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 C2C suggests taking a moment, now that we have arrived at the end of another year, to contemplate what progress we have made in the last 12 months, and to thank our HP for that progress.
The reading asks us to consider how we have reached out to others this year, progressed in step work, or had the faith and courage to make good decisions.
The reading reminds us to be grateful for al-anon and for everything HP has given us, and to look forward to an even better year next year. It also reminds us that we are learning that we are responsible for our own well-being and that celebrating our achievements is integral to that.
"I'm learning to treat myself as if I am valuable. I find that when i practce long enough, i begin to believe it". (In All Our Affairs)
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I'm really glad for having read this. I've had so much angst surrounding New Years Eve this year and there is so much negativity surrounding what an awful year 2016 has been for everyone. (Well, it has been pretty shoddy; for me it began with a broken foot and went downhill from there). Rather than simply wanting to close the door on it and writing it off, it's actually a lot more helpful to consider what I have achieved. And there is quite a lot, really. Wow, you know, when I think about it, even my ability to cope with spending tonight alone is something to celebrate. I'm OK with it and this time last year i would not have been able to stand it. I'd either have forced a way to be around people or I would have been a crying, self flagellating mess. (Yes, I know, lots of people are alone. I've just never coped with it very well). I think taking time out for reflection over my achievements and for gratitude is an absolutely perfect exercise to include in my quiet, solitary celebrations tonight. I'll start with being grateful for this reading and take it from there
Ah gratitude. Grateful for the health I enjoyed this year and grateful that I'm alone right now due to injury while everyones kindly buggered off to watch the fireworks. This year I feel like chapters have both ended and segued into the next, like ice thawing and revealing new shoots. I am far more aware of my character flaws, my own relationships to alcoholism, and the consequences of my choices in regard to family. For this I am grateful. I feel curious again and less wounded. That feels nice and I'm grateful. It's all progress and this year has taught me a lot about myself in relationship to others. I trust HPs plan for me and ask courage to follow it and humility to hand over my own grand designs. Thank you for your service Miss M And happy new year to you! In an hour anyway.
Happy New Year Ms. M. I really appreciate the fact that you shared about your accomplishments. Even though you have seen some difficulties this past year you were able to note what you have accomplished an share in the goodness that you have achieved.
I know prior to program program I would've always just noted terrible things that happened during the year and never seen the positive. I love the end of the year because I do reflect on the year and am able to see the goodness that surrounded me and HP's hand in all my affairs. Even the difficult times
I love the quote from C2C today It is from In All Our Affairs; "I'm learning to treat myself as if I am valuable. I find that when I practice this long enough, I begin to believe it." What a perfect way to start the New Year!
Thanks for your service and know, you will not be alone tonight and that you are valuable ,
I am a big mess, but I'll try to list what I accomplished this year in a positive way. (Ha)
I gained awareness, after being fooled/fooling myself, that my son is an addict with a very deep serious problem. Awareness is better than delusion.
I joined alanon and came to this message board. (Yay) I have served my group by coming early to meetings to do set up. And I've had very good, reliable attendance at face-to-face meetings.
I've begun a relationship with a higher power and learned how to meditate and I meditate often and enjoy it. I have been working to find out how to trust, both in a higher power and in other people. I still can not trust them but through this work have become more able to learn how to trust myself, so progress.
I got and then lost a sponsor. (She had to step back because of her own personal situation.) But we remain close and speak to each other several times a week and she is extremely helpful, wonderful and valued to me. For the coming year my goal is to find a sponsor to work the steps with.
I learned about all 12 of the steps in my step meeting. I've read some sort of CAL almost every day. Though I feel I have miserably failed at applying alanon principles to my real life situation, I have learned a lot and am approaching a point where, having learned from my mistakes, I will know how to do the next right thing without wallowing in constant confusion. (One can hope)
Thanks to all here for their ESH which has helped me, I read here daily though I don't post so much.
practising an attitude of gratitude did not come easy for me. it just crept up really...
This last year ah did some extra work and my memory had improved quite a lot. Not perfect- but it does not create all the anger i used to have- and focus all this anger inwards.
Regular sharing and words has helped this progress.
I live near a big tourist resort, and over the years had access to speakers from North America. In turn I was able to go to North America, and realise, that, at home, people have the same issues and struggles that people have anywhere.
So when I share I share I do not have to make a big splash, or a great show. I can be humble, and I can also ask for help sometimes.
The big line I concocted for when I was in the company of these fabled 'supersharers' was this: I went from the paralysis of analysis to an attitood of gratitood...
well there is nothing at all wrong with this thought. From my first Alanon meeting I was invested in emotion. I had a lot of trouble expressing my emotions. I had no words for them. They had seldom, if ever, been discussed in my world.
The fact is that I could begin just about anywhere- because I was in a safe place. ...
I can look over my year with pride... and look around at the folks I have shared the journey with, with pleasure...
Happy New year right back, all
Neroli, that sounds like a heap of progress and good on you for seeing it.
I love that you folks and the literature has guided me towards positive reflection and an optimistic "new page" rather than dwelling on the negatives and focusing on what I think I "should" be doing/being/thinking better this year.
Grateful for you all
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