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.
Todays reading is about staying focused on recovery in al-anon. The writer describes having come to alanon through alateen, as a result of having an alcoholic father. The writer made friends there but when the transition to alanon took place, the writer felt empty after meetings, like something was missing. The writer realized that he/she was considering alanon rooms as a place to find friendship rather than focus on recovery. While the writer never wanted to deny friend his in the program, he/she wanted to keep recovery as the primary focus.
This reading had me thinking about what we do to ourselves with expectations. As difficult as it can be, staying in the present and not getting too caught up in what we think we want is a clearer path than getting mired in expectations/disappointments. I am always working on the practice of taking things as they are, resisting the inclination to force my own will onto situations as I think I would like them to be.
Each Al-Anon group has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps of AA ourselves, by encouraging and understandingour alcoholic relatives, and by welcoming and giving comfortto families of alcoholics. Tradition Five
Thank you! It was a lovely trip and exactly what time away should feel like: refreshing, eye opening, rejuvenating and just enough and we all looked forward to coming home too:)