Uncovering the Beauty Within
My adult daughter was visiting me from out of state. Throughout her life, she has struggled with anxiety and depression. When I look at her, I see a beautiful, statuesque young woman, but her appearance shows only her
What Compassion Really Means
Before coming to Al‑Anon, I had a hard time understanding exactly what compassion was. I thought it meant covering for the alcoholic and making excuses for his actions. I thought I was being compassionate when I looked the
From Victim to Victory, Using the Tools of Al‑Anon
When I think of the word victory, I think of achieving success despite significant obstacles. I see it as living my best life with serenity, dignity, and grace. One of the biggest barriers to my own victory was my
Conference Approved Literature—A Vital Aspect of Self-Support
When I first started attending meetings, it was all I could do to listen to members share. I had no capacity in my chaos-filled life to quiet my mind enough to be present and absorb any readings from Conference
A Family Disease of Attitudes
I went to my first Al‑Anon meeting with no expectation of ever going to another one. A friend had said, “I find it helpful.” I figured I would give it one shot and then cross it off my list.
Encouraging Alateen Members to Serve
Service in recovery is like the third leg of a stool—a necessity for support and balance. Many of us find that participating in service provides surprising benefits to our overall sense of well-being. As part of Al‑Anon, Alateen invites
Supporting Alateen Members Moving on to Al‑Anon
As a certified Al‑Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS) and an Alateen Group Sponsor, I see how the Alateen program benefits our younger members. As an Al‑Anon member, I share my experience, strength, and hope with the
Continuing to Look at Ourselves with the Help of Alateen
When the 2018 World Service Conference approved the development of a Just for Tonight bookmark (M-81), I was excited that I would have another Al‑Anon tool to “continue to take personal inventory” as I practiced Step Ten. Three
Letting Healthier Parenting Begin with Me
When I first joined Al‑Anon, the slogan “Let It Begin with Me” struck me. It felt like those particular words, in that particular order, were the essence of what brought me to my first meeting. One memory stands
I Found My Safe Space
I first set foot in Al‑Anon because of my mother’s drinking. My partner, who is in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), suggested Al‑Anon, and so did other outside help. At that point, I had been to some open A.A. meetings, and
The Right Time for Recovery
“When is the right time?” I was asked this question recently at a meeting by a young man who felt lost and confused about his spouse’s alcoholism and came to Al‑Anon as his last hope. This brought back memories
Why Digitize the Archives?
Our priority at the World Service Office (WSO) Archives is safeguarding Al-Anon’s physical artifacts and documents while making sure they remain accessible for use. A substantial portion of our physical collection has been integrated into our digital archival