Preparing for life:  The reading today compares oiling a saw to practice in program.  They said they observed what others in program were doing, and seeing how serene people could be with similar awful circumstances.  So they started applying the Steps, Alanon literature , slogans, meetings, and sponsorship.  The end results are that using program makes what they already have more useful, which leads to greater satisfaction.

Today's Reminder: Building a useful and fulfilling life is not an easy task.  Alanon helps me  learn more effective ways of living so that I can avoid needless difficulty.  With proper tools, progress is just a matter of practice.

Quote by Francis de Sales:  You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; and just so you learn to love God and man by loving.  Begin as a mere apprentice and the very power of love will lead you on to become a master of the art.

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Two parts of this reading speak to me.  The first is that I remember the feelings I had upon joining program.  I was overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, angry, resentful, etc.  And when I listened to others and then told my story, I could see peace and calm among many members.  That made an important impression on me.

The second part of this reading that rings true is the phrase about learning effective ways of living so one can "avoid needless difficulty."  I can remember back to faulty ways of thinking and acting, that made everything worse!  I couldn't climb out of the hole I was in without help.  Now I get into messes much less often, they are less severe, and I can resolve issues much faster with less damage.  What a relief !  Lyne