A Courage to Change

Hi Laura here are we suppose to respond after the reading? sorry newbie

185 days ago

May 5
Humility was a tough concept for me to comprehend. Taught from childhood to place the wants and needs of others always above my own, I equated humility with taking care of others and ignoring my own feelings and needs. Recently, I have learned that true humility is not degrading; it doesn't require that I neglect my own needs. In fact, humility is not measured in how much I do for others, but my willingness to do my part in my relationships with the God of my understanding. By admitting I am powerless, I make room for the possibility that a Power greater than myself can do all those things that are beyond my reach. In other words, I begin to learn about what is, and is not, my responsibility. As this becomes clear, I am better able to do my part, for myself and for others, and better able to ask God to do the rest.
Todays Reminder:
Part of learning humility is learning to contribute to my own well-being. Today I will do something loving for myself that I'd normally do for someone else.

646 days ago

Mrsdustin_p,

May 4
Who am I? I thought I knew the answer to that question, but i discovered that my answers were all out of date because I had long ago stopped asking myself who I was. I could tell you about the alcoholic and everyone else in my life, their likes, dislikes, opinions, feelings, but I had no such answer for myself. Making a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself and sharing it with a trusted friend was especially helpful. It was the 1st time in a long time I had paid so much attention to myself! Today I know that I am a passionate, moody, honest, tactful, stubborn person. I know how I feel and what I think on an assortment of topics, and I am aware when these thoughts and feelings change. Al-Anon has given me back the only thing that was ever really mine to keep: myself!
Todays Reminder:
Recovery is a wonderful word. It means getting something back. Today, I will try to remember that "that something is me"

647 days ago

Mrsdustin_p,

May 3
Detachment. At first this sounded cold and rejecting. But I have come to believe that detachment is actually a wonderful gift. I am allowing my loved one the privilege and opportunity to be themselves. I do not wish to interfere with anyone's opportunities to discover the joy and self confidence that can accompany a personal achievement. I find it painful to watch another person suffer or head down a road I believe leads to pain. Many of my attempts to rescue others have been prompted by my desire to avoid this pain. Today I am learning to experience my own fear, anguish, and grief. This helps me to be willing to trust the same growth process in others.
Todays Reminder:
Sometimes it is more loving to allow someone else to experience the natural consequences of their actions, even when it is painful for us both. In the long run, we both will benefit. Today I will put love first in my life.

648 days ago

Mrsdustin_p,

May 1
At a recent meeting we were asked to fill in the blank, "if only _____would happen, I would be happy" Many of us were tempted to answer that we would be happy if our loved ones got sober. But the "if only's" also kept us feeling deprived. It became clear that many of us have put our happiness on hold for things beyond out control. So we applied the 1st step, and admitted we were powerless over alcohol. These "if only's" made our lives unmanageable, but a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. When we surrender our "if only's" to a Higher Power, we stop acting like victims, waiting for things to change.
Todays Reminder:
There are many areas of my life that I cannot change. What I can change is my attitude. Today I can accept life as it is. I can be grateful and happy, here and now, with what I have.

651 days ago

Mrsdustin_p,

April 30
Thanks to Al-Anon, I no longer have to wait for a situation to explode before I face it. One of the most useful tools has been sharing in meetings. When I put my experiences into words, they seem more real and I am less likely to push them aside. As a result, I can often face problems when they are still only slight irritations and deal with them before they grow and take over. Today I am not so interested in high drama; I'd rather have a real life.
Todays Reminder: Today I will share honestly about something that has been nagging at me. My life deserves my attention.

651 days ago

Mrsdustin_p,

April 29
When past mistakes come to mind I tend to react with guilt, exaggerating the significance of my errors and thinking badly of myself. In Al-Anon, I am learning to see myself realistically. Sure, I have wrestled with alcoholism and taken a fall or two. I've made plenty of mistakes that had nothing to do with alcoholism. But I am not evil. It's time I stop treating myself as if I were. There was a time when the only power I felt I had was the power to mess things up. Today, because I am learning to believe in myself and my ability to make a positive contribution to my own life, I am free to look at my mistakes without blowing them out of proportion.
Todays Reminder:
I will not chain myself to the past with self defeating guilt. Instead I want to face my past and heal old wounds so that I may move forward into a richer, fuller, and more joyous life today!

652 days ago

Mrsdustin_p,

April 28
Sometimes the things we consider our greatest weaknesses prove to be our greatest strengths. All my life I prayed for courage, but it was through my shyness that I learned that courage was already available to me. If my fear had simply been removed, I might never had known that I am capable of acting on my own behalf. I didn't need enough strength to get up in front of a room full of strangers, I only needed enough to take tiny steps, I had exactly enough strength and courage to reach my goal.
Todays Reminder: Anything and everything about me can be used for my good. If I feel insecure or frightened today, I will remember that my fear is a signal that there is something for me to learn.

653 days ago

Mrsdustin_p,

April 26
Self esteem grows when I love and accept myself as I am. I block my own well being each time I base my self worth on what I do or what others think of me. I cannot be perfect, I cannot make others perfect. Yet I am worthy of love, respect, and joy. Let me remind myself every day that I am the child of a perfect Higher Power. That, in itself, commands respect. When I hold this at the forefront of my mind, I will not give up my "self" in the course of any endeavor.
Todays Reminder: Today, when faced with choices, I will opt for the path that enhances my self esteem.

654 days ago

Mrsdustin_p,

April 25
The most important words many of us hear when we first come to Al-Anon are, "Take what you like, and leave the rest." Everything about our program is suggested, not required. This gives us the freedom to pick and choose. If we disagree with something, we don't have to use it, if we are not ready for a Step, slogan, or tool, we are free to wait. When we take what we like and leave the rest, we give ourselves permission to challenge new ideas, to make decisions for ourselves, and even to change our minds.
Todays Reminder: Because I am able to use whatever I find helpful and leave the rest, I can benefit from the experience, strength, and hope of others and still follow my own heart.

655 days ago