2023 International Convention—Day of Connecting
Going through my personal photo archive recently, I discovered a snapshot from the 2018 International Convention in Baltimore. In the photo, I am surrounded by my closest Al‑Anon friends. There are more than 30 beautiful, smiling faces—a family
An Enjoyable Life of My Own
The concept of detachment was baffling to me when I first stepped through the doors of Al‑Anon. Were these people asking me to change the way I thought and viewed the world, the way I’d learned as a
I Cannot Save Others from Drinking
After my fiancé died from progressive drinking, I begged God to let me die too. I had failed to save him, and I had failed his parents, who had said I was their last hope. Someone close to
Working on Acceptance of My Son’s Disease
Originally, I thought I came to Al‑Anon to get help for my son. My son, my baby. I used to call him my “police partner” because he went everywhere with me. But things changed. When he was 14,
Worthy of Protecting
By the time I came to Al‑Anon, I had given away so much of myself that I wasn’t even sure who I was anymore. I had forfeited my time, interests, needs, and self-worth, all in feeble efforts to
Can Members Buy Al-Anon Literature from Outside Entities?
Vitally important to clarify first is that the only place anyone can purchase Al-Anon’s ebooks and audiobooks is through certain electronic media providers. In return for their royalty fee, these providers handle all set-up, processing, and digital rights management,
Service Guidelines Updated!
Al‑Anon Guidelines represent the shared experience of Al‑Anon and Alateen members in various service roles and provide a wealth of helpful information for anyone involved in service. The Guidelines are compiled and published by the World Service Office
Where CAL Comes From
When I started attending Al‑Anon, I didn’t concern myself with where our literature came from. I was just grateful that members gave me a packet of it at my first meeting and that it provided the same kind,
Writing as an Act of Service
One of the ways the family disease of alcoholism shows up in my life is that, if I’m not paying attention, I can find myself ruminating. I get stuck on a hamster wheel of compulsive thinking, trying to
Loving My Daughter, Hating the Disease
After years in the Al‑Anon program without much recovery, I was finally able to accept Step One and admit my powerlessness over alcoholism with the help of my Higher Power. My denial had been deep, but last year
A Precious Gift
I recently received a letter from my oldest stepdaughter. I was very surprised by her heart-felt thoughts and feelings about our relationship over the years. She was eight years old when I married her father. She has a
Removing My Rose-Tinted Glasses
When I broke up with my first boyfriend after five years together, my mother arrived to move me back home. On our 12-hour drive, we would go hours at a time not speaking as I silently cried. Once,