One morning, I was sitting outside enjoying a cup of tea and looking at the trees across an open field. A slight mist drifted through the treetops, and a large maple dropped the occasional spinning seed that floated gracefully to the ground. I felt peaceful and joyousI wondered why I don't feel this way more often.
I realized how rarely I take the time to sit quietly and appreciate the beauty of the world around me. One of Al‑Anon’s gifts is learning to be present in the moment, not resentful of the hurts of the past or consumed by fears of the future. But I easily forget that lesson, and I lose my serenity.
Working the Twelve Steps, attending meetings, meeting with my Sponsor, talking to other Al-Anon members, and reading the literature are all ways to find that peace and joy I felt from watching the morning mist in the trees. All I have to do is remember and use the Al‑Anon gifts to reclaim my serenity.
By Eric F.
The Forum, May 2025
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, Virginia, USA.