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Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Al-Anon Family Group -> Al-Anon Family Group -> Growing Healthy and Strong
Post Info TOPIC: Growing Healthy and Strong
Rickbrins


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Growing Healthy and Strong
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I am no botanist, but once I was told, that in order to keep a rose bush happy, you need to trim the unhealthy branches.  Failure to do this, the rose will focus its energy trying to repair the damage, depleting it's energy, robbing the healthy portion of the rose the energy it needs to thrive.  This will eventually lead to the destruction of the whole bush.  By trimming the unhealthy sections, the energy is used to make the rose bush grow full, be more beautiful, and more hearty, therefore spreading joy, flourishing, ensuring it's survival.

 

My life with my qualifier is very much the same way, and with the help of Al-anon, I realize that I have spent the last few years focusing on the unhealthy part of my life causing the healthy part of my life to suffer.  It is not too late, I have not perished beyond recovery.  I know if I focus my energy on my growth and less on my qualifier, I will again become a healthy rose spreading joy and beauty to those around me.  Maybe even my qualifier will find inspiration from my new healthy look and continue on her path to recovery.

 

This does not mean I have to trim her from my life, I just need to focus my energy on my me and allow her to focus on her recovery.  She is in a program and doing well, as am I.  I have faith that through each other's continued recovery we will both grow stronger and once again bring each other great joy.

 

Thank you Al-anon, and thank you all for listening!



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shrnp


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Thanks Rick, that is a great comparison. I find myself hoping that the people around me will notice the difference and possibly change their behaviors too. Even if they do not, I am going to keep being myself and leaning on the my HP and the program.

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Sharon 
Rickbrins


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shrnp,

Remember, even if you are the only one that notices your change, someone has and someone is healthier for it!

Keep up the good work and I will pay attention and I will learn from your growth!

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SerenityRUS


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Sounds like you are doing very well keep up the good work :)

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Faith minus vulnerability and mystery equals extremism.  If you've got all the answers, then don't call what you do "faith". - Brene Brown

"Whatever truth you own doesn't own you" - Gary John Bishop
alf


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Thank you for this encouraging post.

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_bunny_


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Lovely share Rickbrins, just what I needed for today. Thank you.

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- Carrie

Stress is caused by being 'here' but wanting to be 'there'. Eckhart Tolle
Iamhere


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Thanks for the great share! We have rose bushes and I'm not allowed to do the trimming....my husband is the rose daddy around here! All that you shared is true - both for us as well as for roses! Keep working it - looks great on you! Also glad to hear that your qualifier is doing well in recovery too - that's how we all work it - One Day at a Time...

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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

 

 
hotrod


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Thanks Rickbrins I believe we are all Rose bushes and by working the Steps we are learning how to trim the unhealthy negative branches that we have developed . Great visual

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Betty

THE HIGHEST FORM OF WISDOM IS KINDNESS

Talmud
Rickbrins


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SerenityRUS,

I don't know that I am doing as well as it may seem, I have my moments of clarity and my eternities of fear. I am trying and the program is helping as are everyone's shares here.

Thank you all for being here to help each other!

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KT2015


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Hi there I feel that way too. You are exactly where you need to be. It's a program of incremental changes that add up. I love the comparison to the rose bush. Thanks for your share.

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