The Role of Al-Anon LDCs
Al-Anon Literature Distribution Centers (LDCs) provide Al-Anon members with local access to and quick delivery of Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature (CAL) and other Al-Anon materials. The LDCs and the World Service Office (WSO) work in partnership to carry
Share Your Recovery on Our Member Blog
The Member Blog on al-anon.org is an excellent resource for reading about the experience, strength, and hope of fellow members, as well as sharing your own! The monthly blog topics are a great source for meeting topics, and
What Do We Value and How Do We Measure It?
Letting go is never easy. Many of us struggle to let go of things that no longer serve us, whether it’s an old pair of shoes from eighth grade, an object we think we might need someday, or
Tradition Seven—It’s Not (Just) About the Money!
Tradition Seven: Every group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. At first glance, the Traditions seemed completely outside of my general understanding and lived experience. It took time to learn the Al‑Anon language and make sense
Ongoing Relief
While preparing to share my recovery journey at a group anniversary event, I had a thought about the ways I’ve sought relief over my lifetime. As a child growing up in an alcoholic home, with a mother whose
I Must Heal First
I am powerless over alcoholism. For many years I treated Step One as a lesson. I could not do anything about my loved one’s drinking. I was powerless over the alcoholic’s lying, stealing, anger, and absenteeism from our
Exercising Patience
I have been contemplating the beauty of sunsets and sunrises recently. They are not like the light switches in my home that, when flipped, immediately plunge a room into darkness or flood it with light. Rather, sunsets and sunrises are
Understanding the “Report a Problem” with a Meeting Process
Have you ever arrived at an Al-Anon or Alateen meeting only to find that the door was locked, that the location was incorrect, or that it had been canceled altogether? This can be incredibly frustrating and disappointing, especially
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.