Step Ten helps me reflect upon my life in the past 273 days of 2018. Thanks to Al‑Anon, I am taking care of myself physically, emotionally and spiritually. But that is about me. What about others? There are 92 days left in 2018, which amounts to 132,480 minutes. Surely, I can find a little time to offer help and hope to families and friends of alcoholics who have yet to attend their first Al‑Anon meeting. Ala-what? a newcomer might say. Carrying our message doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. Here are just a few things we can do:

  • Let the member who works at a hospital take our group’s copies of Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism magazines to the emergency room.
  • Give a copy of How Al-Anon Works for Families and Friends of Alcoholics (B-32) to the church library where our group meets each week.
  • Follow the Al-Anon World Service Office social media posts. With one like or share, we can let our friends and contacts see the hope that one graphic image—or meme—can offer on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
  • Take What Can You Do When Someone Close to You Drinks Too Much? bookmarks (M-76) to the library.
  • Write a thank-you note to the TV or radio station that broadcasts Al-Anon’s public service announcements.
  • Leave a copy of an Al-Anon or Alateen book if the library offers a book share program.

I remember how lonely I was as a child and as an adult when I was on the outside looking in at the holiday displays in stores, TV commercials and movies of family gatherings. It only takes a few minutes to think ahead to November and December and how we can take a few moments to reach out to others.

By Claire R., Associate Director—Professionals

The Forum, October 2018