How have service opportunities helped me to grow in Al‑Anon?
Please share your experiences by commenting on the topic below. The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the person who gave them. Take what you liked and leave the rest. Member sharing on the Member Blog may be used in future Al‑Anon publications.
This month we’re asking you to share on how have service opportunities helped you to grow in Al‑Anon?
Another Hawaii Area Assembly over and a way to reflect on where I have been and where I am now. I was so inspired by that first assembly I attended. I wanted to have what “those” people had! When I hear the shares of the new attendees at the end when everyone has a chance to share their assembly experience I always go back to the first time for me. I was so afraid to talk in front of others but I was moved to share my experience of love and acceptance over that weekend in front of everyone. A… Read more »
I have always been one to raise my hand and volunteer for whatever comes and that had generally served me well in Al-Anon. I found quickly that serving Al-Anon didn’t mean getting praise and being noticed. I was told early on that no one, including me, could harm Al-Anon and that was good. As I learned about the program and followed the example of my sponsor and other members, I found that I truly could be of help to my group or my district. I learned so much and grew, I believe, more by reaching out and being available than… Read more »
As a current alternate Group Representative, I always loved serving. I have held a Group Representative and a District Representative position before but have held other positions as well. I started as a Group Representative at a meeting near Chicago and I was grateful that I could learn without any prodding from a Sponsor. I also was an alternate District Representative for a little bit as well. Al-Anon service, for me, taught me that there’s no job too big or too small. The term limits for me were a big reason why I wanted to do this as well.
I was attending an Al-Anon program for two months when they asked someone to be a GR. I was an excited newcomer. I had found hope and a solution for my problem. I needed this group for support. No one volunteered. I asked a member if I could serve. The next business meeting I was elected. I was afraid that unless I had a service commitment I would find an excuse to not come back. That was my M.O. I learned a lot about Al-Anon as a GR. Members were patient with me and encouraged me. I attended District and… Read more »
Service in Al-Anon has played an important part in my recovery.
Being in service right away helped me commit to my own recovery. That was a gift I kind of expected, but I also received many surprises. Our Group Representative had to unexpectedly step down. I had been coming to meetings for just a few months and thought I should understand more about the program before taking on such a responsibility. I was guided to volunteer anyway and I’m so glad I did. It was actually through this service role that I began to understand how the program works. I learned Concept Four, “Participation is the key to harmony.” I rediscovered… Read more »
When I came to Al-Anon , I was not spiritually inclined, therefore the Steps and the Slogans didn’t get my attention. However, I was very interested in anything including service work, as this was a familiar «turf» for me . Little did I know that service work in Al-Anon was a different ball game! I was elected GR/DR few months after coming to the program, not because I was ready or the best, but because of constraints the groups were facing. I went into it head first. Luckily, I had vigilant members/groups, a great Sponsor that kept me «walking the… Read more »
Service, my Sponsor encouraged me to take on literature. The suggestion was. “Its all there, everyone that has gone before us.” My understanding of that at the time was that I didn’t understand. However taking this service position taught me to raise my hand, to wait, and to let go of that subservient me that always wants to bend and figure it out. It subconsciously directed me back to the meetings each week. As I shared with the group each week about our literature, it once again allowed me to be a part of something that I didn’t have to… Read more »
Service was a big part on me starting to “Live and Let Live.” It gave me a sense of purpose and ability to be able to start focusing on my own recovery. It was the action of showing up for me and benefited others in my group. Commitment to service was confidence that grew inside me to trust myself enough to be responsible for me and my group. I could not grow if i didn’t show up. Participate, Listen and learn. Read my literature and pray my way through doing the action. The anxiety, fear and shame, starts to lesson… Read more »
As I learned to mind my own business and stop worrying, I found I had lots of time with nothing to do. I started calling other members to see how they were. I started to volunteer at my meetings setting up, making coffee, staying after the meeting to help clean the meeting place. I got courage to take a position on my favorite meeting. Stretching our my program by going to open A.A. meetings, attending conferences, and really listening at State Assemblies was really exciting. Travel, making state-wide friends, playing in skits all made me grow up. I was finally… Read more »