service

Participation is a Key to Harmony and Growth – 433

In this exploration of Al-Anon’s Concept Four, “Participation is the key to harmony,” Spencer and Sara look at how they participate in personal, group, and professional interactions. This concept, which consists of only five words, may initially seem simplistic, but we find depth when we relate it to our own experiences and explore its practical…

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Growth and Challenges in Al-Anon Service – 411

Being a leader in Al-Anon is fundamentally different from traditional notions of leadership. As we highlight in our discussion, Al-Anon leaders are guided by humility and enthusiasm rather than authority and control. This approach is rooted in Tradition Two, which states, “Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.” Understanding this principle is…

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Feeling new in recovery – 375

I recently received an email from a person who is in early recovery. He is struggling with getting really into the program, and listed these issues he has.  Almost everybody member of my home group has years of recovery on me. It seems that everybody has taken the steps at least one time, and I…

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Service in Al-Anon – 349

“When I got busy, I got better”. I’ve heard this as an encouragement to service in recovery. What is service, and how can it support my recovery? Spencer and Ester talk about our experience with service, with support from almost a dozen listeners. Our discussion was guided by but certainly not limited to these questions….

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Recovery in a time of Isolation – 325

Are you “sheltering in place”? How are you able to participate in recovery when you can’t meet face to face with other members? Spencer and Marylou discuss how they are experiencing recovery during this time of isolation and “sheltering in place” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our conversation was sparked by an email that Marylou sent…

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