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.
My first group- here in my own home town- was made up mostly of the wives of construction workers. The families had come here to build a dam on the river.
Once in a while- when someone came in "in a mess" we would throw the meeting open- so they could open up and share. And they would open up...
Other times, when the group was going through a dry period we would simply recite the steps, the traditions and the concepts. Take a daily reading.
In the USA I attended meetings in NY, Florida, Atlanta, and two Alanons in Rapid City SD. These latter two meeting were different from each other- with one having a strong pull towards the Lakota community.
I liked the AA clubhouse places where recovery people could feel at home.
I feel at home here- because I hear and see people I saw in all of those meetings... day by day... ...
I freely admit that for me and my recovery, MIP is special. There are many reasons why, but ultimately it is because we do the best we can to welcome new members, and having them hopefully feel like 'they have landed' somewhere safe! I know before I found Al-Anon, I spent tons of time online and 'other' trying to find help for my A(s)...I just kept thinking I am a smart, intelligent person - why can't I gain some level of control over the insanity I am living with/in?
Then - I found recovery and MIP.....will always be special to me and I am grateful you all are here! (((Hugs)))
__________________
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
Betty 
...