Reflections for Every Day - April

[yukonm]

April 1

BettyAnn Says:

There have been so many random acts of kindness that have been instrumental in the saving of my time in the program. I now pass these random acts of kindness on to others, and try to remind other members that being in A.A. is like growing up in public, and there are times when the awkwardness of adolescence is quite painful enough.

[bluidkiti]

April 2

BuddyT Says:

We have this crazy male Cardinal that sits on our porch railing and flies up and attacks his image in our glass storm door over and over with a loud thump. All day, it's thump, thump, thump. We put sun catchers on the door, taped paper to the glass, but nothing stops him. He's been at it for two years! His mate perches nearby and quietly watches him do this to himself again and again. She HAS to be an Al-Anon!

[yukonm]

April 3

Radar Says:

The great thing about the Al-Anon/ACOA group I attend is that the minute I walked in to that room I knew I was where I needed to be. I belonged there. As I went through and read along with the "laundry list" pamphlet that we use as a guide for our sharings in the meetings, I identified so viscerally with the list of characteristics and problems spelled out there. By gradually opening up to share my experiences I identified my feelings and really felt some of them for the first time.

[yukonm]

April 4

Brenda Y Says:

At first sobriety scared me... who would I talk to if I didn't go to the bars? Where would I go for fun? How would I handle bad days without the bar, the booze, and my bar friends? I knew no other life for more than 20 years. Well believe it or not, everyday of my 10 years of sobriety has had a blessing, and I really mean everyday! Good, bad, or other, everyday has brought me good things.

[yukonm]

April 5

Janie Says:

It wasn't until someone at ACOA explained to me about "the elephant in the living room" that anything made any sense out of all the craziness that was going on in my own household with three teenagers. We all were walking around "the elephant." Sometimes when you are in a situation you cannot see what is really going on until someone in a 12 step group for a long time explains it. I thank that person so much!

[yukonm]

April 6

Work-In-Progress Says:

I have been a member of Al-Anon for 10 years and I just want to thank all of the members for always being there for me whenever I want to reach out and receive the gift of life and love. Before Al-Anon I had no life -- only focusing on other people's problems and not dealing with my own life. I was always blaming the alcoholics for everything that was wrong with my life. The only thing that they were guilty of was having a terrible disease that they did not want or ask for.

[yukonm]

April 7

Tim S. Says:

We are less prone to repeat doing wrong things when practicing Step 10 because we alkies don't relish making amends. The usual outcome is that we find out it isn't the end of the world to make a mistake. Did you ever notice how the eraser on a pencil wears out long before the wooden part? If I had my way I'd make the eraser a lot longer.

[yukonm]

April 8

BuddyT Says:

When I have a tough decision to make, I use the principles of the 12 steps to help me make the right choice. I tell myself, God and another human being what I have decided and then I sit back and see how that "feels." If I have a peace about it, usually I find I have made the right decision. If I don't have a peace about it, chances are I either made the wrong decision or I don't know all of the options yet.

[yukonm]

April 9

Rhyan Says:

There are many things that the program of Alcoholics Anonymous has taught me but one of the most important things at the beginning was simply a question. I was taught to replace the question "why?" with "how?" When I got here I was full of why's. Then I started asking how do I recover, how do I live sober, how do I start to be honest and how do I work the steps? The results from this replacement is "indescribably wonderful" and the results are all God's!

[yukonm]

April 10

Catherine C. Says:

Having wonderful sponsees helps to keep me working my program. Sharing my experience, strength, and hope with others, in the program, is one of the highlights which my Higher Power provides. I am learning so much about living a sane life, one-day-at-a-time.

[yukonm]

April 11

Virginia Says:

One Day at a Time. For each day that passes and I remain sober is truly a blessing from God, as I have come to understand him. Individuals without God in their lives are beyond my comprehension. I have come to know that God loves me and provides for my daily needs, not wants. My daily need to stay sober.

[yukonm]

April 12

Jason M. Says:

I thank God for AA, get on my knees in the morning to pray, read my morning meditations, work on being humble, help by making coffee at meetings, talk... basically everything I can that is suggested. It's been just about four months now and I've had ruff times, but I handle them differently now! Life is okay for today and I feel hopeful.

[yukonm]

April 13

Radar Says:

Listening to others is also so beneficial because hearing others express the same things I have felt or dealt with me makes feel less like my situation is unique. This helps me to accept my background and how it has shaped me and to move on to living a saner life. The give and take of listening and sharing in my meetings and the impact this has made in my life is a gift that I can only describe as divine. These people are my family and know more about the real me than my family of origin.

[yukonm]

April 14

Tina Says:

My attitudes and expectations over people, places, and things are what let me down the most. Maybe if I work on changing that instead of others, serenity will come easier. I can't change what other's think of me. I can change how I think about myself though. Once I realize my worth, other people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors towards me won't affect me nearly has deep as before.

[yukonm]

April 15

Penny Says:

I was walking down the street the other day and coming towards me was the sweetest woman I have ever met and a fellow Al-Anon member. She stopped and gave me a hug and whispered in my ear that I was beautiful and she loved me and off she went. It just lifted my spirits for the rest of the day. That simple encounter with a wonderful member of this program made me realize what was missing in my life. I need to attend more meetings.

[yukonm]

April 16

Mike B. Says:

Through the Grace of God and the help of AA, I haven't had a drink in a little over 20 years. To this day, the best part of being sober is waking up in the morning. When I open my eyes I know where I am, remember how I got there. I don't have to run to the window and see if my car is there, I know it is. While having my morning coffee instead of alcohol, I enjoy watching squirrels, birds, etc. I didn't even know they existed during my drinking days.

[yukonm]

April 17

Lovie Says:

Take the time for you own spirituality that best fits you not for anyone else. Some bring back unwanted memories, it's then that you take the time to forgive but everyone knows it's hard to forget. Remember there is always a solution to a problem instead of making it more of a problem, we as people are the number one cause of creating our own personal problems. Through prayer or mediation we can overcome these so called "problems."

[yukonm]

April 18

Arlis D. Says:

My recovery was greatly enhanced once I realized that no action just happens. There is always a thought preceding every action. Therefore, if I share my thoughts with another alcoholic (including thoughts of drinking), there is a less chance that I will relapse today. Thank God for other alcoholics -- I could not do this alone!

[yukonm]

April 19

Judy B. Says:

There are times when I feel like I'm on the outside looking in. A feeling like I don't belong. I never have had a sponsor I could connect with. Probably because I've always felt like "one of guys" and not "one of the gals." They say the rule of thumb is for the men to get a man sponsor and the women to get a woman sponsor. Even with AA there are exceptions to rules. I may be on the outside, but at least I'm looking in.

[yukonm]

April 20

Laurel B. Says:

The gifts of sobriety just keep coming from my higher power as I celebrate my third year sober. The Promises of the program really do come true in my life. I just have to keep doing my part by asking for help and reaching out my hand to others. Wait for the miracle!

[yukonm]

April 21

Trish Says:

I try to keep my addictions in perspective, for now I have to constantly monitor when I show signs of falling off the wagon. I know someday it will become easier as I adopt new thinking into my life. It takes awhile to get comfortable with changes. It may feel strange at first but what can you expect when all you know is dysfunction? Patience is a virtue, I guess.

[yukonm]

April 22

Tina Says:

Feelings aren't fact. When I'm in an upsetting situation, I need to dismiss my feelings and "Think." The more I use my head in times my feelings want to take over, the less amends I have to make after I have cooled off. Good things and bad things happen to everyone. Whichever one we choose to focus on, on a daily basis will determine our serenity.

[yukonm]

April 23

Ariel Z. Says:

I think I fantasized that I would lose 60 pounds, suddenly make headway in my career, and have my finances and my house in order just by going into recovery. It turns out the miracle was getting the serenity so I could get my act together to do the work on my own life. It's hard to make progress when you are living from forest fire to forest fire.

[yukonm]

April 24

Tere Says:

This year I will focus on loving myself: that is, accepting myself as I am, forgiving myself for times that I've "failed"; not judging myself, not feeling sorry for myself. Rather, I will love myself and have compassion for myself; to thank God for my many blessings and thus be able to be present to what life has to offer.

[yukonm]

April 25

Walt B. Says:

AA isn't a crash course in "How to drink responsibly in 90 days" Nor is it a "Get to know God overnight" seminar. What it is is "A fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so that they may SOLVE their common problem and HELP others to recover from alcoholism"

[yukonm]

April 26

Radar Says:

Taking the twelve steps has been and continues to be a spiritual journey for me. This journey, that occasionally takes me back to the pain of the past for further growth, mostly keeps me focused on the present and the hope for the future. Needless to say I am a grateful member of Al-Anon and would recommend this program to anyone whose life has been affected by alcohol.

[yukonm]

April 27

Steve R. Says:

Willingness is another key aspect of recovery. The willingness to: change and be open to new ideas, ways, and attitudes. Our ways of the past have clearly not worked, and only made things worse. We need to be willing to make radical changes in our lives in order to make recovery work for us. We need to be willing to do whatever it takes, to go to any length necessary in order to remain clean and sober.

[yukonm]

April 28

Melinda Says:

I just celebrated my first anniversary with Al-Anon. What a wonderful accomplishment! I was just thinking that my life has become rather boring. I have finally gotten off the emotional roller-coaster that I rode for as long as I could remember. Insanity doesn't live here anymore. I have learned to take care of me. I still have pain at times, but Al-Anon has given me the tools to work through it. I find that I no longer react in the ways I used to, and for that I am forever grateful.

[yukonm]

April 29

Seabreeze Says:

Today, 'As Awful As I Feel', I must get to a meeting and face my daily fears. I must try to share them no matter how hard I try to conceal them. I feel my strengths and weaknesses will only make my group stronger today and hopefully keep 'Me' sober till the next meeting; whether It be six hours or 24 hours. The Fellowship will do all It can to ease my pain but only I can make this simple program work for myself.

[yukonm]

April 30

Deb W. Says:

My perspective on life has improved tremendously since I started the program seven months ago and got sober. However, I still have alot of debilitating fear which causes me to emotionally disconnect by "acting out." When I do this, I feel as if I may as well have been drinking because the consequences are the same. I think it's time for me to start working the steps.