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.
Many of us have come to alanon with bitterness and blame. There are better ways to handle things. Accepting that we too, need help, can relieve us from tolerating unacceptable behavior. Getting to these rooms help us change in miraculous ways. Forgiveness can simply be a change of a attitude. Our bitterness hurts us more than anyone else.
Quote: Forgiving is not forgetting, it's letting go of the hurt.
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For many years I was unable/unwilling to forgive those who hurt me. It somehow felt like I would be letting them "win." I didn't realize though, that I was dragging a ball and chain around with me. It weighed me down and kept me miserable. Alanon has taught me I can detach with love, and adjust my attitude. I have learned to forgive and it has helped me feel free.
Bitterness and blame are such heavy loads to carry and so extremely toxic to the mind,body and soul. I didn't realize just how toxic they really were until I learned to let go of them regarding specific people(Well, I actually didn't have to "learn" to let go, I simply chose to).
I didn't want to let go of them before,how else could I justify treating people badly for treating me badly?