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 that, through working the Al-Anon program and the 12 steps, they discovered who they are. Due to living with the disease of alcoholism, the author realized that they had stopped paying attention to who they were, their likes, their dislikes, their opinions, their feelings. They could tell anyone interested about all the people in their lives, but couldn't answer the questions about themselves. Through working the 12 steps, the author was able to rediscover who they were.
Today's Reminder: Recovery is a wonderful word. It means getting something back. Today I will try to remember that "that something" is me.
Today's Quote: "If a man happens to find himself...he has a mansion which he can inhabit with dignity all the days of his life. " James Michener
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Today's reading reminds me about my journey in Al-Anon. I often describe my work in the program as finding my way back to myself. Living with the volatility of the disease of alcoholism resulted in me acting in ways that I could not recognize, and making choices that I knew were out of character. Thanks to the program, I found the strength to be myself, also in the face of the disease. The more time I spend in the program, the more times I work the steps, the more authentically I am able to live, and I do notice the difference.
I hope you have today a great day!
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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 for the above ESH. This reading is a comfort--I had a self that I despised, I was fear-based in all areas of my life, and sometimes I think it's a miracle I'm here at all. However my years in program have helped me to see myself, which is recognizing assets along with challenges. I'm a happier, calmer person ODAT, and really enjoying life for the last few years.
Thanks Skorpi, and everyone who has shared.
This was a real shock to me, to realise that I didn't know myself. I could have talked all day about my ex A, and even now I am sometimes reminded by friends that I am allowed to talk about myself and not just my offspring. But I have found that in getting to know myself so much better than I used to, I've been able to choose challenges and directions that I actually enjoy and so I've started succeeding where back when I first arrived, I was trying to tailor all of my choices to serve someone else's needs and interests and wondered why I couldn't seem to get it together to do well at those things!
Thank you Skorpi for your service and all the shares. "...making choices that were out of character" and "finding strength to be myself " resonated with me. It feels so good to be given the power to maintain my integrity. Grateful for HP/MIP.
