What have I learned in this program?

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1. This program has taught me many, many tools.
2. I have learned to be humble, patient, kind, and grateful, and how to have balance in my life now.
3. Only when I made Al-Anon a priority in my life did I really grow. One meeting a week did not cut it. (That is called visiting) Two meetings a week is showing up. Three meetings a weeks is working it. I attend at least three, sometimes six or seven meetings a week.
4. Get a sponsor ASAP. The first seven years I didn’t have a sponsor – the program didn’t come together for me.
5. I now plan my appointments, my fun stuff, around my meetings. I let nothing come in the way of a meeting.
6. How do I become a centered and balanced human being?
   1. By creating white space in my calendar (meaning I set an appointment with myself and let nobody or nothing else disturb me). Not answering the phone, not answering the door. This is my appointment with myself, just like a doctor’s appointment.
   2. By going to Al-Anon meetings and by meeting with my sponsees on a regular basis.
   3. I have hobbies. I love to play petanque (French version of bocce ball). I have done this since 1989. I play on weekends. It is an outdoor sport.
   4. I love music; I love skiing in winter, there is nothing more freeing than being up in the mountains and skiing down hill. It feels like flying. I love hiking. In nature I feel in contact with God.
   5. I love knitting, crocheting, embroidering.
   6. I love playing the piano and singing.
   7. I meditate daily, sometimes more than once. I meditate on the first three steps and apply the “3 A’s”. Awareness, Acceptance and Action = Letting Go and Let God and Surrender. I step out of my will. It’s in His will and in His time not mine.
   8. I love the movies, the theatre and the opera.
   9. I love reading. I love writing. I have a God box.
   10. I am never bored, that word doesn’t exist in my vocabulary.
   11. I love my slogans. I have a slogan box. I choose one slogan per week and try to live by it. There are 15 Al-Anon approved slogans in Hope for Today. I personally added one more, my addict in recovery sent it to me, it’s my absolute favorite one: Let Go or Get Dragged.
   12. I take daily inventory (Step Ten). Every night I try to reflect on what went well today and what didn’t go well. Do I owe amends to anyone, even myself? Or did everything go rather smoothly?
   13. I try very hard to apply my 12 steps to my daily life.
   14. I try very hard to apply my 12 traditions to other outside task that I am involved in. For example I am on the Board of Directors in our Ball Club and I am dealing with all kinds of personalities. I am always reminded of the twelfth traditions: Principles above Personalities. This particular phrase I finally understand now. It took a long time.
   15. I do service in Al-Anon. A year ago I took on a three years commitment at the Book Depot for Marin County. I do have four sponsees. I am filling in for peoples’ positions when they are unable to attend a meeting. I share on a regular basis. Sharing is Caring.
   16. Gratitude is a wonderful tool. Create a Gratitude List!

Yes, it is possible to have serenity and peace in this program.

 

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