“Just don’t give up on trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”
– Ella Fitzgerald

I attended a local Parent’s Al-Anon meeting last night.  We had a great speaker and the topic was why do we continue to attend Al-Anon?  I find myself very interested in attending Al-Anon, have the dates marked on my calendar, and as the subject was brought up, began to ask myself, why do I attend?  What am I getting out of Al-Anon? Sometimes when I go to Al-Anon, I have a need to speak, and other times, I just want to listen.  Last night was a night to listen.  After listening to all the comments, I realized that my answers were there in the group, which I have to say happens quite often.  These are the reasons that I come to Al-Anon:

I feel better after attending a meeting.  I am with a group of people who really understand my situation, and who I have started to know better and enjoy their company.  I learn something new at every meeting I attend. I am reminded of my humility and feelings of gratitude.  It feels like maintenance for me.  There is the wonderful promise of serenity.  Some meetings I feel that I have helped someone else, and other times, I definitely have been the receiver of someone else’s wisdom.  Al-Anon is helpful in many areas of life, not just addiction.  Sometimes when life gives us lemons, we should make lemonade, and Al-Anon is definitely the lemonade of addiction.  It has been the  silver lining on a dark cloud for me.  There are so many life lessons in those rooms, that apply to many areas of life, not just addiction.  I can honestly say, Al-Anon has made my life better, and I am a grateful member.