“The Forum” Magazine Stories2025-12-31T08:12:13-05:00
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Carrying the Al-Anon Message Online

Whether we use social media to connect with friends and family or follow our favorite interests, it has become a large part of our lives. Social media is one way we can carry the Al‑Anon message, but it can

The Value of Sharing Our Experience

Before Al‑Anon, I thought the loving thing to do when anyone shared their problems with me was to offer them my best advice about how to fix whatever the problem was. Whether I had any expertise related to their

I Needed Help…and Support

When I first got into the program, I saw a sign hanging on the wall of a therapist’s office that read, “When the pain is greater than the fear, then you are ready”—ready to change. But because my fear

Happiness Is My Choice

I started Al‑Anon in my 30s. I’m now in my 70s. My perceptions of my alcoholic loved one have changed. I used to blame him for everything. If I was in a bad mood, it was because of him.

I Am No Longer Alone

Before I came to Al‑Anon, a counselor told me that my soul was dry. I had no idea what she meant. I was angry and frustrated, and I blamed others for my problems. My dad drank too much, but

Unfurling As Myself

There came a time in my recovery when I became aware of something missing, some imbalance. I was aware of my shortcomings and had become more willing to make amends and changes. The image of me emerging from

Revisiting Trust

Before Al-Anon I trusted everyone and no one. How could that be? I had no boundaries, so I blabbed and complained to anyone who would listen. Yet, I didn’t share with those who mattered in my life, because

Tapping into Serenity

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

Translation FAQ

Part of our mission at Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. (AFG, Inc.) is to serve our global fellowship by publishing our Conference Approved Literature (CAL) in three languages: English, Spanish, and French. We also frequently receive inquiries about

I Gave Myself Another Look

After decades of being a chameleon, changing and adapting myself to safely belong, I didn’t have a solid grasp of who I truly was. The small sense of self I developed growing up in an alcoholic home was

Serenity in Times of Stress

I find the Al-Anon slogans very handy to use as reminders on my journey to recovery. My two favorites are “Let Go and Let God” and “Let It Begin with Me.” These slogans capture the essence of the

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