Whew...

I told my story last night and greatly enjoyed it. My focus this time was on the 12 steps and what they have meant for me in recovery. I did provide biographical information as well but have found that focusing on my pain and suffering isn't what I want to talk about. Instead I want to talk about what happened to me to bring me to Al-Anon and how I've worked on my recovery.

I was happy that my sponsor was there. And I know that I wouldn't have gotten where I am today without such a compassionate and knowledgeable person. I am grateful, very grateful:

• That I have had the benefit of what this program offers and have been willing to accept being taught
• That I trusted what I saw at meetings and what my sponsor told me
• That I won't "graduate" from Al-Anon but have made a commitment to it as a way of living
• That I will always be a work in progress
• That I know myself better than before I started this program
  

"We are like many-faceted gemstones. Each side represents a different aspect of us. We have our emotional sides with different feelings and responses. We have our competencies and strengths, hopes and desires, destructiveness and negativity, self-doubts and resentments. We also possess a drive for power and knowledge, a desire to serve, and a wish to connect with others.

We need a working relationship with our thoughts and feelings so they can be appreciated, accepted, and understood. When we tell our story in a meeting, we let others know us, and we get to know ourselves better. When we are spontaneous in what we say or do, we communicate with ourselves. " From Touchstones