When I first came to Al-Anon, I wanted relief. I was drowning in sadness, anger, and confusion. I wanted someone to tell me how to fix everything—how to stop hurting, how to change the people in my life, how to make things fair. What I didn’t want to hear was that I needed to sit with my pain. I didn’t want to believe that sadness had something to teach me. But through the guidance of Al-Anon, my sponsor, and my home group, I learned that facing my pain with honesty and courage was the only way to truly heal.
Facing the Pain Instead of Running from It
For a long time, I avoided my feelings. I distracted myself with busyness, blame, or trying to fix other people’s problems. I thought that if I could just control everything around me, I wouldn’t have to feel so lost inside. But Al-Anon taught me a different way. My sponsor reminded me that ignoring my sadness wouldn’t make it disappear—it would only bury it deeper, where it could grow into resentment, fear, or bitterness.
At first, sitting with my feelings felt impossible. I wanted to escape. But my home group showed me that I wasn’t alone. When I listened to others share their struggles, I realized that pain is a part of life, and I wasn’t the only one going through it. Seeing others face their sadness and come out stronger gave me hope.
Learning That Sadness Has Lessons to Teach
One of the hardest things to accept was that sadness itself wasn’t my enemy. I wanted to push it away, to get rid of it as fast as possible. But my sponsor encouraged me to be patient. “There’s something to learn here,” they said. “Give yourself time.”
Through the 12 Steps, I started to see that sadness wasn’t just something to suffer through—it was a sign that something inside me needed attention. It showed me what I valued, what I longed for, what I needed to heal. When I stopped fighting against my pain and started listening to it, I found unexpected wisdom.
I learned that grief and disappointment were part of my journey, not things to be ashamed of. I learned that healing doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen. And most importantly, I learned that I didn’t have to go through it alone.
The Strength of a Home Group
In my darkest moments, my home group became my safe place. No one rushed me to “get over it.” No one told me I was wrong for feeling the way I did. Instead, they listened. They shared their own experiences. They reminded me, over and over, that I would get through this.
There were times when I wanted to give up—when I thought the pain would never end. But showing up to meetings, even when I didn’t feel like it, gave me the support I needed to keep going. Seeing others who had faced similar struggles and come out stronger gave me hope.
Coming Out the Other Side
Sadness still comes and goes in my life, but now, I no longer fear it. I’ve learned that emotions, even the painful ones, are part of being human. I’ve learned that I can survive them—and even grow from them.
Al-Anon, my sponsor, and my home group guided me through some of my darkest moments. They taught me to trust the process, to have faith that healing takes time, and to believe that I could come out the other side, stronger and wiser.
Now, when sadness comes, I don’t run. I sit with it. I pray. I lean on my support system. I remind myself that this feeling, no matter how deep, will pass. And when it does, I will step forward with a little more understanding, a little more strength, and a heart that is still open to love.
God guided me to you and he didn't change his mind at anytime and never said I made a mistake by sending me to you. You gottawanna accept your path and your journey with peace and love I wish you well.
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