As the year comes to a close, what growth have you seen in yourself?
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 your answer to the question, “As the year comes to a close, what growth have you seen in yourself?”
This year started with the loss of my mom, she had dementia and lived a good long life. I know she is no longer suffering and that gives me comfort. However, the loss was overwhelming. Couple that with the alcoholic in my life who has never processed an ounce of grief in his life, it’s easy to see how rock bottom my life became. I’m a Christian and prayed constantly for him our kids etc.. I rarely prayed for myself. Then suddenly after missing work once again he decided he needed in-patient treatment. Wait! What? This was the opening I… Read more »
I am beyond thankful to be able to reach out for the tools that Al-Anon has available for me to use. I now know that I don’t have to take part on anyone’s drama because I have the right to my own serenity and peace. I know now that I did not cause it, I can’t control it and I can’t cure it. I am learning to rely on my higher power and will trust that my sick loved ones will find their own higher power and seek their own recovery; it is a relief to know that I am… Read more »
As this year comes to a close, I feel myself softening, allowing for more acceptance of life on life’s terms. The pandemic has shown me one more clear example in my life of how I am powerless over people, places, and things. But the pandemic has also given me gifts as well. One gift I have been given is the gift of time, and the ability to slow down and be more reflective. Because I am not out running around trying to be a part of this thing and that thing, I have more time to delve into conference approved… Read more »
I am so grateful to have this program in my life. I learned 30 years ago that my loved one’s drinking was not my fault and that changed everything. During the pandemic, sometimes it was hard to have gratitude for the blessings of my life. This was a critical part of my emotional sobriety during these challenging times. I thank my Higher Power every day for the gifts I have received from this fellowship…stay safe and well…
The big changes in myself have been my ability to not need to know or control the outcome of the many challenging situations. Mainly, the uncertainty of the election and covid virus. My past would have been spent going over and over the possible outcomes. I have learned through Al-Anon that sanity for me is staying present to this day, this moment and when I get drawn away I say the Serenity prayer and find comfort in my Al-Anon family. I have learned to trust that with time, patience and the support of my Al-Anon family I will find the… Read more »
This year has been a test of my patience and capacity for hope with myself, and with the world. Thank goodness, or God, for the serenity prayer. I can’t change the opinions of other people. I can’t gossip about the drinkers in my life without sacrificing my own serenity. I can’t save myself nor my family from infectious diseases despite my tendency to hypervigilance. What I can do is look for connections with others and my higher power. I was passed over for a higher position at work. I can look at how my higher power is letting me know… Read more »
In 2019 a car accident triggered health issues for me that took most of the year to diagnose. When the accident occurred I asked my Higher Power why, because I felt very certain it had happened for a reason. The answer I received was “you are being restored”. I held on to that all the way through a very difficult diagnosis process, during which I learned to ask for and receive help, I learned a different level of compassion, and I found that my thinking was indeed being restored to something more sane than it had ever been. The year… Read more »
Thank you for this topic. I’m feeling a little down tonight and I know sharing about my growth will provide a much-needed “pick me up”. Here is my inventory of the ways I’ve grown this year. 1. I see growth in setting boundaries with friends. I’m allowing myself to make conscious decisions about who I associate with, which relationships I pursue, and how much energy I put into each relationship. 2. When conversing with others, I’m doing a better job of sharing my own experience, strength and hope instead of lecturing. 3. I’m getting better at moving forward with a… Read more »
What a rough year this would have been without my higher power and the tools I’ve picked up in the program. I am certain that I could not have survived the lockdown without them. My CAL literature is a continuous source of reference and my higher power is a constant presence in my life. I no longer analyze things to death. I make amends immediately if necessary after working Step 10. I don’t apologize for having feelings. I respect myself by taking care of myself and I respect others by letting them take care of themselves. I am confident that… Read more »
I have found a great growth within myself. I grew in patience as I had to wait for the many changes at home, work and family life during this year. I showed a positive attitude every day, I planned each day to exercise my spirit and emotional being. I grew in gratitude to appreciate the things I did not take the time to appreciate, the bond I created with [my] grandson during home stay. We prayed together. I learned love and compassion. I was able to try new things and use my time wisely, I used my creativity and talents… Read more »
Progress not Perfection has been my go-to focus this year. There have been some very challenging days this year with a family member. I have been very judgmental toward their behavior of me and other family members. I feed this by creating thoughts or stories of the other’s personal intent. Not too long ago I talked with my sponsor about my loved one never calling me or when they do, they want something from me. The story expanded; they have resentments for past perceived transgressions and have lost a need or desire to have a genuine relationship with me. I’m… Read more »
I doubt that anyone could say 2020 hasn’t been a challenge!! So many stressful situations to address, so many worries about loved ones and about the state of our country! So much overload in the newspapers and social media! Thank goodness for the balance that Al-Anon helps to establish in my life! It started with fear of losing contact with Al-Anon friends and the fellowship as a whole when the COVID virus hit. But of course our Higher Power stepped in to guide us to new ways to stay together. I was concerned that phone meetings or even Zoom meetings… Read more »
Before Al-Anon, most of the time I was sad and hopeless, with this program I gained hope and happiness that I have forgotten because of alcoholism effects, fond my higher power that I used to fear before and this is fantastic. Again I can laugh and dance like my childhood.
Growth has always been important for me since coming to the program. Although, I have been in the program for quite a few 24 hours, I have never seemed to see real growth or not the one I was expecting to see or feel. I know that I noticed some changes in my short comings and my defects of characters over the years and this brought me some satisfaction. I knew I was changing and this brought me some comfort. I kept on trucking, as we say, and never gave up trying to become a better person. I had to… Read more »
This year has definitely been a challenge in more ways than one. Looking back on the past year, I can certainly say I’ve grown, but I know I still have a lot to do still on my growth. I started out this year always being worried about my now ex-fiance and the choices he was making that was affecting both of us. I didn’t realize at the time how much it was dragging me down and that I had completely stopped taking care of my own needs and doing things that made me happy. I just always stayed home to… Read more »