I’m Grateful for the Consistency and Unity Found in Al-Anon
Growing up in the family disease of alcoholism taught me not to make any plans, not to trust, not to take risks, and not to rock the boat. Having very little I could truly count on, I never
I Get When I Give
When I first started attending Al‑Anon meetings, I was emotionally and physically exhausted from the drama that ruled my marriage. I had just enough energy to drive myself to and from meetings. I had asked a woman from
A Little Wisdom Goes a Long Way
I’m a 61-year-old woman, but my time in Al‑Anon is short—only ten months, so I have little wisdom to share. As a relative newcomer, there seems to be so much to learn about Al‑Anon. The Twelve Steps are
The Priceless Gift of Al-Anon
What if there are people in the meeting that I know? What will they think of us? Will they judge my son? Will they judge me? What if they gossip about us around town? These were the questions
The Persistent Professional
I still very clearly remember getting to my first meeting. I had finally started to realize that I was not going to get my husband to stop drinking. I had already tried everything I could think of and
Embracing Our Worldwide Fellowship Made Easier with Digital Technology
In my brief tenure at the World Service Office, I have had many opportunities to see the worldwide fellowship of Al‑Anon in action. Attending the World Service Conference, I’ve had the privilege of meeting Al‑Anon members from a
A Blend of Principles and Procedures—How Al-Anon Literature Translations Happen
A frequently asked question here at the World Service Office (WSO) is “Who translates our Conference Approved Literature (CAL)?” Because, after all, CAL is available in more than 40 languages! The short answer is that, in most cases,
My Experience Attending the International Al-Anon General Service Meeting! (IAGSM)
After my application, I was voted in as the second IAGSM Delegate for my Structure in Germany. I was very excited to prepare and plan for my first meeting in Rome in 2016. The timeline to finish the
Hope Kept Me Going
When I first came to Al‑Anon, I knew I was in the right place when I heard the Al‑Anon Suggested Welcome. When the Chairperson read, “We who live, or have lived, with the problem of alcoholism understand as
Finding Our Way Together
I knew my son had a drinking problem even though he didn’t drink in front of me. His lifestyle was indicative of a person who had lost his way. One day he announced that he was going to
Wisdom That Lasts
There were two things that I received pretty early on from the Al‑Anon program. First, I was told that I didn’t need to continue to tell my relatives and friends all of the hardship I was experiencing from
Finding an Alternative to Suicide (Again)
Over the last couple of weeks, I have found myself feeling increasingly inadequate and hopeless. I have been questioning my decisions and feeling incredibly lonely and isolated. Many people experiencing COVID-19 have been feeling isolated and overwhelmed, but