Ratner Retreats www.12stepretreat.org

Save the date. Our next retreat will be Labor Day weekend, August 30-September 1, in beautiful Santa Cruz California. Our retreat leader is Penni Sparks a longtime member of Alanon. This retreat is beneficial to all 12-step participants. Email me at [email protected] to get on the email list. Registration opens April 1st. First come first served for the best rooms.
In service,
Susan

Happy Birthday Daddy
He was born 110 years ago.

Patience, it’s working

“Do I have the courage to face the problems that alcoholism has brought into my life? Can I knock down the wall of loneliness that I’ve been building? The answer could be ‘yes,’ if I’d stop hiding behind my wall when something happens that I don’t like. When I withdraw, I make myself even more unhappy because I shut in my bad feelings and I shut out other people. In Alateen, people understand how I feel. Most of them have lived behind walls, too. I can share my fears and hurts with them. They help me to take down my wall and start building a bridge to a world of courage and peace of mind.”

“Alateen – a day at a time,” p. 228

Is there a history of alcoholism in your family? Maybe Alateen can help. For meeting information:

🔺 Local: https://bit.ly/3n0kc4D

🔺 Electronic: https://bit.ly/3u6WzgC

Retreats | Jesuit Retreat Center | Los Altos, CA For over 95 years, The Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos has offered the opportunity for people to experience the quiet, a time of prayer, and the wisdom and counsel of talented retreat directors.

I want to let friends of Terry R. know of his passing. He was light to many. God Bless.

I am enjoying peace and quiet and its the best. Friday begins the retreat

AUGUST 18 ~ Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading

NOTHING I DO CHANGES THE ADDICT’S CHOICES

I divorced my husband of eight years after he broke my arm in a drunken rage. He received jail time for domestic violence and I was sentenced to a Twelve Step program. I was not ready. I thought that everyone at the meeting was completely dippy. How on earth could I condone anyone’s using? Were these people mad or what? I must say, looking back, I had a serious case of selective hearing. I lived in denial and I was incapable of taking an honest look at myself.

Sometime later, I started having problems with my teenage daughter. She crashed my car, cleaned out my bank account twice and pawned most of my appliances. I threw her out. That is when she broke down and confessed that she was an addict. I immediately jumped into action. I was going to fix my child, so super-mom found a treatment center. I started moving mountains to get the money I needed. I begged and even convinced the bank to increase my mortgage. Never mind that I could not afford it and I had no idea how I was going to pay it back. It was my duty to fix my child’s problems.

My daughter completed her treatment, came out and was doing well. The treatment center recommended that I go to Nar-Anon meetings. I ignored that advice. Of course, I did not have a problem. I was, after all, this loving and devoted mom. Six months later, my fall came when my daughter relapsed.

My world fell apart. In desperation, I finally sought help in Nar- Anon. I cannot stress this enough - it was my salvation! Not long afterwards, I discovered that my youngest daughter was also an addict. With the program’s support, and what I have learned, I handled the situation in a much more positive way.

Thought for Today: I have a better perspective now so that I can detach, let go and accept that nothing I do will ever change the choices the addicts make.

“We do recover. Slowly, new persons emerge. Change is taking place.” ~ Nar-Anon Blue Booklet

Copyright © 2007 by Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. All Rights Reserved

So many sweet memories to cherish. Thank you

50 years of retreats!