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.
keep your tools handy and sharp for the responses you may need when your qualifiers be it family or friends want to take center stage with their addictions. Instead keep the focus on YOU and what you can do to keep your environment peaceful. Don't let any holiday pressures get to you. Just lay back and let your HP take them on. Linsc
i will need every one of them. Thanks for the reminder. Someone shared in my F2F yesterday about how excited she was about her Xmas day plans to, basically, eat dinner and watch a movie on TV. She sounded like she had won the lottery. It was a great reminder to me to focus on my blessings and what is good in my life. I won't see my daughter, who lives several states away and will be with her in-laws, but I will see three of my four sisters. One had cancer this year, which is now in remission. Not everyone knows, of course (Yule tool, Yule tool!). I know I'm blessed in more ways than I know. And grateful to all of you for the wisdom you so generously share here. Cathy
Ha.ha.ha.ha......mine are close by, several in hand. Not only is the disease alive and well in my bloodline, my parents are aging and all that comes with that is real - forgetting, repeating, confusion, and more! My momma told my dad that they could not use the hamper for their dirty clothes. So, my dad comes out and asks why they can't use the hamper for their dirty clothes. I looked at him and said, "You are welcome to use the hamper for your dirty clothes - that works well for me!" He of course reminds me that they always have, and I agree. He suggests she says they never have and I just sat quiet. Needless to say, with 25 people coming over, I did a spot check while they ran an errand and her dirty clothes were on the floor and his were in the hamper...*sigh*
I asked my mother to make the bed as we needed a place to put coats. I looked at the bed, and the bedspread was on sideways. I just remade the bed, left the clothes and walked out shutting the door.*sigh*
Today is day 2 of many more. A part of this is truly funny - another part is very sad. She's clearly loosing it and I am not certain if it's age or booze but it's the new normal. Tools are close by, in hand, stashed under couch, etc.
They are in my car, and left to get kleenex (15 minute errand...) - they've been gone for almost 2 hours - this is almost as bad as having teenagers!!
Love our program, and love our tools!!!
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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
