Not Alone

[caressa]

Today I am willing to give away what I need for myself. I am willing to listen to someone else�s problems. That way we will both see that we are traveling together on the same journey and are not alone.

- Time for Joy

Often, when in the midst of family occasions, we think we are the only one. It was me against everyone else. I always seemed to be odd woman out. Looking back, I think we each felt that way and it is too bad we couldn't get together on common ground.

We are all on a recovery journey. We are on the same road. The road may not originate at the same source, and we probably didn't go through the same things, but we have one destination in mind. To maintain sobriety (soundness of mind) and live in today and using the common tools of recovery, our literature, the 12 Steps and Traditions, a sponsor, and the fellowship of our choice.

I may qualify for many, and yet so much of my thinking and thought originated back in my childhood. I invite you to join me on this recovery road.

Attachments:

[SunnyGirl]

Not Alone

"Happiness is what appears out of nowhere when we
finally abandon all hope of ever having a better past."
-unknown

I am an adult child of an alcoholic.... but I came into
12-step recovery through Nar-Anon and then later
Al-Anon. I never considered ACOA significant to my
recovery! When I began this journey to recovery I
left all the ACOA baggage by the side of the road....

I've only been to just a few ACOA meetings on-line and
at times they felt tedious..... I don't intend that to sound
unkind, but going back to the past and rehashing old
memories and feelings just not productive to my recovery.

When I'm with a group of people that "make me feel"
uncomfortable, I have to stop and examine what I am
feeling. I'm just a believer that other people don't make
us feel anything.... feeling less than, doesn't come from
others, it comes from inside. When we slip into self-doubt
or feel unloveable, do we look to others in seach of reassurance
or do we look inside.... Today, I look back at the "blast from
the past" and consider it for what it was, a learning experience.
I've moved on and have no desire to go back and rehash the
past..... IMHO! I want always to be willing to listen, but we
have to be willing to change the things we can!

Peace on the journey, SG

[BW]

I am grateful for the New Pair of Glasses I have acquired thru the rooms of recovery that have given me a new perspective. By the grace of God I can see past expereinces as stepping stones and have left the baggage of guilt and shame at the crossroads of surrender where I chose to be at peace with life on life's terms and live in the here and now. Each and every moment is a precious gift.

There are times when the family wants to rehash past experiences. When those moments occur I can go to my quiet place within and pray for them that they find the peace they need. I no longer have to go down that road with them, nor do I pack my bags or buy the ticket to go on the guilt trips they want me to go on. I am free today by the grace of God.

[caressa]

We certainly don't need to take on their stuff. That is the bonus of recovery, recognizing what is ours and what is not.

So much of my life was old tapes, behaviors and patterns. That old phrase "I'm being doing it for 20 years, I am not about to change it now" is old news and part of my disease not my recovery. In my case I did it for 40 years and 'it' got me to the doors of recovery. I was so glad to walk into the rooms and find that I am not alone.

Truthfully, I was so glad I was introduced to AA first or I might have stayed sick and died as a result of my denial. Always pointing my finger outward, outward dialogue kept me focused on 'them instead of looking at me, which left me with no sense of my own dis-ease and issues.

I firmly believe we are products of our environment. Thank you both for sharing.