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Gratitude List from
District 5 Al-Anon:
Any time is a good
time to be grateful, but meeting topics often focus on gratitude in the time
prior to Thanksgiving. Many members say they are grateful to the Al-Anon program
for the loving acceptance, personal serenity, and tools for recovery from the
effects of another’s alcoholism that they have found in the rooms of Al-Anon
and from Al-Anon members. One of the tools many members find helpful is a
“gratitude list.” By composing a mental or written “gratitude list” many
members say they become more consciously grateful, and develop a more
consistent “Attitude of Gratitude.” That attitude helps us survive the rough
spots, handle challenges, appreciate what we have instead of focusing on what
we lack, treat other people as we would want to be treated, and be a model for
others.
Some like to make
an alphabetical list (some say this is a good action for insomnia!) some like
to list a certain number of items, some like to list whatever comes to mind,
and some look for things they are grateful for in specific situations.
We’d like to hear
from YOU about what you are grateful for and compile it into a District 5
gratitude list that might be helpful for others. Please contact us at afgdistrict5@gmail.com
to share what you’re grateful for and we’ll add your “gratitude” to the list
and post it. You can send one or as many “gratitudes” as you like, and you can
write as little or as much as you like; just sending what you’re grateful for
is fine, or you can write about it too. We will be grateful for whatever you
share!
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Gratitude share: When I first came to
Al-Anon, I was frightened all the time, sad all the time and hopeless that
anything could ever get better. My husband is addicted to alcohol and drugs
and our home had become an environment of chaos, fear, shame and
occasionally violence. Al-Anon gave me the confidence and courage to
change the things I can change while accepting that my
husband's addiction was one of the things I could not change. I
have separated from my husband and today I am raising my children in a safe,
stable and loving home. I wish their father could be part of our home
but I have accepted that for now and unless he some day
accepts recovery that can not be. I am grateful
that although I still feel scared or sad at times, fear doesn't occupy every
waking moment and I have hope for myself, my children, and my husband. I am
grateful for the love and acceptance and practical solutions I have
found in Al-Anon. ~
Anonymous (posted 11/29/09) How can I thank thee, Al-Anon? Let me try to count the
ways: meetings with others seeking recovery, phone lists, Fellowship,
Conference Approved Literature, Slogans, Serenity Prayer, Gratitude Days,
Assemblies, Conferences, Workshops, studying the Steps, Traditions, Concepts,
the Forum “meeting in my pocket” magazine, Sponsors, Service, Sharing of
Experience, Strength and Hope. So, I
came up with a few just in a short few minutes of thinking. Can you? ~
Maggie S. (posted 04/17/09) Gratitude share:
I am grateful that today I can love my son and hate his disease and
mostly not get the two mixed up. I am grateful that I can forgive my
son when his behaviors cause hurt to others but even more hurt to himself.
I am grateful that I can mostly forgive myself for the mistakes I made
when my son's addiction became manifested. I am grateful to be able to
welcome my son into our home when he is able to be with us and respect our
limits, and tell him it is time to leave when he steps outside of our limits.
I am grateful to be able to have hope that some time my son may embrace
recovery, without having to have an expectation that it will happen.
I am grateful to have hope that his moment of clarity and moment
of grace may come, and know that I am not responsible for bringing it to him
or for whether or not he accepts it. I am grateful that there are
people who can help my son when I am not able to, if and when he may choose
some day to accept their help. I too am grateful to be grateful, because
there was a time when I had no hope, no gratitude and lived in constant fear.
I am grateful to the helping professionals who steered me towards Al-Anon,
and grateful that Al-Anon is there for me.
~ Anonymous. (posted 12/11/08) Grateful: Hi everyone, My name is Barb S. and I
am a grateful member of Al-Anon.
Gratitude - I love this topic!!! When I first came through the
doors of Al-Anon I did not know what to expect. I surely did not think
I would stay around for long or that it would completely change my
life. Thankfully today I am not the same person that walked into a
meeting so many years ago. I have been through many things since coming into
Al-Anon. I have been through a bitter divorce, death of a son and
recently the loss of a 14 year job. All these things could have
completely thrown me over the edge but because of my faith in HP, my
wonderful supportive family and Al-Anon I am able to continue to go on. My
goal in life is to be happy, joyous and free. I want to have a
peaceful existence with myself and the world I live in. I can achieve
these things by focusing on myself and going to meetings. I attend 1 to 2
meetings a week. When things are rough I go to more. I have heard
that someone entering AA is told to go to 90 meetings in 90 days.
I think that prescription is also good for us in Al-Anon. When I
attend meetings it gives me clarity. I have found that sitting at
home and stewing about a problem does not work. When I go to a meeting
and talk about what is going on it loses its power to dominate my
thoughts. I am so very grateful to Al-Anon for the tools that I
have been given. I also am grateful for all the hugs and smiles I get
from my Al-Anon friends. The support I get in Al-Anon is
priceless. Thanks for listening, ~
Barb (posted 11/26/08) Gratitude: I am grateful for my health, for my
mind, for my spirit. I am grateful for emotions whether they are
comfortable or not. I am grateful for the love of my family and
friends—especially those in the program. I have had the courage to
reach out, stay positive, set boundaries, be authentic and respond with
compassion because I find experience, strength and hope in Al-Anon. My
faith in the God of my understanding, the Universe, Spirit, Creator, Higher
Power, Source, whatever/however you want to name It has grown and blossomed.
I am OK. All is well. Life is good. It’s all good.
Everything will be all right. I surrender. Be happy.
I choose joy. ~ Patty (posted 11/22/08) My Higher Power and the Al-Anon program: I am grateful to have a Higher Power and
for the program process I have learned to trust. I do not have to
wallow in my misery as it is one in a long menu of choices when I have a
difficult challenge. I can choose to read the literature, call my
sponsor, go to a meeting, pray and meditate, go for a walk, work out at
the gym, play with the dogs. The list is endless. AND the
program works, steps, slogans, even making a regular gratitude list to be
reminded of the blessings that have been bestowed upon me and my
family. God is good! ~ ANONYMOUS!!! (posted 11/19/08) A.A. and Al-Anon, and family and friends: I am very grateful for A.A. and Al-Anon. If the Higher
Power had not given us these programs, I would no long have a marriage or a
life. My husband works his program in A.A. and I work mine in Al-Anon.
We now have been married 50 years and we have received many blessings from
these programs. I am grateful for my family and also for my many
friends in Al-Anon. The Al-Anon program has saved my life many times
and helped me with work problems, grandchildren not in recovery and other
personal relationships. Thank you for letting me share!! ~ Hugs,
Mary Lou. (posted 11/02/08) Gratitude. So much to
put down. I shall begin. I shall not finish, because living life is an
ongoing experience, lesson. I'm grateful to be alive, to live each day as it unfolds. I'm grateful for a Higher Power, whom I chose to call God. I'm grateful for the fellowship of Al-Anon. Thanks to the founders of
A.A. and Al-Anon for my life today. I'm grateful that I can live each day according to the suggested
Steps, Traditions, and Concepts of Al-Anon. Is it difficult? YES! Can I do it
perfectly? NO WAY! I am a human being who shall make mistakes and God
forgives me. I could go on and on. Suffice it to put it down on paper for now. Keep coming back to the meetings. It's worth it because YOU are
worth it. Peace. ~ Kathy S. (posted 01/21/08) Gratitude: When my son's drug and alcohol
addiction began to consume him, I became consumed with trying to help him get
better. I was terrified he would die, and so did everything I could think of
to try to get him to stop drinking and using drugs, and to protect him
meanwhile. When my son finally accepted help at a local treatment center, I
was forced to sit back and let others help him. I am grateful to Al-Anon for
helping me to let go so he could get the help he needed. I am grateful to have my son back, and I
will be forever grateful to Dawn Farm and A.A. for helping my son get well. I
am grateful every day for how Al-Anon helps me to learn, change and grow. ~
Jen. (posted 09/15/07) An Attitude
of Gratitude. I remember the first time I used this term when conversing
with my Mom early in my recovery. She seemed surprised, as I rarely expressed anything other than
negativity pre-program. And I was surprised, too, because I remembered wondering when I began my journey
of recovery if I would EVER learn the
“jargon.” It was like a foreign language to me - all the talk of Steps & Slogans & Traditions, Oh, my!!
I think that the term
“spirituality” was a big motivator for my new Attitude of Gratitude. I am
forever grateful that this miraculous
program lead me to the God of MY understanding, and that this new-found HP of mine continues to guide me
and prompt me to work this program so
I can continue, one day at a time, to
practice the Al-Anon principles in all my affairs. After my Mom passed
away, we came across a notebook that
I believe she started after we had that conversation about gratitude. She was not in a program of
recovery, but she began to
list 3 things a day that she was grateful for! I don't write in my gratitude book as faithfully as I
could, yet when I do pick it up - and if I'm not in an especially serene a spot as I'd like to be, writing in my
gratitude journal always gives
me some inner peace. And I like to think that my Mom experienced some of that, too. Thank
YOU for being here! Create a
BEYOU tiful day!! ODAT
xooxxooxox ~
Diane B. (posted 09/09/07) Grateful to be grateful: The first time I heard my sponsor use this
phrase in suggesting that I write a “gratitude list” I didn’t expect much to
come from it. I felt I was always a mostly grateful person, most of the time,
even when times were challenging, but I was willing to try out what was
suggested because I could see that others seemed to benefit from these
actions. Surprise, surprise – I found
that making the list helped make me more consciously aware of things I am
grateful for – and grateful for more things – and resentful of way fewer
things. Today, I’m grateful to be more consciously in contact with what I am
grateful for – grateful for my sponsor’s advice - and “grateful to be grateful!”
~ Anonymous. (posted 09/08/07) Gratitude: I have so much to be grateful
for. Al-Anon has saved my life many times. I made a major job
change 17 years ago and I have been blessed because of this
decision. I would not have been able to do this without the
"Higher Power," the Al-Anon program and many supportive
Al-Anon friends. My husband found recovery 22 years ago. Thanks to
Al-Anon and AA we will celebrate 50 years of marriage in 2008. This
would not have been possible without both programs. I continue to work the
program "One Day at a Time”. Thank you for listening!! Lots of
Hugs, ~ Mary Lou. (posted 09/03/07) Your “gratitude” share can go here – please consider adding to our
Gratitude list! |
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