This should be an Al-Anon slogan
Write the bad things that are done to you in sand, but write the good things that happen to you on a piece of marble.
Blog
The Four Ss
Simple but they work.
Taking the First Step
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable. The first word is WE. You are not alone. I think the next most important word is powerless. I hated this word until I realized that … Continue reading “Taking the First Step” →
Receiving Thanks
“Al-Anon is the only place in which you can do something badly or make a mistake and everyone thanks you for your service!” —The Forum, March 2025, sharing by Gail K-W, Maryland
Saying “No” in Service
“Service is meant to enrich our recovery, not deplete it.” … “Saying ‘no’ doesn’t mean I’m abandoning the program. It means I’m working it.” Article from The Forum, March 2026
Principles of the Program
Al-Anon (for families and friends of people with alcohol use disorder) is built around a set of spiritual and practical principles that guide recovery.
Principles of the 12 Steps
Spiritual principles represented by the 12 Steps
Prayer
I prayed for 20 years and received no answer, until I prayed with my legs. — Frederick Douglass
Words, words, words
The more words you use, the less value each word has. — JTWB
Group Conscience
God is in the group consciences that I agree with, and God is in the group consciences that I don’t agree with.
Advice
Not Conference-Approved, but I like it.
Are You Listening?
To listen attentively to someone’s perspective without arguing or trying to change their mind shows a willingness to connect. — Amy Erez
A Sophisticated Scam?
There is a program called Al-Anon that is helpful for anyone who is worried about someone with a drinking problem. There are people with drinking problems and people without drinking problems in Al-Anon. The only criteria really is that you … Continue reading “A Sophisticated Scam?” →
How I Got Off the Clown Train
My Decision to get off the Train By Brenda W., California June, 2012 Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA. When I was four or five, my mother put me on a train, the kind … Continue reading “How I Got Off the Clown Train” →
Got Bread?
The reading in Courage to Change for January 2 reminds us that “Turning to an alcoholic for affection and support is like going to a hardware store for bread.” It explains that “While our loved ones may not meet our … Continue reading “Got Bread?” →
New Year’s Resolution
I’m ready for new experiences that I don’t need to heal from.
Every Day
If you need to quickly lift your spirit, this video might do the trick to dig your way out. Give it a try.
Spiritual not religious
“Al‑Anon is not allied with any sect or denomination. It is a spiritual program, based on no particular form of religion.” — from the pamphlet Alcoholism, the Family Disease © Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia, 2005. Good quote, source … Continue reading “Spiritual not religious” →
Who gets the cheese?
This is a new one I heard recently, and it explains why Progress Not Perfection and PAUSE are important. The early bird gets the worm …
The 4th C
I’ve heard various versions of a fourth “C” for Al-Anon’s three Cs. This is my favorite so far: I didn’t Cause it, I can’t Cure it, and I can’t Control it, but I have Choices.