brought me to recovery.  I still wish my qualifiers did not have the pain they have but understand they have to find their own bottom.  Recovery has set me free through my own efforts to live/love spiritually.  Grateful for all of you on this journey - make it a great day!