Al-Anon Family Group

 

As a grateful member of the Al-Anon program for quite a number of years, I am constantly in awe of the way my Higher Power guides me in my everyday life.  For example, I was at the supermarket the other day.  My heart, head, and shopping cart were very heavy--even though the cart was still empty.  I was carrying the weight of my children's unhealthy choices on my shoulders, and I was not in my usual, healthy, Al-Anon frame of mind.  I felt angry, hurt, embarrassed, and very frightened for my family.  My experience in Al-Anon had taught me, "This, too, shall pass."  I just wasn't sure when.      I didn't have long to wait for the arrival of my supermarket angel!  Coming around the corner of the aisle was a tiny little lady pushing a shopping cart and singing Christmas carols.  Of course, my very first thought was, "It must be nice not to have a care in the world."  Well, three different times this little lady crossed in front of me, always singing.  The miracle for me is that before I realized what was happening, I found myself starting to hum a Christmas song.  Very shortly, I began to sing the words.  My head and heart felt lighter.  My full cart became lighter, too, and I found myself nearly dancing through the store.      My situation was still the same.  I had the same fears and concerns for my family, but something about me had changed.  I believe that dear little lady appeared in the supermarket at that particular time just for my benefit.  I will always think of her as my Christmas angel!  Again, my Higher Power did for me what I was not ready to do for myself.      I am so grateful for my journey in Al-Anon.  All I need to do is remain willing, and my Higher Power will do the rest.  I know this is true, because I have seen it work.  Thank you, Al-Anon, for giving me the gifts of faith and awareness.

 

For me, the Al-Anon program means sharing about myself and listening to others share about themselves, so we all realize that we are not alone.      In some ways this has been a hard year for me.  I've had a lot of small medical problems that bring up a lot of fear.  I'm an adult child who grew up with alcoholism, and one of the ways I was neglected was my parents telling me, "You're not sick" or, "There's nothing wrong with you" when I felt ill.  I still tend to get angry with myself when a minor health problem comes up.      From the Fourth Step Blueprint for Progress (P-5), "Can I treat the past as the past and start on a new road to constructive action?"  My parents are no longer responsible for me, but I am.  Now it's my responsibility to show myself some love and concern, especially when I don't feel well.      This has also been a year when I've come face-to-face with one of my biggest character defects--worry.  I don't trust my Higher Power.  I turn things over, take them back, and start worrying all over again.  I hope by writing this I can once again become entirely ready to have God remove this defect of character.        I'm planning on moving to a new city in a few months and starting a new life there.  This would be impossible without Al-Anon, because before this program I didn't know who I was or what I wanted.  I didn't have a Higher Power, and I didn't really think anyone cared about me.  In many ways, I didn't even care about myself.        I have lots of big and small fears about the move, but each day I pray for my Higher Power's help.  In Al-Anon I've also learned about doing footwork, so I've already visited my new city and attended meetings there.  What a relief to know Al-Anon will be waiting for me when I start my new life.