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.
Hello MIP! Today's author reflects on the importance of service work in their own recovery program.
The author shares that they find it essential to their recovery to help their Al-Anon home group by accepting various responsibilities needed to keep things running smoothly. One of the benefits of service is that it brings our author into contact with newcomers, and through these interactions, the author regains perspective that can be lost in the problems of everyday life. Setting out literature, making coffee, or chairing a meeting provides the author the opportunity to become someone a newcomer might approach.
Before Al-Anon, and when the author was a newcomer themselves, they were frustrated with the struggle of living with alcoholism. The author had no tools and no one to talk to about the situation. Now, no matter how hard things might seem, the author has tools to use to get through it and a welcoming group of people to talk to. They are no longer alone. Service helps the author remember how far they have come and keeps them from getting lost in negativity over relevantly unimportant things.
Today's Reminder: The Al-Anon program was there for me when I needed it. I will do what I can to ensure that it continues to thrive. I know that any service I offer will strengthen my own recovery.
Today's Quote: "God did for me what I couldn't do for myself. He got me involved in service work...It saved my life, my family, my sanity." ...In All Our Affairs
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I really appreciate the opportunity to engage in service work. I belong to a very small home group, regular attendees have been 3 this summer - but more people tend to come in the winter, and so there are many opportunities for service. One of the things I benefit from most in doing service work is remembering that my way isn't the only way. Finding the balance between common goals, different personalities, different perspectives on urgency, and various approaches to things is something that I have been working very hard on the past several years. Through service work, I am practicing placing principles above personalities in an ongoing basis, and learning to have difficult conversations with people that do not hurt the group or individuals I am speaking with. I really enjoy sponsorship and talking to newcomers as well, because I can so often see myself and my past in their stories, and it helps me to remember how far I have come. This encourages me to continue working on myself and my program, and to grasp on to progress, without expecting perfection from myself.
We've got more rain and flooding today. So far, my own basement has stayed dry, which is a happy surprise! I haven't been in the house through a winter yet, and didn't know what to expect from my hand-dug basement from the late 1800's. I hope you make today a great day!
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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 MIP family. Thank you Skorpi for your service and the daily. Service work is a necessity in my program as it helps keep me humble, reminds me of those who gave back when I arrived and frees me up to keep growing and learning. We say often around here that you are either moving forward in recovery or going backwards - there is no standing still/resting. This disease lays in wait, doing push-ups in the background, so practicing recovery each day keeps me closest to the center - that place I am most balanced.
I love that it can be big/small, easy/complicated, short-term/long-term - all service efforts are needed and encouraged. Nobody gets a gold star, medal or any recognition for being a servant, instead the gifts come from giving. Today, I have tons more gratification from giving vs. receiving!
Glad that your basement has stayed dry, and sure hope the flooding ends soon. We've got rain in the forecast for the next few days...I'll roll with it as there's not a lot of other choices! Make it a great day all - happy Hump Day!
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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 Skorpi for your service. I was too overwhelmed with negative emotion to think about giving back to alanon for at least a year. But on my first anniversary in my F2F group I volunteered to lead, and since then I do it on a regular basis. And its not something I enjoyI really dont like speaking in front of groups, but my meeting gives me so much, I do want to give back. I also help with clean up at the end, and often give a member a ride. These are acts of love and kindness because that is what I receive in my group. Lyne
Finding the balance between common goals, different personalities, different perspectives on urgency, and various approaches to things is something that I have been working very hard on the past several years. Through service work, I am practicing placing principles above personalities in an ongoing basis, and learning to have difficult conversations with people that do not hurt the group or individuals I am speaking with. I really enjoy sponsorship and talking to newcomers as well, because I can so often see myself and my past in their stories, and it helps me to remember how far I have come. This encourages me to continue working on myself and my program, and to grasp on to progress, without expecting perfection from myself.