Hello, I'm _____________, and I'm grateful to be your Al-Anon chair today.
This is the opening for the regular Wednesday Traditions Study meeting at A Serenity Place.
May we all please observe a moment of silence to reflect on why we are here.
Would all those who care to please join me in opening with the Serenity Prayer:
God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
We welcome you to A Serenity Place online Al-Anon meeting and hope you will
find in this fellowship the help and friendship we have been privileged to
enjoy.
We who live, or have lived, with the problem of alcoholism understand as
perhaps few others can. We, too, were lonely and frustrated, but in Al-Anon
we discover that no situation is really hopeless, and that it is possible
for us to find contentment, and even happiness, whether the alcoholic is
still drinking or not.
We urge you to try our program. It has helped many of us find solutions that
lead to serenity. So much depends on our own attitudes, and as we learn to
place our problem in its true perspective, we find it loses its power to
dominate our thoughts and our lives.
The family situation is bound to improve as we apply the Al-Anon ideas.
Without such spiritual help, living with an alcoholic is too much for most
of us. Our thinking becomes distorted by trying to force solutions, and we
become irritable and unreasonable without knowing it.
The Al-Anon program is based on the suggested Twelve Steps of Alcoholics
Anonymous, which we try, little by little, one day at a time, to apply to
our lives along with our slogans and the Serenity Prayer. The loving
interchange of help among members and daily reading of Al-Anon literature
thus make us ready to receive the priceless gift of serenity.
Al-Anon is an anonymous fellowship. Everything that is said here, in the
group meeting and member-to-member, must be held in confidence. Only in this
way can we feel free to say what is on our minds and in our hearts, for this
is how we help one another in Al-Anon.
The Three Obstacles to Success in Al-Anon
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All Al-Anon discussions should be constructive, helpful, loving and
understanding. In striving toward these ideals, we avoid topics which can
lead to dissension and that
can distract us from our goals.
1. DISCUSSION OF RELIGION:
Al-Anon is not allied with any religion. It is a spiritual program, based on
no particular form of religion. Everyone is welcome, no matter what
affiliation or none. Let us not defeat our purpose by entering into
discussions concerning specific religious beliefs.
2. GOSSIP:
We meet to help ourselves and others learn and use the Al-Anon philosophy.
In such group therapy, gossip can have no part in our program. We do not
discuss members or others, and particularly not the alcoholic. Our
dedication to anonymity gives people confidence in Al-Anon. Careless
repeating of matters heard at Al-Anon meetings can defeat the very purpose
for which we are joined together.
3. DOMINANCE:
Our leaders are chosen not to govern, but to serve. No member of Al-Anon
should direct, assume authority, or give advice. Our program is based on
suggestion, interchange of experience, and rotation of leadership. Any
attempt to manage or direct is likely to have serious consequences for group
harmony.
Revised: 8/23/96