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 reading is about the influence of alcoholism on our feelings. Do we try to draw attention to ourselves? Do we avoid having attention on ourselves? Do we try to control and manage our feelings?
Personally there are two points that stand out to me in today's reading- one is that the writer refers to his/her father's alcoholism as the 'elephant in the room'. When I saw that phrase I thought- oh yes. There is a LOT of energy that gets put into the 'nurturing' of the disease. I saw myself and my siblings in that phrase, and myself again when I was married to an active A.
The second point is that the writer goes on to say that the relationship w his/her HP has shown that there's no need to be happy all of the time. we can enjoy any feeling that comes along: boredom, frustration, happiness, excitement. I have noticed moments in the past few months when I feel content.. and sometimes it's been just realizing -'I am really feeling this moment' (even if it is not a particularly joyous one).
I am learning to embrace all the feelings that come my way-and embrace them as it is the profound gift of being human!
For the past few days I have been in sunny FL w my two younger kids, my sisters and cousin. I am so happy to share the catharsis that comes from laughing until you cry with my kids! I hope you all have a chance for some 'belly laughs' in the next few days:)
Good Morning Mary- great topic. Thanks to program , working the Steps and sharing honestly at meeting (leaving my EGO outside) so as to uncover my true self, i developed the ability to Feel my feelings, acknowledging them and then decide what ot do Before program i stuffed my feelings because any expression of feelings was not acceptable, made myself and issues invisible and lost myself
I am so pleased I can now feel feeling, the positive and negative and have the tools to deal with them. I can experience joy, anger, sadness and not be destrooyed.
Thanks for your service Enjoy the lovely sun and the joy of your family Thanks for your service
Thank you Mary and Betty for your ESH. Thank you Mary for the daily and your service. Glad to hear you are having fun with loved ones in sunny Florida!!
Feelings have always been tricky for me. I learned in FOO that some were fine and others were not. As such, I've had to learn how OK it truly is to just be in whatever I feel and to experience it and know that this too shall pass.
It is through working the steps, sharing with like-minded friends and my sponsor that I've heard and believe there really is no right/wrong feelings. They are not facts - they just are. So grateful to be comfortable in my own skin most of the time now - vastly different than BR (before recovery).
Make it a great Tuesday one and all!
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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
