tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post2588220985053798784..comments2024-02-05T11:32:25.407-05:00Comments on I'm just F.I.N.E.-- Recovery in Al-Anon: Interesting work with othersUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-66126888738147481392010-05-20T11:56:54.343-04:002010-05-20T11:56:54.343-04:00This is the first time I've visited your blog ...This is the first time I've visited your blog and just wanted to thank you... lovely reflection of what it means to keep what we have by giving it away.<br /><br />Recently my beloved AlAnon sponsor of 11 1/2 years returned the 50 or so pages of 4th-step material I had written and given to her as part of my fifth step. We had talked about the material, of course; but as I was writing, I'd send her batches of pages, and unbeknownst to me she collected them and filed them. On a card, she had written, "Dear Guinevere, 'Remember when...'" That has been one of her favorite sayings throughout my recovery in AlAnon. Remember When. Compare Yourself To Yourself, Not To Others.<br /><br />She wrote, "Today you have more hope and 'I don't know' with a smile."<br /><br />Of course, my recovery for the last 20 months in AA has also helped. I've worked two rigorous fifth steps and cleaned up a great deal of wreckage.<br /><br />I respect your focus on getting your sponsees to take ownership of their processes... <br /><br />And I love your profile pic. <br /><br />Thanks for being here... I've put you on my blogroll (hope that's OK)... Hope you'll stop by my place sometime. http://guineveregetssober.com --GGuineverehttp://guineveregetssober.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-66198117086347114142010-05-20T07:09:39.715-04:002010-05-20T07:09:39.715-04:00your journey..really inspires...Stay strong ok...your journey..really inspires...Stay strong ok...Nikki (Sarah)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13731200601840020130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-17822363888459735502010-05-20T06:59:17.613-04:002010-05-20T06:59:17.613-04:00a day of service to God and others leads to a fitf...a day of service to God and others leads to a fitful sleep indeed!<br /><br />recovery folks in your area are fortunate to have you out and about helping and sharing your experience and wisdom.Scott M. Freyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11588618061480681504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-43400087590836286852010-05-20T06:53:00.476-04:002010-05-20T06:53:00.476-04:00I accepted so fully that God was everything as I w...I accepted so fully that God was everything as I went through the 4th and 5th step process I had no choice.<br /><br />Of course, I've had these experiences too, wondering (worrying) about sponsees or others in the rooms to whom my heart is connected more intimately. I'm quite often surprised when they continue to come, or surprised when I find someone isn't as willing as they seemed when they were right at the brink of their personal crisis. <br /><br />I'm not fond of meetings where the topic is a problem, I like them much more when the topic is the solution. It helps to center the meeting in solution sharing rather than problem sharing (but that's opinion and only my experience, I'm still quite often surprised when a sad or depressing meeting full of sharing problems gets hit in the end with someone who shares truth and solution so well that it changes the spirit of the room palpably and end up very powerfully solution based anyway. Thank God for the dedicated men and women who are there to continue to carry the solution back into the meetings to pull more people through the murky waters to a place where they too can experience the connection to a God of wonderful power and light. :)Jess Mistress of Mischiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766848582303523764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-83191395517775399332010-05-20T02:28:59.533-04:002010-05-20T02:28:59.533-04:00Good grief, Syd! You were, like, totally immersed ...Good grief, Syd! You were, like, totally immersed in working the steps. I was tired for you by the time you wound everything up. Such stamina! You set an awesome example for someone wondering what it's like to be of service. Personally, I have enough energy to work with one person on her step in a day. It's emotionally draining and wonderful. I bet you slept like a log.Enchanted Oakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14815997287116818456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-40864135130930418772010-05-19T23:28:22.094-04:002010-05-19T23:28:22.094-04:00My recovery comes in layers, and so does my honest...My recovery comes in layers, and so does my honesty with myself and others. I like what I read in your post about becoming specific. I learn by seeing people who are seemingly telling my story by exposing their own painful truths.I would like to become more fearless.Let Go, Let Godhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02734821434596510493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-42852636466432662092010-05-19T22:47:40.327-04:002010-05-19T22:47:40.327-04:00First of all...what a day! This post made me think...First of all...what a day! This post made me think of the saying, "We are only as sick as our secrets." Speaking them to another sets us free. Plain and simple. We aren't imprisoned by the fears of "what if someone finds out..." IME, it is better to offer the information freely than to get "found out."Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18326425173333184401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-53268117161727485342010-05-19T15:31:47.683-04:002010-05-19T15:31:47.683-04:00somehow just reading you gives me peace...you exud...somehow just reading you gives me peace...you exude peace...so thank you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10327991964710241536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-14383789695793986092010-05-19T15:22:30.997-04:002010-05-19T15:22:30.997-04:00I like that you sponsor someone who wants to work ...I like that you sponsor someone who wants to work the steps and see you regularly but does not go to meetings regularly nor is he seeking service work. We are all at such different places and if this is all he is able to do right now, at least he is working the steps. I think what I like is that you aren't setting him up and telling him he has to do things a certain way or hit the highway. The fact that you share your experience with him and let it go is to your credit. You never know, this man might some day be into service and meetings and be a super sponsor.CiCihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08615265608675467505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-39269871666759040182010-05-19T15:05:12.304-04:002010-05-19T15:05:12.304-04:00Thanks for this post, Syd. This site helps me so ...Thanks for this post, Syd. This site helps me so much. I'm at sea so much of the time and your comments help me to see how I can just keep doing the things that bring recovery, whether I want to or not. Contrary action is hard! But what else can I do? I have nowhere else to turn but my HP, my meetings, my sponsor... and this wonderful site. Blessings....Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487547706500122389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-89303104425249943122010-05-19T14:46:18.773-04:002010-05-19T14:46:18.773-04:00thanks for sharing on the 5th Step. I went to an ...thanks for sharing on the 5th Step. I went to an Al-Anon meeting last week and we read and shared on this step. I realized that I often forget to admit to God my faults because I figure He knows what they are!mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01700941649031924777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-71232878019992182502010-05-19T14:25:31.970-04:002010-05-19T14:25:31.970-04:00The main thing I learned from my first 5th Step, i...The main thing I learned from my first 5th Step, is that I was not the awful creature I'd imagined myself.TAAAFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03607602088454891329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-59611049676546869452010-05-19T14:14:29.384-04:002010-05-19T14:14:29.384-04:00When I finally got to the doors of AA I was beyond...When I finally got to the doors of AA I was beyond ready. I was done. Doing my fourth and fifth steps brought up a lot of pain but I was also so ready to lay them down. I presented them to God and my sponsor. By sharing them out loud with another it legitamized that they actually happened. The could no longer be smoothed over by my cunning little mind. It was such a good feeling to revisit the past and realize that I could survive that look, to scrutinze my defects of character and honestly understand why I do or did the things I did. When people ask me about AA they expect it to be all about the alcohol. I always tell them it is a program that can change your life. Drunk or sober a twelve step program that is truly worked is life changing. Celebrate your busy life!drybottomgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10702877045042502693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-87440654393075532752010-05-19T14:05:25.768-04:002010-05-19T14:05:25.768-04:00we cant deny those dark places, they are there and...we cant deny those dark places, they are there and ignoring them only seems to make them stronger...i would much rather tell the tale than be left to deal with them alone...Brian Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722940075884718007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-41702568103377690732010-05-19T11:53:10.225-04:002010-05-19T11:53:10.225-04:00awesome reflections of your busy day,
I am glad th...awesome reflections of your busy day,<br />I am glad that you have moments of peace!<br />Happy Wednesday!Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01546696605935159862noreply@blogger.com