What is your favorite Al‑Anon slogan? Why and/or how do you use it in your life?
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 on the question, “What is your favorite Al‑Anon slogan? Why and/or how do you use it in your life?”
“Let It Begin With Me” is the slogan I turn the lights on with in the morning. One day, awakening with the unrealistic dread of the unknown I realized I am the only person responsible for how my day goes. And it’s free! I can be of service in this program, and I am because it offers a solid support network which, in this day and age, can elude even the most intelligent of us. Becoming involved in service (to others in Al-Anon) has taken my belief that this program works wonders, if you work it to new levels. I… Read more »
“First Things First.” It is my favorite slogan. It helps me prioritize my hour and my day.
Before Al-Anon I would fly around trying to accomplish everything at once which made me even more anxious.
Be gentle with myself.
I was on the dreadful treadmill of Perfection not Progress before Al-Anon, now I am gratefully on the gentle path of Progress not Perfection, thanks to the tenets of the program. Ironically, I almost did not attempt to write on this slogan, as I did not feel I would do it perfectly. That attitude has helped me and hurt me in the past. Striving to be a better child, student, wife, lover, parent, community member, friend, gardener, etc. was a lot on my plate. I was striving for perfection to get away from the painful emptiness I felt inside. The… Read more »
“How important is it?” Helps me to see that many things are not important. It helps me to remember what is important: my health, my serenity, my relationship with HP, my Sponsor relationship, & my recovery. A lot of things are out of my hands and aren’t urgent or an emergency. Many things resolve themselves when I get out of the way, pause, & pray. My Sponsor always says “give it 24 hours”.
Let go and let God reminds me to not dwell on what could have been or what will happen next. Remembering to ask each day that His will be done – not me, gives me peace. Thanking him daily keeps me in the faith that all will be as it should be – good or bad.
Let Go and Let God!
Let Go and Let God-it goes along with the 3rd step and turning our life over… I’ve not been to an in-person meeting in ages, but have listened to my home group meetings by phone. CAL is also part of my routine. Season’s Greetings!
It has been so very, very long since I have been to a meeting although I read One Day At A Time most every day. Like so many, I have been going through a lot and I feel like I am going through it alone. I also know that we are not meant to cross talk but in this format, I want to say that I am thankful to those people who have had the courage to write their comments. I had not even considered the slogan: Keep It Simple to remind me not to make mountains out of mole… Read more »
Progress not Perfection. That is what is resonating with me today. I am working Step 8 and it is bringing up so much garbage from the past which I am struggling with. Two steps forward and one step back, I need to remind myself of this. It’s okay to progress at my own pace and take it easy on myself. Thanks for the opportunity to share here.
Not reacting is reacting
The slogan that I have been using the most lately has been, “One day at a time.” I get so wrapped up and thinking about the future and worrying about things that may never come to pass. When I catch my mind and stop it, I use “One day at a time” to reel my self back in. I am reminded that I only have this one day and I want to enjoy it, not waste it. Gratitude for this day usually overwhelms me after I stop the merry go round in my head.
I love all of the slogans. Which one I use the most depends on what’s going on in my life and which character defect I’m dealing with at the moment. The top slogan today is “Keep It Simple”. I use it to help keep my communication simple, direct and on topic. Lately I’ve fallen back into the habit of over-explaining. This became apparent to me when I was texting a friend. When I noticed I had typed almost a screen’s worth of words, Keep It Simple came to mind. That slogan helped me get focused on the one main thing… Read more »
I am thankful for all the slogans but my favorite slogan is “Keep It Simple.” Growing up in an alcoholic home and the drama that was involved there was not simple. It was all reactions to what was going on around us. I learned at an early age that if I react that maybe I could control the outcomes. Little did I know that reacting kept me bouncing around like a bouncy ball. Keep it simple reminds me to slow down, not react, and take a breath. Keep it simple reminds me to not make mountains out of mole hills… Read more »
My favorite slogan is “let go and let God.” It reminds me I have little control over anything except myself. I can be as happy or anxious as I want to be. Two of my 3 children haven’t spoken much, if at all in almost a year. The mom in me wants to step in say this is unacceptable! However, thanks to Al-Anon I know I cannot fix it. I have to let them come to their own conclusion. It makes me sad but I can be happy now too.
Live and Let Live sets me free from the compulsion to criticize, judge and condemn others which is very damaging. It helps me to let go, trust God and stay in my own hula hoop.
Thank you, Sandra. I really needed to be reminded of One Day at a Time. I have a job review coming up and I am imagining all kinds of negative feedback based on pretty much nothing. Fears and poor self esteem.
My favourite slogan is THIS TOO SHALL PASS, good or bad it will pass, I will never go thru the same thing at the same time with the same people again. An old timer reminded me that nowhere in our literature does it say it came to stay. In the middle of a crisis I ask myself what would I be doing right now if this weren’t happening, and do it.
My favorite slogan is “Together we can make it.” Although this seemed to be used more often in Alateen, I love it in all parts of my life. Especially this year when we must be physically separated, we have found ways to come together and support each other. In my family, we communicate and seek out solutions that work for us as a whole. I am grateful for all the tools of our program Steps/Traditions/Concepts, virtual meetings, picking up the phone and reaching out. I miss the face to face meetings and the hugs, but I feel loved and supported… Read more »
“Let Go and Let God” is my favorite slogan. I can overwhelm myself so quickly with my thinking and analyzing lots of stuff that doesn’t need my help! I needed a Go-To if I couldn’t reach my sponsor, a peer in Al-Anon or get to a meeting. Early in Al-Anon I had reminders in my car, my office, my home on my refrigerator. Thy Will not mine be done was an often used prayer as I reminded myself of the need to “Let Go and Let God” and of just how powerless I am over the people, places and things… Read more »