The writer discusses how alcohol not only affects the alcoholic, but those people who care about that person as well.  The family and friends of the alcoholic can end up with distorted ideas.  But alanon can help us break the unhealthy patterns so we can heal, find sanity and peace, and like ourselves better.  And ironically it comes from paying attention to ourselves and taking it off others.  The reminder says in part that recovery can have a positive impact on the entire family.  The quote reminds us that when one person gets well, the whole family can improve.

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The part of this that rings true for me is that when I learned to put the focus on myself, and take it off my A, I did begin to heal and have improved in many ways.  Certainly I can laugh more and not be so serious.  I like myself better and can use boundaries to protect myself.  On a good day I can detach with love and even stay in the moment.  I have grown in ways I never thought possible, like forgiving my older abusive brother.  It's a great program for which I am grateful.