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GSOM Al-Anon
Beginner Meeting Text
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Opening
WELCOME!
We’re so glad you have joined us.
We unite, arriving from many different walks of life and recovery.
We are gathered here to share our experience, strengths, hope, and our dreams.
Our struggles and challenges may differ, but we stand united in our goals. We seek to improve ourselves and our lives. We are opening our minds and our hearts seeking new ways to enrich our lives, strengthen our relationships, and empower ourselves. We offer support and love to each other in a non-judgmental manner by listening without interruption, without criticism.
We listen with our hearts and our ears, embracing what we may like and what may help us, and leaving what we do not find useful.
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70 Second Al-Anon
To
make your first meetings more meaningful, We would like to
share with you a few basic concepts of Al-Anon that will
help you understand our discussion today.
Perhaps the most basic idea is that we are powerless over an
alcoholic, but we do have power over ourselves. Therefore,
you will hear us talking about how we can change ourselves
so that we can be happy, whether the alcoholic is drinking
or not.
A second basic concept is that alcoholism is a disease, and
the alcoholic can no more help having it than one can help
having cancer or diabetes. We cannot treat the disease, but
we do learn to let the alcoholic take the consequences of
their own behavior.
We call this "detaching". We detach ourselves from their
alcoholic problems. Eventually, we learn not to react to
their drinking, and we have then started on the road to our
own recovery.
A third basic idea is to live one day at a time. We try to
forgive ourselves for the mistakes we made yesterday, and we
decide to take tomorrow as it comes. We live for now, for
today.
There are other ideas expressed in our Twelve Steps and in
our slogans. You will also find help in hearing how others
meet their problems. And you will get help from the loving
concern we felt for you the minute you walked in through the
door.
Source Unknown
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Detachment
Alcoholism is a family disease. Living with the affects of
someone else's drinking is too devastating for most people
to bear without help.
In Al-Anon we learn individuals are not responsible for
another person's disease or recovery from it.
We let go of our obsession with another's behavior and begin
to lead happier and more manageable lives, lives with
dignity and rights; lives guided by a Power greater than
ourselves.
IN AL-ANON WE LEARN:
Not to suffer because of the actions or reactions of other
people;
Not to allow ourselves to be used or abused by others in the
interest of another's recovery;
Not to do for others what they could do for themselves;
Not to manipulate situations so others will eat, go to bed,
get up, pay bills, not drink;
Not to cover up for anyone's mistakes or misdeeds;
Not to create a crisis;
Not to prevent a crisis if it is in the natural course of
events.
Detachment is neither kind nor unkind. It does not imply
judgement or condemnation of the person or situation from
which we are detaching.
It is simply a means that allows us to separate ourselves
from the adverse effects that another person's alcoholism
can have upon our lives.
Detachment helps families look at their situations
realistically and objectively, thereby making intelligent
decisions possible.
AL-ANON IS
a worldwide organization that offers a program of recovery
for the families and friends of alcoholics whether or not
the alcoholic seeks help or even recognizes the existence of
a drinking problem.
Members give and receive comfort and understanding through a
mutual exchange of experiences, strength and hope. Sharing
of similar problems binds individuals together in a bond
that is protected by a policy of anonymity.
AL-ANON IS NOT
a religious organization or a counseling agency. It is not a
treatment center nor is it allied with any other
organization offering such services. Al-Anon Family Groups,
which includes Alateen for teenage members, neither express
opinions on outside issues nor endorse outside enterprises.
No dues or fees are required. Membership is voluntary,
requiring only that one's life has been adversely affected
by someone else's drinking problem.
Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group
Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA
From "DETACHMENT" (S-19) Copyright 1981, by Al-Anon Family
Group Headquarters, Inc.
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Meeting
Guidelines
Please try to be on time. If you arrive late, please do not disrupt the meeting or other members by greeting or asking questions
within the room. The meeting leader will post the topic between shares for late arrivals to see. The chair and greeter will post their title by their name.
Please be courteous and respectful to other members before, during, and after the meetings.
During the meeting, please refrain from crosstalk, advice giving, and feedback. Open chat is available after meetings. Any disruptions that occur during the meeting should be handled privately by the meeting chair or greeter.
If you wish to share, type '!' and the meeting chair will call on you in turn. It is easier for other members to follow your share if you type in short sentences or phrases.
When sharing, keep in mind that there are others in the meeting who would also like to share. Please keep your share reasonable in length,
and on the topic as it relates to your personal recovery.
When you are finished sharing, type "done".
The meeting chair will remain in the meeting room a few minutes after the meeting concludes to answer any questions.
If you are going to be away from your keyboard for more than a few minutes, we ask that you log out of the meeting and return when you can be fully present.
If you are being harassed or bothered by anyone, please privately notify the meeting chair,
by double clicking on their name, so that appropriate action may be taken.
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Will all who care to, join me in a moment of
silence followed by the Serenity Prayer.
Serenity Prayer
God
grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage
to change the things I can,
and the Wisdom to know the difference.
Twelve Steps
Step 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable.
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Step 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. |
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Step 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. |
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Step 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. |
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Step 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. |
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Step 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. |
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Step 7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. |
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Step 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. |
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Step 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. |
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Step 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. |
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Step 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. |
Step 12. Having
had a spiritual awakening as the result of these
steps, we tried to carry this message to others,
and to practice these principles in all our
affairs.
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Traditions
The Traditions that follow bind us together in
unity. They guide the groups in their relations with other
groups, with AA and the outside world. They
recommend group attitudes toward leadership,
membership, money, property, public relations and
anonymity. The Traditions evolved from the
experience of AA groups in trying to solve their
problems of living and working together.
Al-Anon adopted these group guidelines, and over the
years has found them sound and wise. Although they
are only suggestions, Al-Anon's unity and perhaps
even its survival are dependent on adherence to
these principles.
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The tradition of the month is.... |
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Tradition 1. Our common welfare should come
first; personal progress for the greatest number
depends upon unity. |
| Tradition 2. For our group purpose there is
but one authority, a loving God as He may express
Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but
trusted servants; they do not govern. |
| Tradition 3. The relatives of alcoholics,
when gathered together for mutual aid, may call
themselves an Al-Anon Family Group, provided that,
as a group, they have no other affiliation. The only
requirement for membership is that there be a
problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend. |
| Tradition 4. Each group should be autonomous,
except in matters affecting another groups or Al-Anon
or AA as a whole. |
| Tradition 5. Each Al-Anon Family Group has
but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. We
do this by practicing the Twelve Steps of AA
ourselves, by encouraging and understanding our
alcoholic relatives, and by welcoming and giving
comfort to families of alcoholics. |
| Tradition 6. Our Al-Anon Family Groups ought
never endorse, finance or lend our name to any
outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property
and prestige divert us from our primary spiritual
aim. Although a separate entity, we should always
cooperate with Alcoholics Anonymous. |
| Tradition 7. Every Group ought to be fully
self-supporting, declining outside contributions. |
| Tradition 8. Al-Anon Twelfth-Step work should
remain forever non-professional, but our service
centers may employ special workers. |
| Tradition 9. Our Groups, as such, ought never
be organized; but we may create service boards or
committees directly responsible to those they serve. |
| Tradition 10. The Al-Anon Family Groups have
no opinion on outside issues; hence our name ought
never be drawn into public controversy. |
| Tradition 11. Our public relations policy is
based on attraction rather than promotion; we need
always maintain personal anonymity at the level of
press, radio, TV and films. We need guard with
special care the anonymity of all AA members. |
| Tradition 12. Anonymity is the spiritual
foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us
to place principles above personalities. |
Announcements
For a list of our meetings please visits
http://www.globalstateofmind.com/alanon.htm.
We are always in need of greeters and chairpersons
to help out with our meetings. If you are interested
in volunteering your services as a chairperson or
greeter, please email
hope@globalstateofmind.com for more
information.
The philosophy of Al-anon is to give back.
We have no dues or fees, but there are expenses to
maintain this site. Please donate every time we pass
the basket at a meeting. Even a small donation will
help to keep this program available online. Please click on the "Donate"
button to the right of the chat room.
If you are looking for a face-to-face meeting in
your area, call 1-888-4-ALANON. They can help you
find a meeting in your area.
For information on Al-Anon and Conference Approved
Literature (CAL), please visit
http://www.al-anon.alateen.org
For more information about Online Al-Anon visit:
http://ola-is.org
I would like to thank our greeter! Thanks for your
service work!
There will be open chat after the meeting for all to
enjoy the fellowship and fun. It is also a good time
to ask questions.
Are there any new announcements for the good of
the fellowship?
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Closing
In closing I would like to say that the opinions
expressed here were strictly those of the person who
gave them. Take what you liked and leave the rest.
The things you heard were spoken in confidence and
should be treated as confidential. Keep them within
the "walls" of this room and the confines of your
mind.
A few special words to those of you who haven't been
with us long: Whatever your problems there are those
among us who have had them, too. If you try to keep
an open mind you will find help. You will come to
realize that there is no situation too difficult to
be bettered and no unhappiness too great to be
lessened...
We aren't perfect. The welcome we give you may not
show the warmth we have in our hearts for you. After
a while, you'll discover that though you may not
like all of us, you'll love us in a very special way
... the same way we already love you.
Talk to each other, reason things out with someone
else but let there be no gossip or criticism of one
another. Instead, let the understanding, love and
peace of the program grow in you one day at a time.
Will all who care to, join me in a moment of
silence followed by a closing prayer.
Serenity Prayer
God
grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage
to change the things I can,
and the Wisdom to know the difference.
Prayer of Hope
May today there be
peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where
you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite
possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those
gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has
been given to you. May you be confident knowing you are a
child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and
allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
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The Promises of Al-Anon
If we
willingly surrender ourselves to the spiritual discipline of
the Twelve Steps, our lives will be transformed. We will
become mature, responsible individuals with a great capacity
for joy, fulfillment, and wonder.
Though we may never be perfect, continued spiritual progress
will reveal to us our enormous potential. We will discover
that we are worthy of love and loving.
We will love others without losing ourselves, and will learn
to accept love in return.
Our sight, once clouded and confused, will clear and we will
be able to perceive reality and recognize truth.
Courage and fellowship will replace fear.
We will be able to risk failure to develop new, hidden
talents.
Our lives, no matter how battered and degraded, will yield
hope to share with others.
We will begin to feel and will come to know the vastness of
our emotions, but we will not be slaves to them.
Our secrets will no longer bind us in shame.
As we gain the ability to forgive ourselves, our families,
and the world, our choices will expand.
With dignity we will stand for ourselves, but not against
our fellows.
Serenity and peace will have meaning for us as we allow our
lives and the lives of those we love to flow day by day with
God's ease, balance, and grace.
No longer terrified, we will discover we are free to delight
in life's paradox, mystery, and awe.
We will laugh more.
Fear will be replaced by faith, and gratitude will come
naturally as we realize that our Higher Power is doing for
us what we cannot do for ourselves.
Limited use by expressed written permission of Al-Anon
Family Groups Headquarters, Inc. From "Survival to
Recovery", page 269-70, copyright 1994 by Al-Anon Family
Groups Headquarters, Inc.
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Just For Today
Just for today I will try to live through this day only, and
not tackle all my problems at once. I can do something for
12 hours that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep
it up for a lifetime.
Just for today I will be happy. This assumes to be true what
Abraham Lincoln said, that "Most folks are as happy as they
make up their minds to be".
Just for today I will adjust myself to what is, and not try
to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my
"luck" as it comes, and fit myself to it.
Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will
study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental
loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought
and concentration.
Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will
do somebody a good turn, and not get found out; if anybody
knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least 2 things
I don't want to do - just for the exercise. I will not show
anyone that my feelings are hurt; they may be hurt, but
today I will not show it.
Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I
can, dress becomingly, keep my voice low, be courteous,
criticize not one bit. I won't find fault with anything, nor
try to improve or regulate anybody but myself.
Just for today I will have a program. I may not follow it
exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two
pests: Hurry and indecision.
Just for today I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself
and relax. During this half-hour, sometime, I will try to
get a better perspective of my life.
Just for today I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be
afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe that as I
give to the world, so the world will give unto me.
Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group
Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA
From "Just For today" (M-12) Copyright
by Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
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Newcomer Greeting
To be alerted by a beep when someone logs on to the
room, click on the Options link above the chat room, click
on "Sound on Enter" then click "On" or choose a sound.
Greeters: This job is so important for newcomers! Give them
a warm welcome and ask if they have any questions.
Ask if they have read the Newcomer Package.
Greeter Message:
Welcome to this meeting! We are
glad you are here!
If you
have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me.
Are you new to Al-Anon? Have you read Global State of Mind's
'Newcomers' Package? Here is the
link.
It is quite long, so you may wish to read it after the
meeting.
If you wish to share
in the meeting, type
' ! ' and the meeting chair will call on you in turn. It is easier for other members to follow your share if you type in short sentences or phrases. When sharing, keep in mind that there are others in the meeting who would also like to share,
and keep your share reasonable in length and on the topic as it relates to your personal recovery. When you are finished sharing, type "Done."
We thank people
after their sharing with a simple "TYFS".
There is
open chat after the meeting for Q&A.
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Potential Topics
There are many
good references in Courage to Change, Hope for Today, and
One Day at a Time readers on the following topics.
1. Newcomers
2. Detachment
3. Take what you like and leave the rest
4. Choices
5. 70 Second Alanon
6. 3C's - did not cause alcoholism, cannot control
alcoholism, cannot cure alcoholism
7. 3A's -Awareness, Acceptance, Action
8. Slogans:
Easy Does It; First Things First; How Important is It; Just
for Today; Keep an Open Mind; Keep it Simple; Let go and Let
God; Let it Begin with Me; Listen and Learn; Live and Let
Live; One Day at a Time; Think.
9. Step One to Three
10. Spiritual Awakening
11. Sponsorship
12. Just for Today
13. The Promises
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