DEAFENING!

Only what I can download for free.

"Reading is fundamental."

snooping

So here I am. Two blown disks and three surgeries later i find myself in a fog of medication and pain. I can certainly understand now how so many become addicted and I have definitely discovered a new found empathy for those I work with who suffer with chronic pain. Learning to walk again is being a near constant challenge. Changes happen! This brings a whole new meaning to the motto "Embrace the pain."

I'm not here ... okay, sometimes I am here, but
IT AIN'T ABOUT ME!

Yes, I did lie about my age. I'm okay with that.

Al-Anon Adult Children and CoDA member since '93.

The 3 C's: I didn't Cause the disease, I can't Control the disease, and I cannot Cure the disease.

If ya wanna know anything else, please feel free to ask.

Puppies playing. Sometimes kittens, too, if they're not shredding my socks.

A good day of work.

My lover's kiss.

The roar and spray of a river during spring run-off.

Catching snowflakes on my tongue.

Waterfalls

Camping, fishing, hiking, and playing.

Good, strong, fresh ground coffee.

Me, and sometimes you ... but only on a good day.

The smell of the air as it rains.
... and after.

The 3 A's: Awareness, Acceptance and Action.

The big 3: Service, Unity (trust God), and Recovery (clean house).

If we willingly surrender ourselves to the spiritual discipline of the Twelve Steps, our lives will be transformed. We will become mature, responsible individuals with a greater capacity for joy fulfillment, and wonder. Though we may never be perfect, continued spiritual progress will reveal to us our enormous potential. We will discover that we are both worthy of love and loving. We will love others without losing ourselves, and will learn to accept love in return. Our sight, once clouded and confused, will clear and we will be able to perceive reality and recognize truth. Courage and fellowship will replace fear. We will be able to risk failure in order to develop new, hidden talents. Our lives, no matter how battered and degraded, will yield hope to share with others. We will begin to feel and will come to know the vastness of our emotions, but we will not be slaves to them. Our secrets will no longer bind us in shame. As we gain the ability to forgive ourselves, our families, and the world, our choices will expand. With dignity we will stand for ourselves, but not against our fellows. Serenity and peace will have meaning for us, as we allow our lives and the lives of those we love to flow day by day with God's ease, balance, and grace. No longer terrified, we will discover we are free to delight in life's paradox, mystery, and awe. We will laugh more. Fear will be replaced by faith, and gratitude will come naturally as we realize that our Higher Power is doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

Can we really grow to such proportions? Only if we accept life as a continuing process of maturation and evolution toward wholeness. Then we suddenly begin to notice these gifts appearing. We see them in those who walk beside us. Sometimes slowly or haltingly, occasionally in great bursts of brilliance, those who work the Steps change and grow toward light, toward health, and toward their Higher Power. Watching others, we realize this is also possible for us.

Will we ever arrive? Feel joyful all the time? Have no cruelty, tragedy, or injustice to face? Probably not, but we will acquire growing acceptance of our human fallibility, as well as greater love and tolerance for each other. Self-pity, resentment, martyrdom, rage, and depression will fade into memory. Community rather than loneliness will define our lives. We will know that we belong, we are welcome, we have something to contribute - and that this is enough.

(Text excerpted from pp 269-270 of Al-Anon publication B-21, ‘From Survival to Recovery’)

THE THREE OBSTACLES TO SUCCESS IN AL-ANON
All Al-Anon discussions should be constructive, helpful, loving, and understanding. In striving toward these ideals, we avoid topics which can lead to dissension and that can distract us from our goals.

1. DISCUSSION OF RELIGION: Al-Anon is not allied with any religion. It is a spiritual program, based on no particular form of religion. Everyone is welcome, no matter of what affiliation or none. Let us not defeat our purpose by entering into discussions concerning specific religious beliefs. [If you want to know of my religious beliefs, ask me outside the meeting.]

2. GOSSIP: We meet to help ourselves and others learn and use the Al-Anon philosophy. In such group therapy, gossip can have no part in our program. We do not discuss members or others, and particularly not the alcoholic. Our dedication to anonymity gives people confidence in Al-Anon. Careless repeating of matters heard at Al-Anon meetings can defeat the very purpose for which we are joined together.

3. DOMINANCE: Our leaders are chosen not to govern, but to serve. No member of Al-Anon should direct, assume authority, or give advice. Our program is based on suggestion, interchange of experience, and rotation of leadership. Any attempt to manage or direct is likely to have serious consequences for group harmony.


Incongruity.

Incompetent leadership; especially if i work for that leader.

I suffer from an intolerance of the intolerant.

Unwillingness.

Unsuccessful war.

Social and Economic stratification.

High gas prices from us being stupid enough to put an oil man in the White House for 8 years.