Courage to Change 04/11/20 - Al-Anon Family Group

PosiesandPuppies · ~*Service Worker*~

Courage to Change 04/11/20

Freetime · ~*Service Worker*~

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.

DavidG · ~*Service Worker*~

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.

"

JerryF · ~*Service Worker*~

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

mamalioness · ~*Service Worker*~

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......

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.