One morning, I was sitting outside enjoying a cup of tea and looking at the trees across an open field. A slight mist drifted through the treetops, and a large maple dropped the occasional spinning seed that floated gracefully to the ground. I felt peaceful and joyous. Later, I wondered why I don’t feel this way more often.
I realized how rarely I take the time to sit quietly and appreciate the beauty of the world around me. One of Al-Anon’s gifts is learning to be present in the moment, not resentful of the hurts of the past or consumed by fears of the future. But I easily forget that lesson, and I lose my serenity.
Working the Twelve Steps, attending meetings, meeting with my Sponsor, talking to other
Al-Anon members, and reading the literature are all ways to find that peace and joy I felt from watching the morning mist in the trees. All I have to do is remember and use the Al-Anon gifts to reclaim my serenity.
By Eric F., California
Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA.