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.
In today's reading, the author shares about their challenges sleeping. They tried everything from hot milk to seeing the doctor, and yet still could not sleep. The author was too exhausted to pay much attention to anything outside of their own needs.
One day at an Al-Anon meeting, another Al-Anon member shared similar challenges with sleep. This member, however, saw the lack of sleep as a blessing - they were too consumed with their own need to sleep and being exhausted to get into any trouble.
The author suddenly realized that their prayers had been answered. They had been to exhausted and consumed with their own need for sleep to get into anyone else's business or poke their nose in where it did not belong. Through lack of sleep, the author had been released from excessive worry.
Today's Reminder: My Higher Power's gifts sometimes take unusual forms. Perhaps something I regard as a problem is really a form of assistance.
Today's Quote: "Nothing is either good or bad. It's thinking that makes it so." William Shakespeare
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Today's reminder really resonates with me, especially with some of the family challenges I've been facing lately. I've often prayed for my wife to learn to control her temper and walk away. It was exhausting to be the one who was on the receiving end and needed to stay calm so things didn't escalate needlessly and rob me of my serenity. Although my current situation is very challenging (not because of my wife), I'm realizing that my Higher Power may have brought someone into the family who could confront and cause self-reflection and changes in behavior in ways that I could not. So, although the last week has been sleepless and filled with concern, I am confident that the results will be what they need to be and that something positive will come out of this for everyone involved.
I'm grateful for all the program work I've done over the years, because I am walking through this challenging time in the best way I know how, with the support of Al-Anon tools and friends, AND I'm not doing things that I will later need to make amends for.
__________________
Skorpi
If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. - Lao Tzu
Thanks Skorpi for your service and share. Sleep has been a problem for me on and off throughout the years. Last few years it seems constant. And I think program has helped me in this dept. as well. I wake up earlier than I want or need to be up, and used to to stay in bed 1-2 hours more because I wanted to be sleeping. I'd feel so mad and tired and start the day off grumpy! Now I just get up and get an early start on my day. I get a lot done, and most days arrange a time to cat nap in the afternoon which gives me a second wind. Instead of getting all twisted about not having what I wanted, I accomplish more and have a better mood just changing things up. Being flexible has not come to me easily. Let go and let God, Keep it Simple, ODAT, right?
