Group, District, and Area Autonomy
When I first came to Al‑Anon, I heard the term “autonomy” and was confused. How was I to get or give any help if I remained self-sufficient? What I soon realized was that my definition of autonomy was
25 Years—Don’t They Go by in a Blink
This April at the 2022 World Service Conference (WSC) meeting in New York, an exceptional trusted servant in national and international Al‑Anon service, Marsha W., will stand for the last time at the microphone as a World Service
A Saner, More Serene Life
After 28 years of marriage to my alcoholic husband, I finally reached the point of being so emotionally unhealthy that I went to my first Al‑Anon meeting. I sobbed for three months straight, but I didn’t miss a
Overcoming My Fear of Sharing
When I first came to Al‑Anon, I had the same fears about sharing in meetings that I’ve since heard other newcomers express: fear of the story getting back to the alcoholic, with disastrous repercussions; fear of sounding overly
Working My Problem or Working My Program?
I was attending a meeting where the group was studying How Al-Anon Works for Families and Friends of Alcoholics (B-32). The person reading the text aloud misread the line “I continued to work my program” as “I continued
More United Than Ever
Last October, World Service Office (WSO) Staff attended a service meeting of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Al‑Anon structures, better known as the Ibero-American Zonal Meeting. This virtual meeting was hosted by members of the Peruvian General Service Office.
Learning to Relate Rather than Compare
One Day at a Time in Al-Anon (B-6), affectionately referred to as “the ODAT,” was the only book my first home group ever read during meetings. As a young man concerned about my mother’s drinking, I struggled to
Relief Leads to Recovery
When I was new to Al‑Anon meetings, I heard members ask, “Do you want recovery, or just relief?” I realized I didn’t know the difference between those two things, and, as a newcomer, that little word “just” gave
Al-Anon Saved My Life—Twice!
When I first came to Al‑Anon, I was depressed and sad. I didn't know how to live with active alcoholism, and honestly, I didn't know how to go on living anymore. I could have died, but Al‑Anon saved
A Loving Relationship with My Mother
My relationship with my mother had been a very difficult one since I was a teenager. Both of us had been affected by alcoholism in different ways. She tried to tell me how to live my life, and I
Supporting Al-Anon in Europe
The European Zonal Meeting (EZM) was held via web conference September 3–5, 2021. It was attended by 14 General Service Offices, four evolving service structures, and representatives of the World Service Office (WSO). This year’s meeting included participants
Al-Anon the Fellowship and Al-Anon the Organization
“Don’t let them brainwash you.” Those words echoed through my mind as I started my new position in Group Services at Al‑Anon’s World Service Office (WSO). Well-meaning Al‑Anon friends, concerned that I was moving to the “other” side,