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.
The ODAT reading for January 23 speaks about the importance of studying and practicing the Al-Anon program.
The reading points out that if we want to learn a new language or gain a deeper understanding of art or science,we need to work at it every day and practice the things we are learning. The same is true with the Al-Anon program-- right now we are reading something that will help us to grasp the concepts plus learn when to step aside and when to stand up. . Reading Al-Anon literature to help us to understand our problems will help us to be ready to solve difficult issues as they arise.
The quote is from Proverbs; "understanding is a wellspring of life for those who have it.
I pray for the steadfastness to read every day something that will help me to gain understanding.
Great Reminder of how important working the alanon program truly is - meetings, literature alanon calls MIP all work together to help form an understanding of the alanon principles that have saved my sanity and life Have a great day
Good morning Betty - thank you for your service, the daily and your ESH. I still don't fully understand how recovery works, and I can accept that today and just enjoy the benefits....What I do know is my life is easier when I practice recovery every day and I am more consistent in living and loving my life.
Small steps truly help me remember how to 'work it'. The prayers in the AM/PM, the daily readings, reaching out to program friends, MIP, literature, etc. - just some things each day help me stay in the middle of the boat where I have less anxiety and fear about falling out.
I'm so grateful for all who were willing to show me the way! I am hibernating today - it's cold here and we got a bit of weather last night. Stay warm and safe - enjoy your day!!
__________________
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
What a lovely reminder on a snowy day! I know that when I read AlAnon literature, post on MIP, and attend meetings regularly, there is a huge difference in my life. I've been struggling lately with being patient and letting my wife work her own recovery in her own way, especially since, from my perspective, what she is doing isn't working! lol! Adding another face-to-face meeting in my week really helped a lot. Building in time for myself on Sunday was one of the good things that came out of stepping up my meeting attendance and program work, and I feel that I am better able to detach and know how to say what I mean when I am ready to say it without being mean. So thankful to the program for the positive changes in my life!
__________________
Skorpi
If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. - Lao Tzu
Good morning! Thank you for your service and your share!
The way I interpreted todays reading really fits where I am in all this. Yesterday got too busy, on top of feeling lousy from sinus junk. I did take care of me by resting. What I didn't do was make the morning meeting and my day felt "off." This program and all of you in it keeps me grounded. As soon as I think I have grasped one thing........another one pops up LOL
Have a great day everyone. Sending prayers for your dentist Betty!
Prayers for the dentist visit Betty - so not my favorite place to go!!!! (((Hugs))) to all!
__________________
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
Thanks everyone for ESH. I reap great benefits from Alanon on a daily basis. My life at the moment has some tricky parts and I am given the opportunity to practice each and every day. Not grateful for the problems, but definitely grateful for Alanon, Lyne
Thank you, Betty for the daily. I hope your dental visit is better than your last!
I know that checking in here, going to meetings, currently doing my Step 4... all of that keeps me "in the now." That is key for me, as I am a planner and I love to plan out my life's events. The tough part is that life doesn't always go according to plan. What's that saying? Life is what happens while you are sitting and making plans (something like that) or God is sitting back laughing while you are making plans. I know I messed them all up, but the point is Al-Anon helps me to stay in the now and "go with the flow." This program helps me to remember that plans are fine, but understand that they are FLEXIBLE!!! And that there may be multiple ways to do something OTHER THAN MY OWN!!
Tude - hope your sinus stuff clears up quickly!
__________________
"The wolf that thrives, is the one you feed." - Cherokee legend
"Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields... Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness." Mary Oliver
Thank you for your service, Betty, and all the ESH! Looking back a year ago when I first came to the program, I can see many improvements, and also many, many areas that need improvement still. I'm grateful I've found Alanon, its a sanity-saver for me. Something that comes to mind now is that only after months in the program it finally got through my head that the bad times, however terrible seeming from the inside, always pass... For some reason I always used to feel like my current pain or suffering or discomfort would be literally eternal, even after I'd been proved wrong again and again. Now I'm sick with some kind of bug or something again, but this too shall pass ;) Hugs to all!
"The wolf that thrives, is the one you feed." - Cherokee legend
"Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields... Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness." Mary Oliver
Woo-hoo - we'd be sending out a search party if you didn't report it Betty! Glad you're back home and done!!
__________________
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
OH YEA!!!! I needed to see this....practice practice what I read and learn....don't just file it in my head and keep up with the same ole sick thinking.....I am a very good tennis player because I practice!!! i play decent basketball because I practice...well?? the same goes to the program....my next right thing I am working on for me is to practice staying in the moment, being in the present/mindful...I have to use force in the way of narrating to me what I am doing and affirming that yes, I put my cell phone on the charger, yes, I put my car/house keys attached to my backpack.....what ever it takes, with practicing the good things I learn and stuff that addresses my issues, I CAN get better, I CAN be happier/healthier i CAN I CAN I CAN with practice
Rose, just wanted to chime in that I've picked up the habit of narrating what I'm doing, I do it in moments when I feel especially off-balance. This helps me, I guess, to keep things simple and concentrate on what I am doing right at this moment. So thank you for mentioning it on MIP :)
(I hope)