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.
I will be out of town Monday and part of Tuesday so I am posting the Tuesday reading a day early -- forgive me.
The ODAT reading for today, February12 speaks about the art of listening at a meeting and still not truly absorbing what is said. The reading suggests that we use the slogan; "think" as this slogan is extremely important so that we can learn from others we must learn to think about what we've heard and to keep silent. The reading suggests that we construct our share thoughtfully-remembering that the purpose is to help someone else as well as myself obtaining clarity
The quote is:
; "I pray to acquire habit of listening confining my share as to what might be helpful to others
Thank you Betty for Tuesdays reading. I will be out of town starting Tues, so this works for me! This reading is important because I sometimes get the impression that some members, including myself.....share to hear themselves talk. Again, I am guilty of this! After a F2F meeting share, I will reflect on what I offered and many times I will attend...just listening without contributing....purposely to only soak in every word.
Good morning Betty and El! Safe travels to you both and I am thrilled to see the daily early - gives me the illusion that I'm 'ahead' for the day - ha.ha.ha.ha....
Listening has been a skill I've had to work hard to refine. I learned through recovery that my listening skills were lacking - I was either daydreaming during shares, projecting, worrying, or the like. If I wasn't doing that, I was contemplating my share instead of just being present and hearing what was said.
I am better today and grateful we strive for progress! I no longer fear what will come out of my mouth, so no need to plan ahead. I also accept that we're all equals in recovery and every share adds value for my life when I tune in and listen.
Always open and always willing - and always grateful for what I can learn in recovery!!!
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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
Thanks Betty for your early service. This is a very interesting topic and one I will try to put into practice at my F2F. I am presently having some struggles with my A about our future plans. I think the listening/thinking part can be practiced here as well. Safe travels, Lyne
Thank you Betty for posting! Safe travels to you!
Thanks to all above you shared...many times a see "me" in you! LOL!
I was silent for most of the first few F2F meetings. Mostly b/c I was just so hurt and would cry all the time and did not want to risk that in front of people. But as I became more comfortable, I learned that listening was a very good thing just in itself. It allowed me to stay out of my pity-party... if only for an hour, so that I could take in what others were learning from the Steps.
I have always been a better listener than a conversationalist, so I like this!
Peace 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
thanks Betty for your share/service...yea, the old THINK...slow down adn THINK.....in the beginning I was so focused on What I was gonna say that I missed out on some great shares....now, lots of times I'll just "listen" (usually my meets of late are online) and "absorb" what is being said.....I don't talk now just to hear myself talk...i speak when i need to, want to and have something positive to offer.....listening is just as nourishing as sharing
