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 find journalling to be very healing. I do all of mine on the laptop, really. I am old enough to recall using those dip pens with inkwells- at school. For the first few years ball-point pens were banned.
My dream was to complete the 12 steps- and try and do tradition 5. I still have a short way to go to put the finishing touches to my step 12. My wife tells me I am about 10 degrees hotter than her. At my last f2f meeting we all held hands at the end- all three of us and the other two told me i was very warm.
I have this absolute fear of the cold. It stems from years of neglect, as a kid I suppose. I am grateful that i chose food over alcohol as a sweetener and a warmer, really- the lesser of two evils. My addiction to comfort food did not lead to weight issues, which was another blessing. I was never fully bulimic, but I came very close.
These last five years my health has improved immensely. I can think straight, much of the time. When I get tired i get a bit fuddled. I do a fair bit of body work to get the pain and discomfort out of my body... ...for starters i got professional help- but i could not afford to pay for years of this.
Years of migraine, psoriasis, glue ear, sinusitis, gum disease.
it was my dentist who told me that I have beaten gum disease. There was a certain amount to repair to be done. I got an appointment at the dental school in the city. The person behind me skipped an appointment and i got in with a heap of work done. One of those lucky breaks.
One day I might find my twin, or my double. And compare notes.
Stuff I did to improve my health seemed a bit scary at the time. But overall it has worked out.
One project- it may be days or weeks, or months... but this is a key one- to reduce pain and discomfort. It has actually taken years to get to this point. I always have trouble finishing stuff- not really knowing my own boundaries.
I am following the three "A"s found in C2C 1st of April, I think- Awareness, Acceptance and Action.
I would always want to see a lot of action- getting groups running, and stuff. But along with progress not perfection, I needed to put principles before personalities, practise attraction not promotion, and take up the call: let it begin with me! ...
Just a regular share, and a heads up is all we need. If someone along the way relates- then, all the better! ...
{{{David}}}. I can relate! I live with chronic pain and scary problems that could render me unable to walk. Alanon has helped me to not focus on the glass half empty. I am able to find beauty and gratitude in my life and around me. Program has also taught me to change what I cantoday I am seeing an endocrinologist, not because I want to, but because it is the next right thing for me to do. I get it. And at times in the past I was so low and negative. Not now. Just for today I will be taking my dogs out for a walk, and this afternoon I will see the new doctor. ODAT. Lyne
David, I relate to your share! We are in the same generation -- I too remember dipping pens into inkwells at school. Our mothers were required to make a pen-wiper for us to bring to school. It would be very interesting to do step writing with one of those old style pens
And getting professional help for some aches and pains -- I can check that box too. Progress not perfection is a great thing to remember in this area.
"Not perfection" -- that's a good key to serenity for me.
I never got hung up on the progress not perfection thing. Don't get me wrong, while in recovery, after years of living well, healthy, a life of recovery...when I would have a slip, there were times I found myself saying "20 years in alanon and I react like this" or "25 years in alanon and this kind of thing gets to me" and so on.
So, it is progress not perfection. I set a high bar for myself. When I started my intensive work, working the program, I mastered acceptance. I spent a year on it. I immersed myself in acceptance and made sure I got it, to the point where it was innate. I didn't learn it -- I lived it.
For me, how I live my life is innate. A constant, never ending, daily effort to get better, be better, and improve.
I also keep it simple. I do not over-complicate things. Keep it simple. I have gotten to a point in my life where I am easy going, but also have clarity, a lot of clarity about who I am, how I live, and the kind of life I want to live. I've done 90 in 90, several times. I've done 180 in 90! I've gone to a meeting a day for over one year. All of it, was just one ingredient in the recipe of me getting better. Actually, it was me WANTING to get better.
Progress...not perfection. Excellent topic David!
__________________
Bo
Keep coming back...
God, grant me the serenity...to accept the PEOPLE I cannot change...the courage to change the ONE I can...and the wisdom to know it's ME...
Sometimes I Forget how From I've Come, and Your Share was a Nice Reminder... I Don't Remember inkwells in School, but I Sure Relate to Years of migraine, psoriasis, sinusitis, gum disease... It took Me Years to WIN at Gum Disease, I Could Never Afford the Dentist in my Younger Years, As I too was Stuck in my Own Disease, but Once I Committed to taking Care of It, WOW the Difference I Now Feel, Even tho I have Put Thousands of Dollars (I Didn't Have) and Put in to my Teeth, Somehow HP Provided, and Helped me Get there... One Day at a time!
And the Same with a Migraines and Psoriasis, it took me Longer to Focus on those things as I knew it would mean More Doctors and More Expense when at times I was Barely getting by... How ever, I too when to a Doctor that got me a Great Chiro Guy, and After Visiting him twice a week for 3 months, My Migraines Slow but Sure started to Let up!
Not Sure where I would be without the Love & Support of this Program, or IF I would be! This Program allowed me to Learn How to Take Care of ME! and Not Just Everyone Else, but the Blessing for Me was Learning that its Not Selfish to Make such Decisions, and In my Alcoholic home if you thought of yourself, then all you was, was Selfish, and Uncaring...
So Thank you for Sharing! I'm Glad I Popped on Today, As for me it truly is Progress Not Perfection, and that is Plenty Enough for Me!
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