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.
One of the numerous reasons why I am a member here- is that we read from Hope For Today.
And I read today, from that book, the reading for the 3rd of February. The reading is about a member who had a soft toy chimpanzee... which she still had. And it gave her reflections- strongly- about her body image as a child... and how she used that soft toy as catalyst for healing and change.
Inner child work is a plank of the ACA programme. And reading this- of course gives us, as Alanon members permission to do this too, if we want to and need to.
And one does not need to be an adult child in Alanon to do this. Anyone can do this, in my view.
As if we needed permission in the first place anyway.
In Alanon, and everywhere, I always used to agonise over what was permitted and what was not. I have heard sometimes about AA philosophy getting into Alanon. But there are numerous crossovers and similarities. So having sensible adult conversations about this, I think, is healthy!
If Alanon became a movement where people hummed sutras and held soft toys aloft- I would be the first to say- Hey! Is this what we are really about.
I think that trying new things- is a sign of health. And always, always retaining the best of the old!
Isn't this what life is about! Both inside and outside of Alanon? ...
I Have to Agree As Well :) Sometimes My Program can Go a Bit Stale if I'm Not on Top of it Daily, So Anytime there is a New, I Tend to Slide Up Right on the Saddle and Go Again...
Thanks for you Insight, and Your Shares... I Always Enjoy a Different Perspective on things :)
I like to keep an open mind to the "new."
As usual, I enjoy the way you share!
__________________
"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 for this David. In my early recovery I got pretty rigid in some ways. I think because I'd found something so precious to me. I got life back and my freedom that i thought i was like a guard if alanon protecting it in some way. After almost 9 yrs now i have relaxed a lot and explored so much of the 12 step recovery program and outside spiritual ideas. I've came to see through the steps that for my isms began so young. Before active alcoholism was in my life. My father was an alcoholic but never in my life. Then I went on to marry and alcoholic and my son now has a problem with alcohol. I can see how it runs through my life. It's my past my present and my future. I have been effected by this disease from birth and so I need to work this from every angle if that makes sense so this beautiful program is the answer for me and I dip into it from anywhere now. Inner child work is wonderful and I know very little of acoa and the program but the steps guided me to look at me the child and make the amends to me the child and it's been some journey and I'm only scratching the surface. X
adult children have their own manual in Alanon: "From Survival To Recovery" I covered it 20 years ago. But I prefer the "all in" approach long term... and, as I was told- look for the similarities, not the differences. :D