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.
As a kid- I was "keen as mustard"... always eager to learn and to grow emotionally. But I had issues beyond my control- hurdles.
I shift away from cliches... mostly... and am practical really. The secrets of life I learned were all inside of the Alanon program... but some, sometimes were hard to find.
I am reading a section in Paths to Recovery on Tradition 5. There is a section about a person who was put off joining Alanon when she made a telephone enquiry. Her concern was her boss- who was using mostly drugs.
She looked into the issues she had- and why her boss was giving her sleepless nights. She found other qualifiers in her world- and realised that her boss was using alcohol as well.
My thought is this: I feel, that as group level that we should meet every enquiry with- attend six meetings and see if Alanon is for you.
[Something I am working with- is the idea that the only qualifier I need to bring to a meeting is myself!]
I would include this group as one of those meetings. We can attend this online meeting, go to F @ F meetings, or both. There are sometimes compelling reasons why people will see MIP ACA as the only meeting they are actually able to attend.
I think about the means I came into Alanon. There was 13 years between my first contact and my first meeting!
I would have loved to have started right from day one. Even to the point of starting up a meeting myself!
it is a warm balmy day here in my valley. By now y'all who are doing Thanksgiving will be over the meal- and all the trimmings. And others thinking about family and such.
Yes, how fortunate we are to have so many options for being introduced to Alanon and for working the program.
I was told about the program at my exah's rehab and even experienced a meeting of sorts there. It was a little different though because only the counselors shared. It was mostly information providing and all the alcoholics/addicts were in the circle with family members. It ended with a moment of silence then a haunting song which was a popular one at that time. The song was about not taking life for granted and choosing to keep living it fully. Alanon was suggested for family members.
My next experience was here at MIP. I found the site while trying to find a f2f meeting. I had never heard of Alanon until I was told about at the rehab. I began attending online meetings here. They were big meetings in the morning and even bigger in the evening. I also found f2f meetings but in those early months of recovery, I mostly sat in the back of the rooms and cried. I never shared. In chat room meetings here I shared. After three months John pm'd me in chat and asked me if I would take a meeting and become a chair. I felt frightened and incapable but he insisted I was ready and would be supported. He had a way of helping newcomers in chat to see humor in the midst of all the insanity when he would come in to chat in the evening. I'm grateful to him for that and this site and to have been able to offer words of support to him in his last months with us. I'm also grateful for the countless opportunities to be of service to someone coming here to learn what Alanon is about.
I'm grateful for such an expansive Alanon family online and in person where I can listen and learn, be of service, continue growing my recovery and the chance to apply Alanon traditions in my daily life. Thanks for sharing your es&h about Tradition five. (((hugs)) TT
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Surround yourself with people and elements that support your destiny, not just your history.
As a kid- I was "keen as mustard"... always eager to learn and to grow emotionally. But I had issues beyond my control- hurdles.
...