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Post Info TOPIC: Courage to Change 04/11/20


~*Service Worker*~

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Courage to Change 04/11/20


Today's Reminder:

"The amount of time I've spent in Al-Anon is less important than what I am doing with that time today."

Today's reading talks about how the slogan 'Keep Coming Back!' holds truth. No matter how long someone has been in this program, they are only human. They are not perfect. They still retain the right to have problems, to make mistakes, to not have all the answers. No one person is the Al-Anon authority over another. The passage also talks about how most have come to the program broken in spirit... even adrift in the sea of life, so to speak. The Steps, Traditions, and Concepts all serve to provide structure and goals in one's life. Al-Anon can be the light that helps us find our way in the dark.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know that when I first came here, and then again the second time, I clung to the words of the veterans. I mean, they exuded peace in their shares! I wanted that!

Over time, I found that I didn't necessarily agree with everyone here...whether they be newcomer like me, or veteran. The big difference was that I had begun to change and grow. I was finding that I didn't have to be right... that I didn't have to shoulder the responsibility of always trying to be the one with all the answers. I could Let Go of that. And in doing so, open my mind to another perspective... and develop the ability to accept another's POV. 

"Always hear others out and remain open-minded; the day you think you know everything is the day you have the most yet to learn."
A.J. Darkholme, Rise of the Morningstar



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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

 

 



~*Service Worker*~

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Thank you, PnP, for today's share! "Keep Coming Back" is something I needed to hear today.

When I first started in Al-Anon, what I heard in meetings certainly didn't make sense at first. But I was desperate, so I kept going, and reading, and looking for a sponsor. Once I realized what an amazing gift I had been given -- that there were people in that room in my time of despair -- I was so grateful that I decided to give back in any way I could. I took things a bit far, and wound up doing all the service jobs all at once in my small local meeting, so there was more I needed learn about service, i.e., "Let It Begin With Me" does not mean I am solely responsible for the beginning, end, and everything in between!

Five years later, I am in 100% a better place, and I am still grateful. I want to practice Step Twelve and carry the message to others. I want to be there for newcomers and for anyone going through a tough time, to make sure meetings are available for them, and that I am there to listen and share ESH. It is a small way to repay the priceless gift I have been given.

I was thinking about whether or not to attend tonight's Zoom meeting of one of our local groups. I was feeling kind of "blah" about it. Then I remembered the nights when I was in despair, and how there were people present to listen to me. I need to Keep Coming Back. I can't do it all, but I can do my part, and this is a way I can practice my principles in all my affairs.

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~*Service Worker*~

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   smile P. and Freetime... I am trying to tease out some ideas around this topic. 25 years in a new member asked me: "if this programme is so crash-hot- how come it has taken you 25 years so far?"

It wasn't said in a mean way. I sometimes ask the question: "Care, or cure?" Is this a support group, or is it group therapy? Well, there are elements of both. Apart from that members have to come back into the group to practise service, and to keep the organisation going.

When my neighbourhood group was going we had six young members coming along. But they were only expecting to attend 6 or 8 meetings and then move on- having gotten the message.

I have seen here, and everywhere, people will come along to one meeting and check it out.

And I can apply three or four slogans here: Easy does it, live and let live, one day at a time... attraction and not promotion.

In my hey-day all members would go to an assembly, not just the group rep. So we got to mix and share with members from two provinces. So often I still see the same members coming- and not a lot of new faces.

But this is my adopted home group- MIP Alanon. Somewhere to hang out. A part of the group conscience. A member of Alanon.

"



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Each Alanon member is my teacher.                                                                                                                  



~*Service Worker*~

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Great ESH this Saturday!!  Powerful and I love it.  Mahalo Nui family.   ((((hugs)))) biggrin



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Jerry F


~*Service Worker*~

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Thank you PnP for your service and awesome share....I, too did not always agree with others and over time I learned to take what I like and leave the rest and be kind, MOST of the time, anyway......and I, too, don't always have to be right or have the answer...I can just BE ME!!!!  and i am OK with that....it is so freeing when I finally came to this point.....I loved what you said....I can so relate....and in doing so, I, too, can open my mind to another way of thinking......



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Rose, a work in progress!!!

KEEP IT SIMPLE_EASY DOES IT_KEEP THE FOCUS ON ME

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