Articles
Willingness and the Collateral Benefits of Service
If you are like me, sometimes service commitments don’t inspire excitement. When I first heard the terms Board of Trustees and Executive Committee, they sounded like another room in a house I wasn’t allowed to enter. They sounded intimidating, even out of reach. But...
Reflections from the WSO Archivist on 75 Years of Al-Anon History
As Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. prepares to commemorate 75 years of help and hope in 2026, I reflect on the fellowship’s long, remarkable journey and the role of the World Service Office (WSO) Archives in preserving its story. The Archives began in New York...
Honoring More Than 75 Years of Public Outreach
As Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. approaches its 75th anniversary, we celebrate the enduring impact of public outreach in bringing hope to families and friends of alcoholics. Even before our incorporation as a nonprofit in 1951, Al-Anon members shared the...
I’ve Been There Too
Have you ever been sitting in an Al-Anon meeting and, after a member shares, you hear someone respond with, “Glad you are here”? Maybe on your way out, you pass someone chatting with a newcomer and hear them say, “Glad you are here.” On my first listen, I thought it...
Seeking Answers
I came into Al-Anon looking for answers, believing I needed to fix the alcoholic in my life. I expected to hear how to do that at an Al-Anon meeting. Life was chaotic at the time, and I wanted a quick fix to my problems. I must admit that I got all the answers I ever...
Learning to Listen
Before I came to Al-Anon, I thought I was a great listener and that I had the answers to everything. I would often give advice and voice my opinions, even when no one asked. I did this mostly with my husband, who’s the alcoholic in my life, but it also extended to my...
Carrying the Message: A Gift of Serenity
Today, I am grateful to share the gift of serenity I’ve received through the worldwide fellowship of Al-Anon Family Groups. Like many others, I came to Al-Anon overwhelmed by a loved one’s drinking and the chaos it brought into my life. I felt like I was losing my...
When I Don’t Agree with the Group Conscience
Two years ago, my group decided to extend the meeting time from 60 to 90 minutes. I never liked longer meetings, but I wasn’t at the business meeting that voted for the new time. Because many meetings nearby met for one hour, newcomers or visitors would often...
Promotion or Attraction?
As we approach the end of another year, I reflect on where my life was before Al-Anon and where it is now. I reflect on my good fortune to have found a place that has shown me warmth, understanding, and love. While I continue to work the program to better my life, I’m...
The Day I Gave Up Fixing
Last year, on the first Tuesday in February, I attended my first meeting. It started as one of the worst days of my life—worse than the day I lost my dad to a sudden heart attack, worse than the day I lost my mom to a horrific infection. It was the day I had decided...