My first Al‑Anon meeting was the one I didn’t attend. I sat in my car outside the building and watched the people going inside. They were smiling and hugging each other.
I was here because my best friend had told me that I would find help in Al‑Anon, and even serenity. But I couldn’t go inside. I went home to my empty apartment and to the pain, anger, and sadness within me.
The following evening, I went back to the meeting, and this time I gathered enough courage to go inside. When the group secretary asked if there were any newcomers, I raised my hand and said my name.
As the meeting went on, something happened to me. I still don’t know what it was. It had nothing to do with anything anyone was saying. It was a sudden sense of being at home, of being in the right place for me—for the first time in a very long time.
By Ed S., California
Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2017
This post gave me goosebumps! I attended my first Al Anon meeting last night. I arrived nearly an hour early, parked in the furthest parking spot and waited. I watched as everyone went inside. I was shaking, my hands were sweating, and I couldn’t bring myself to get out of the car. I cant tell you how many times I grabbed the door handle and stopped. I even drove away and came back! I finally gathered the courage to go inside and it was the best decision I’ve made. I was greeted by so many smiling faces, hand shakes, hugs,… Read more »