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 today 4-16 speaks about letting go of obsessing over a problem and allowing solutions to unfold naturally This then proves that our human understanding is unable to conquer many issues and that is the reason we can let go and trust in the God of our understanding.We can let go and trust that our Higher Power can resolve many problems in a constructive manner, if we simply let go and trust We are reminded that we are not all wise or all powerful only HP is that
I read and heard these readings, Betty, in my first years- when I was very troubled. i had a lot of trouble letting go of my anger=rage and my fear=terror.
I cannot blame myself for not getting the message straight. My mind could understand- so well. But my confidence and emotions were all messed up. I was lucky, in a way. I got the god message early- when I was a kid. Our church elder- I was friends with her son. I would lay on the spare bed- on the veranda and here Isla and hubby going to bed. I would hear the gentle hum of voices as they talked over their day- before they went off to sleep.
This, amongst 100's of other things gave me hope in the world.
Not to say there weren't 1000's of other things- in my small world that fuelled that rage and terror. There were.
"Always look on the bright side" is easy... in different circumstances.
I could sit in meetings and squirm, and wriggle- waiting for my turn to speak and let stuff out- little by little- one time at a time.
I knew I was in good company...
...and ah is still in good company, Betty. Today I have friends and peers like you and y'all right here...
my elder-farmer and her hubby have long gone... but I still hear the hum of voices around me- lots of voices. Some still in pain- and back there where ah were once. But I know for sure the shadow of fear does lift, and the rays of hope do shine in...
...sometimes ah sense here- that some of my shares might sound just like one of them readings.
That is no accident. It was meant to me. It is a gift, given to me by many... ...
Thank you Betty for your service and this great reminder!
David, I love the little glimpses into your life! It seems like a different world to me, yet, I find nuggets of commonality within your shares!
It was (and sometimes is) hard to let go and trust that my higher power will allow things to unfold the way they are SUPPOSED TO. It is hard not exerting my will so that things turn out the way I want them. For someone with issues with self-esteem, I have found that my Ego was quite large! LOL! Took me quite by surprise, let me tell you!!
Now when I struggle, I am aware enough to tell myself, "Take your Ego out of it, sweetie!" and remind myself that the Higher Power that watches over me, has got this. Just stand back and allow it to unfold!
My friend's and I have this "inside joke" about the song with the line in it: "Jesus Take The Wheel." But I find that there is more truth than humor in that line, nowadays.
Had a rough start to my week...I am hoping today will be better! Peace out!
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"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 Betty for today's reading. Thank you David and PnP for your shares as well.
Let it unfold?! What? No, there is something I must do to move it along or make it work out the way I want! Those were my thoughts before Alanon. I still might want to help things along or want it to look like what I have imagined....but I now have the ability to cool my jets. I now have the knowledge that it is best to let it play out after I have worked on MY portion of it if necessary. I think I have finally, imperfectly...yet moved past obsession in most matters of my life. It accomplishes nothing but angst on my part while the others I am obsessing about have gone about their merry way.
PnP, I like your mention of Ego. I think that is the bottom line right there.....ego!
David, I too love to read your life stories and what you have gained from them.
Happy Tuesday all. Going to visit my 2 sweethearts (grandchildren) tomorrow. So innocent and lovely.
Happy Tuesday MIP! Thank you Betty for the daily and your service. Thank you and all for your shares and ESH. I had trouble trusting anyone - so to trust in a God of my understanding that I could not 'see', 'hear' or 'interact with'? That appeared to be Mission Impossible for me when I arrived. I felt I would be the 'one' that did not succeed in recovery because I struggled to trust anyone or anything ever - ego and self-will had served me (poorly) for so, so long.
Yet, with time, practice and more practice, I did get 'there'. For me, this doesn't mean I am perfect @ it - more so it means that as I consider what is in front of me, just for today, I can let go and let God. This doesn't give me free will to do 'nothing' - it instead helps clear my mind to better see what the next right thing.
Enjoy the little people Ellen! Mine just make my heart smile so, so brightly - almost like nothing else! I three love to read your life stories David - I can actually visualize often what it might have been like! We had an absolutely lovely day today - everything has woken up, spring has sprung and I just am in awe of nature and it's resilience! I did golf and am so glad I found another lovely group of healthy people to spend time with. If lovely Al-Anon members had not continued to encourage me to put myself first and try new things, I am not certain I would be where I am! I readily admit that I truly love my life and it's very full in spite of the disease and diseased I live with.
Enjoy the evening family! I intend to - PnP - hope today was a better day! (((hugs))) to 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
I loved it when you, Iam, talked about the makeup of your meetings... with newcomers and step-workers and older-timers having meetings at the same time... and my imagination saw people shuffling around the meetings- as the need arose...
...and the same here- with our invisible meeting- just getting to know folks, little by little... ears pricking up at certain things- so healing... ...
nice sunny day here in NZ- fall weather... and spending time with family and friends- over Easter... ...
Thank you Betty for your service and all the shares are great. I used to try to force solutions and that goes against all the tools Ive learned in alanon. And of course it never helped or worked. It just left me more frustrated and angry. To pause and take that breath and turn it overthats for me now.
Trust is certainly not my strong point after years of being lied to. But as David referred tothe friends I now have, my alanon family, are easier to trust and relate to. Its truly a wonderful experience in program, Lyne
Thank you Betty for your service. With my OCD I have to be vigilant all the time about being obsessive about stuff. When do I stop and breathe and pray?. Yes I have to work a quickie step 10 every day to check in on how I did for the day, how I felt for the day, what areas do I need to focus on and work on, what areas can I say to me I did a good job and give me a pat on the back.
With my major trust issues, letting go and letting God will always be a scary and difficult thing for me to do but when there is nothing left to do, I just do it and confess that I am afraid, not sure I can trust, but I will be willing and open to do it anyway. I mean if I am powerless, I have a choice either to fight it or to let go. I am getting better at not fighting it but to just back off and let go. And it seems to be working for the good in my life.
The stress level seems to be less since I am giving life more non-resistance, but I do get sick and tired of things going bad one after another, and I am having to keep stepping back and letting go because I cant do anything about it. It does get frustrating so I do have to feel the emotions and allow my body to emote all of this. Then I can arrive at acceptance and go from there. I see progress. I see I am better. One day at a time, 1 foot in front of the other
I read and heard these readings, Betty, in my first years- when I was very troubled. i had a lot of trouble letting go of my anger=rage and my fear=terror.
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