At my first meeting I was angry. I had been ordered to attend meetings and thought I didn’t need to go. I sat in my first few meetings with my arms folded across my chest thinking, “What do these people have in common with me?”

Then we read pages 28 and 29 of How Al‑Anon Works for Families & Friends of Alcoholics (B-32). I sat up in my chair, uncrossed my arms and listened for the first time. “We lose the ability to say ‘no.’” That did it. I realized the people in the meeting were just like me. They did understand my struggles. Now I look forward to meetings. Those strangers are now friends, even the newcomers.

By Misty C., California

The Forum, May 2021

Feel free to reprint this article on your service arm website or newsletter, along with this credit line: Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA.