Dancing in the Rain
My journey toward the spiritual life I’ve found in Al‑Anon began when I was a young child growing up in an alcoholic family. But I didn’t start down this road to recovery until halfway through my life, when
A Valentine for My Dad
One of the gifts of Al‑Anon, for me, has been that I’ve gained the ability to see my loved ones who suffer from alcoholism with “new eyes”—to see their positive qualities, not just their defects. My father was one
A Welcoming Tradition
Attracting and welcoming newcomers to Al‑Anon is so important. We have all experienced our first Al‑Anon meeting: the nervousness, frustration, embarrassment, and annoyance. My first recollection is being put at ease as soon as I entered the room.
How I Can Help My Children
When I first walked into an Al‑Anon meeting, there was a member at the door who smiled and offered me a hug. I felt so welcome. After they opened the meeting by reading from The Twelve Steps and
I Can’t Do This Alone Anymore
It was a normal, nice day. Things seemed to be going so well—until it happened. Not again! I thought. This time, I called my husband, crying, feeling so overwhelmed, lost, and confused. Part of me was so angry,
Happiness Is Here and Now
I came to Al‑Anon years ago looking for tips on how to fix my alcoholic husband. I got a big surprise when you told me that I could only fix me. I am so glad that I stayed
Your Group Services Team Talks Rotation of Service
Being introduced to service positions as newcomers helped us to feel part of the group at a time when we might otherwise have found it difficult to connect with others. For some of us, the simple contribution of
Reaching Out to My Daughter with Kindness
When life throws me another curveball, like my alcoholic daughter having a baby, I start obsessing about how to fix her before the baby is born. To break out of this pattern of thinking, I go to Al‑Anon
Learning to “Live and Let Live”
Before I attended my first meeting, I was much too focused on my alcoholic wife’s behavior and not nearly focused enough on my own. In fact, I was heavily focused on anyone’s behavior besides my own. I tried
Prioritizing Serenity
When I first came into the program, my priorities were informed by the family disease of alcoholism and the recent death of my father. My immediate priority after losing my dad to alcohol abuse was to save my
Social Media Policy Updated!
The 2022 World Service Conference approved changes to the “Public Outreach” section of the “Digest of Al‑Anon and Alateen Policies” related to social media. These changes are reflected in the 2022–2025 Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27) v2. Over the
Honoring Al-Anon’s Singleness of Purpose in Policy-Making Service Positions
Very often, I meet up with my Higher Power while hiking in nature. As a kid, I would ramble through the creeks and woods in my grandparents’ backyard. Through the years, I learned to be respectful of the