Today's author talks about alcoholism breaking their spirit before they found Al-Anon.  Al-Anon gives a fellowship, a Sponsor, Twelve Steps and Traditions that allow them to heal their broken spirit. They share that their healing started when they quit fighting the God of other people's understanding and found a God who honoured the long forgotten spirit in them. Today they will celebrate being alive.

Today's reminder - Let me make this a day of celebration of the spirit.  There is a part of me that retains a childlike sense of curiosity, wonder, enthusiasm and delight.  I may have lost touch with it, but I know it still exists. I will set my problems to the side for a little while and appreciate what it means to be vitally alive.

"Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." George Bernard Shaw

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This reading resonates with me.  Before Al-Anon I was a also a broken spirit, limping from day to day - not living, merely surviving and wondering if the hell was even going to end.  For me it was being with my home group of Al-Anon which allowed me to start living again. In the early days it was that hour and half where I found serenity - where I could breathe and relax.  Then I started my daily readings.  Sometimes just knowing that someone else had walked the path before me was enough. I felt part of a whole, rather than alone.  Then over time I worked with my Sponsor and put the focus on me.

Today I am glad to be alive and to be able to lift my head and enjoy what each day brings.