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Writer's pictureSober AA Member

Finding Joy Through Gratitude: My Journey with Al-Anon

Have you ever looked at what other people have and felt like you're missing out? It's easy to compare ourselves to others, but sometimes, it can make us forget the good things we already have. I learned an important lesson through Al-Anon, a special group that helped me focus on gratitude and find joy without worrying about what others were doing. And one of the biggest changes in my life was dropping the word "blame."


**The Worry of Comparison**


Growing up, I often looked at my friends and thought they had more exciting lives. Some of them had big houses or lots of toys, and I wondered why I didn't have those things. It made me feel sad and sometimes even a little jealous.


When we spend too much time comparing ourselves to others, we forget about the wonderful things in our own lives. We might have a loving family, great friends, or even a cozy place to call home. But if we're always looking at what others have, we don't appreciate what's right in front of us.


**Discovering Al-Anon**


One day, my aunt told me about 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 decided to give it a try, even though I wasn't sure what to expect.


In Al-Anon, I met others who were going through tough times too. They taught me that it's okay to have problems and that I didn't have to pretend everything was perfect. We learned to talk about our feelings and not keep them inside.


**Focusing on Gratitude**


One of the most important things I learned in Al-Anon was the power of gratitude. Gratitude means being thankful for what we have instead of worrying about what we don't have. It's like having a treasure chest of good feelings inside us.


I started to make a list of things I was grateful for every day. I wrote down simple things like the delicious dinner my mom cooked or the fun game I played with my friends. Doing this made me feel happier and more content with my life.


**Letting Go of Blame**


Before Al-Anon, I used to blame myself and others for the problems in my family. I thought if I had done something differently, things would have been better. But Al-Anon taught me that it's not anyone's fault when someone in our family has a problem like alcoholism.


Blame is like a heavy backpack we carry around. It makes us tired and sad. But when we let go of blame, we feel lighter and freer. We can focus on making things better instead of feeling bad about what happened in the past.


So, my friends, remember that comparing ourselves to others can make us forget about the good things in our lives. Through Al-Anon, I learned to focus on gratitude and find joy in the process. Dropping the word "blame" allowed me to move forward with my life and be a happier person.


Life is full of ups and downs, but when we practice gratitude and let go of blame, we can find joy in even the smallest moments. It's a journey I'm still on, but I know that as long as I stay thankful for what I have and stop worrying about what others are doing, I'll keep moving in the right direction. You gottawanna live free of hate for others. Peace and love.



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