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.
Thanks Debbie for your service. Just about everything for me has changed for the better after my years in program. I'm a happier person, can see blessings instead of dwelling on the past and future, and my relationship with my HP has gone deeper. One area that is not so great is my trust in other people. There are people I trust, but life with my active alcoholic spouse is a constant string of lies and sneaking. That doesn't help as that hasn't changed. I have some very life long close friends which I am so grateful for. But to let a new person in just takes me a long time. I need to see that they are consistent in their behavior so I know what's real. One of my newer friends is a person from my F2F group, about 10 years now. We text every morning, start our day with a touch of alanon, and I do trust her to have my back as I have her's. ODAT.
Thanks for your service Deb, and both for your ESH on an interesting topic.
Faith and trust, hmmm....I would say that when I found Alanon I was not a person of any type of faith, and never really thought of trust at a personal level.
Ultimately, I did not see the world or anyone in it through a spiritual lens. I judged by the rigid, narrow set of standards I deemed appropriate for others.
I would say my tolerance and understanding of humanity has grown immensely with the program, commensurate with better appreciation of my own limitations...I am just another child of god, as are they, all flawed but trying our best. No one wants a terrible life for themselves, some of us just don't know how to make a good one without guidance.
I would say yes, today I do have faith that a set of principles and suggestions WILL bring serenity and improve my relationship with those around me, that I can feel peace regardless of what others choose to do or say, and that by changing my perspective I can change my world.
For that, I am extremely grateful
__________________
Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery