tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post671166928937386726..comments2024-02-05T11:32:25.407-05:00Comments on I'm just F.I.N.E.-- Recovery in Al-Anon: Healthy recoveryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-37749531667512671082012-10-15T08:55:09.487-04:002012-10-15T08:55:09.487-04:00Holly, so very true. I think that many people gra...Holly, so very true. I think that many people grasp onto what they hear as if it were a lifeline. But it can also have a huge anchor attached too. I think that following the idea in Al-Anon that there are no musts, just suggestions is a good one. Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-82220559547851787812012-10-15T08:53:43.262-04:002012-10-15T08:53:43.262-04:00I love the fall here. It is really a lovely time ...I love the fall here. It is really a lovely time of year. Summer--not so much because of the heat and humidity. Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-25414337609853709072012-10-15T08:52:49.627-04:002012-10-15T08:52:49.627-04:00Love that thought, Dorothy.Love that thought, Dorothy.Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-80309889098451376442012-10-15T08:52:21.732-04:002012-10-15T08:52:21.732-04:00Thanks, Lori. It's a shame that people are ch...Thanks, Lori. It's a shame that people are chased away from the very place that is supposed to be safe. Who needs to go to a meeting where there is some one who is a controller? Didn't those of us who live with active alcoholism have enough controlling in our lives?Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-75342753369091587292012-10-15T08:50:32.003-04:002012-10-15T08:50:32.003-04:00All our cats have biblical names! All our cats have biblical names! Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-12978970772353212952012-10-15T08:50:07.511-04:002012-10-15T08:50:07.511-04:00I had to find some where else. And eventually I q...I had to find some where else. And eventually I quit the unhealthy meeting. Now I can go back and see that it is trying to get "well". Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-18678062156184112332012-10-15T08:48:58.753-04:002012-10-15T08:48:58.753-04:00I knew that I needed what the program had to offer...I knew that I needed what the program had to offer, Marcia. So I found a healthy meeting and went. It helped me a great deal to find the meetings where there was good recovery. Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-50735853020818075982012-10-15T08:48:00.352-04:002012-10-15T08:48:00.352-04:00There are many sick people in the rooms. Hopefull...There are many sick people in the rooms. Hopefully, some are trying to get well. I like the analogy of it being a bit like the crazy people running the asylum. It doesn't always work. Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-44025974059252148582012-10-15T08:46:59.574-04:002012-10-15T08:46:59.574-04:00Yes, it was a beautiful week. I am glad to seek o...Yes, it was a beautiful week. I am glad to seek out the healthy in my life. I can recognize the dysfunctional readily. Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-27009502767720973302012-10-15T08:46:05.172-04:002012-10-15T08:46:05.172-04:00Yes, it does make it a safe place. But I also like...Yes, it does make it a safe place. But I also like to say that people need to attend multiple meetings so that they can find the right "fit" for them. I'm glad that I attend several different meetings in which I feel at home. Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-87476187842643549472012-10-15T08:44:43.109-04:002012-10-15T08:44:43.109-04:00I hope not. I hope that Lil will snuggle with you...I hope not. I hope that Lil will snuggle with you. Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-75416192063629682732012-10-15T08:44:19.138-04:002012-10-15T08:44:19.138-04:00We say the Al-Anon declaration at some of the meet...We say the Al-Anon declaration at some of the meetings now. Thinking that everyone is a Christian and saying the Lord's prayer really goes against the idea that Al-Anon is not a religious organization. I never understood the contradiction with that. Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-7630016066818854852012-10-15T08:42:03.294-04:002012-10-15T08:42:03.294-04:00That's the road to our place, Brian. It does ...That's the road to our place, Brian. It does welcome me and sustains me. Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-60808939604369471172012-10-14T20:13:54.367-04:002012-10-14T20:13:54.367-04:00P.S. love the cats and love their names!P.S. love the cats and love their names!luluberoohttp://justtobeisablessing.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-74784426885093864952012-10-12T12:26:01.912-04:002012-10-12T12:26:01.912-04:00Very good post. I have a few friends who built up ...Very good post. I have a few friends who built up the nerve to go to NA/AA and went to an "unhealthy" meeting. They were unsure about going at first and meetings such as these terminated their desire to go back. Lovely photos. I really like the one with the trees. Fall is upon us in PA and I am loving it. Be well!Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06284123619357068571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-74301693514435647392012-10-12T09:49:45.395-04:002012-10-12T09:49:45.395-04:00That's one of the things I love about my regul...That's one of the things I love about my regular Al-Anon meeting: My first step meeting including the suggestion that I try 6 meetings, different ones throughout the area. A gentleman with decades of recovery often says to newcomers, "I love this meeting and it's my home. But, this may not be the right one for you. Keep going until you find one that fits." Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-28464071155782105262012-10-12T08:23:02.840-04:002012-10-12T08:23:02.840-04:00I have learned the hard way to be very discerning ... I have learned the hard way to be very discerning about<br />advice I am given. What you wrote here can apply to many<br />situations where advice is freely handed out (not just AA and <br />Alanon). Whether it be advice from a relative, a workman, a<br />doctor, or a counselor, I think that we each need to weigh its<br />merits. What's hard is that often, we are in vulnerable situations<br />that cause us to not think clearly or don't have the necessary<br />knowledge to make an informed decision.<br /><br /> Take Care,<br /> HollyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-5855980631148889782012-10-12T06:32:11.560-04:002012-10-12T06:32:11.560-04:00you're right, you have to find the place where...you're right, you have to find the place where you fit in and are comfortable with what is going on. i tend to take a little bit of a lot of things that work for me, and voila! i have my little magic formula. and so should each person do for themselves too.<br /><br />enjoy the cooler weather. we're heading into summer, and i'm just not into it yet. too many disruptions (building at home) and upsets (i lost my african grey parrot) this early summer season... quite frankly i feel like going somewhere to hibernate for a while...Shadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999801833389058410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-53034061938046256062012-10-11T22:04:48.092-04:002012-10-11T22:04:48.092-04:00It is worrying to think about the number of vulner...It is worrying to think about the number of vulnerable people who may think wrong ways are normal, and not have the courage to seek help somewhere else. Good advice once again, Syd.jenny_ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475480579733466963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-71365485962669543762012-10-11T20:56:54.628-04:002012-10-11T20:56:54.628-04:00I tried going to a meeting that was closer, more c...I tried going to a meeting that was closer, more convenient, but it felt wrong so I went back to the one that felt right. I probably would not have been strong enough to handle the unhealthy meeting. I hate it when I hear of people that had a bad first experience with Alanon. I doubt I would have continued to go. Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09072868519236902423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-74882600899234775432012-10-11T18:15:39.679-04:002012-10-11T18:15:39.679-04:00Wow, Syd, I was just formulating a post about this...Wow, Syd, I was just formulating a post about this. I thought I was the only one that found the "advice" that was pressed on me sometimes was actually quite harmful.<br />Working the steps (twice, with two different sponsors) was good for me. Listening to some of those dominant personalities..not so much.<br /><br />luluberoohttp://justtobeisablessing.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-54813794133338342052012-10-11T16:58:39.548-04:002012-10-11T16:58:39.548-04:00As always, Syd, your message may be about recovery...As always, Syd, your message may be about recovery in Al-Anon but it translates so well to life in general. <br />Seek the healthy. Amen, amen.<br />We, too, are loving this cooler weather. It is perfect at the beach. No bugs and the water is still warm enough for swimming but it is lovely and cool enough so that no one is melting on the beach. <br />Could not ask for a more beautiful week. Ms. Moonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09776404747858099919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-26933457456560311002012-10-11T11:23:26.439-04:002012-10-11T11:23:26.439-04:00Poor newcomers who walk into an unhealthy meeting....Poor newcomers who walk into an unhealthy meeting. I didn't even know that was a possibility in the beginning. lol Of course now it makes perfect sense.....all of these ailing people coming together to find their way. Thank God Bill and Lois set up a strong system of principles and steps. When they are followed the continuity and stability is a beautiful thing. It makes Alanon a safe place to be. <br />I can't wait to see the "finished" kitchen pictures! I'm assuming you will share them of course. lol Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18326425173333184401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-31284951778206064502012-10-11T09:48:15.100-04:002012-10-11T09:48:15.100-04:00love the pic of the kitties. Lil is going to miss ...love the pic of the kitties. Lil is going to miss snuggling with Henry this winter and now that he's gone I wonder if she'll follow quickly behind him.Anybethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01193999238104640590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904990175885851041.post-23368728471236471992012-10-11T09:43:33.330-04:002012-10-11T09:43:33.330-04:00Good morning Syd. A good post. In our "Bible...Good morning Syd. A good post. In our "Bible belt" area all the AA meetings end with everyone holding hands and reciting the Lord's prayer. There are so many of us that find that offensive and finally one of the groups now opens and ends their meetings with the Serenity Prayer. It has been a life saver for some and in my Home Group at least we say "we will close with the Lord's prayer, prayer of your choice or silence" and that came about from a Group Conscience. Ginniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12749133391349265563noreply@blogger.com