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Post Info TOPIC: COURAGE TO CHANGE 10/24


~*Service Worker*~

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COURAGE TO CHANGE 10/24


"The process of recovery in Al-Anon has been likened to peeling an onion. We peel away a layer at a time, often shedding a few tears as we do. 

But recovery always makes me think of the bark of a birch tree. The birch's bark is necessary for protection, yet as the tree grows, the bark peels away gradually on its own accord. If it removed prematurely -- by a deer scraping his antlers or a porcupine searching for food -- the tree is wounded and becomes vulnerable to infection, fungus, and insects. 

Like the birch tree, I can be wounded if I am prematurely stripped of my defenses. Most of us have spent a significant amount of time trying to cope with these wounds from the past rather than growing and changing. But in Al-Anon I am encouraged to grow at my own pace. As I do, I find some of my defenses and ideas too tight, too limiting. And so I slough them off, just as the birch releases old skin. They are no longer needed."

TODAY'S REMINDER : 

I have an innate ability to heal and grow. I don't need to force myself to change. All I have to do is show up and be willing. When I am ready, the changes will come easily.

"... We all have our own answers within ourselves and can find them with the help of our Al-Anon program and a Higher Power."... In All Our Affairs.

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


I needed these words today. Glad to share them here!

"All I need is to show up and be willing." 

&



__________________

"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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  aww Thanks P. I had tears last week- tears of gratitude. I know I know I can grieve these days- of something comes up.

That is a blessing to know. I heard Brene Brown talk on you tube- about how she fretted and worried about the fate of her kids. If one as run over by a bus- that sort of thing.Not all that likely- but possible. I had a life od rehearsing what would happen if the A. had a bad accident. I did not think: "serves him right". I might have. Nah- I thought the worst, and how awful the repercussions would be.

I had a major human wound 4 or 5 years ago. It was more psychosomatic than medical. But it was like a big splinter under the skin. Just wanted together rid of it. So, in the end i had to deal to it. I was ready. I had had it. 

i was too muddled to deal with it sooner. Just surviving.

It is windy and cool here today. A bit more rain tomorrow... Sunday, in a long weekend. Looking forward to the week- working away from home. I have resources and people in my world these days. Not vanishing into the ether, on my own. Lost. 

I have mostly lost people like myself- who are grateful for the company.

But more than that- satisfied survivors. Successful at coping- even at enjoying stuff...

...even though i was just coping- sometimes falling apart- I set aside resources and assets that would help down the track.

Getting along to meeting time- keeps me focussed. On task... smile

-thanks for the share... aww ... ... ... 



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Each Alanon member is my teacher.                                                                                                                  



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Good reading. I had this happen to me. I was wounded by my A sponsor just as I was getting well. Actually, I had gotten well. I just had more work to do. This led to everybody else abusing me. So obviously, I have some cleanup to do. Each thing will be handled differently. But it does have to be done. Speaking up, my voice, is one of the greatest gifts God has given me.

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~*Service Worker*~

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Just learning to being here because I wanted and then needed to be here was powerful to my life.  I would have never made it unless I came to understand "One day at a time"; "One step at a time" and "Easy does it" which seemed so crazy to me because of all of the insanity that was going on everywhere all the time and then "Easy does it" was one something I could do with the help of the fellowship and family.  I noted the consequences in my life as I was able to do it easily and everything in my mind, body, spirit and emotions began to quiet down and I was able to do more for my own sanity.

I learned to practice courage and then practice it again and I could recognize the changes that came from it.  I made the decision to keep coming back and follow thru with what and how the elders were talking about and now...here I am continuing to practice our program.

Thanks family or in my culture "Mahalo Nui Loa" ....((((hugs))))wink

 



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Jerry F


~*Service Worker*~

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Posts: 11569
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Thank you PnP for your service and the daily. Thanks to all for your shares and ESH. When I got here, I wanted a solution for my A's. I did not find that; quite the opposite - this program was about working on self and learning how to heal from the disease of alcoholism. I did not think I had a problem, others did. So - I decided to go and keep trying my way - and landed right back here.

This time, I did try to keep an open mind and show up. I became willing through practicing willingness. I then wanted what others had - genuine joy, authenticity and serenity. I wanted to work really hard, excel at recovery and then be rewarded. Of course, that's now how it works, we do what we can while being gentle with ourselves and others and in time, change is the outcome from self-work/self-assessment.

So - there is a part of me that still wants to force solutions at times. Yet, I have to lean into what I've been told and just keep doing the work with no expectations of outcomes. My life goes much better when I just show up, practicing being open and willing and allow things to unfold. Trusting this program, the recovery process and my HP has truly rewarded me in ways I never expected. I think I'll keep coming back...

Happy Sunday all - I did my volunteering today at the golf course and had 5 unruly, drunken golfers who decided to curse at me, defy the course/county rules and just create some drama that nobody wants or needs...I'm grateful for my toolbox that I carry with me all day, every day. I was able to detach from the insanity, name calling, cursing, etc. I have no doubt there will be a few conversations with management about it tomorrow - and I am grateful to be able to say I kept my side of the street clean. Love and light MIP family - off to find some late dinner!

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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging.  Pause before assuming.  Pause before accusing.  Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret.  ~~~~  Lori Deschene

 

 

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