Have you ever felt like you're always comparing yourself to others? Maybe you see your friends with cool toys or your classmates getting top grades, and it makes you wish you had what they do. It's easy to get caught up in worrying about what others have and blaming them for how we feel. But I learned an important lesson through Al-Anon: focusing on gratitude for what we have can bring joy and help us let go of blame.
**Comparing Ourselves to Others**
When I was younger, I often looked at what other kids had or what they were achieving, and I felt like I was missing out. My friend had the latest video game console, and I didn't. My classmates were getting gold stars, and I wasn't. I blamed them for my unhappiness because I thought they had something I didn't.
**The Blame Game**
Blaming others for how we feel can be like a never-ending game. We might blame our friends for having cooler stuff, our parents for not letting us do what we want, or even ourselves for not being as good as others. This game of blame can make us feel sad and frustrated.
**Discovering Al-Anon**
One day, my mom introduced me to Al-Anon. It's a group where people come together to support each other when they have friends or family members with alcohol problems. I didn't understand how it related to what I was going through, but I decided to give it a try.
In Al-Anon, I met people who had faced tough situations just like me. They taught me about gratitude, which means being thankful for the good things in our lives. They also taught me that blaming others doesn't help us feel better; it just keeps us stuck.
**Finding Joy in Gratitude**
As I started focusing on gratitude, something amazing happened. I realized that I had many things to be thankful for. I had a loving family, good friends, and a roof over my head. These were things that really mattered. I stopped worrying about what others had and started appreciating what I had.
Gratitude brought joy into my life. I found happiness in simple things, like a sunny day, a funny joke, or a warm hug from my mom. I stopped playing the blame game because I understood that it didn't change anything. Blaming others didn't make me feel better, but gratitude did.
**Dropping the Word Blame**
With the help of Al-Anon, I learned to drop the word "blame" from my vocabulary. Instead of blaming others or myself, I started looking for solutions to problems. If I wanted something, I would work for it instead of blaming someone else for having it. If I made a mistake, I would learn from it instead of blaming myself.
So, my friends, remember that comparing ourselves to others and blaming them for our feelings doesn't bring happiness. Instead, focus on gratitude for what you have. Be thankful for the good things in your life, no matter how small they may seem. And if you ever catch yourself playing the blame game, try to let it go. It's not a game worth playing. With gratitude and a positive mindset, you can find joy and move forward in life, just like I did with the help of Al-Anon.
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