THE TWELVE STEP RAG

The Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the Families Anonymous FellowshipFOR RELATIVES AND FRIENDS CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER'S USE OF DRUGS, ALCOHOL, OR RELATED BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS

VOLUME LXI May-June 2012 NUMBER 3

My sister-in-law brought the news. Myson had been arrested on drug charges.After three days in the holding cells,he finally contacted us with a plea forhelp. His surprise, fear and shame hadcaused him to keep his arrest a secretfrom us. What help could we be now?He was in "the laW's" hands. The onlything that kept me on an even keel wasto repeat STEP Ol'fE - Powerlessness.

I was so shaken. My mouth went dry,my head started spinning and my heartpounded in my cltest. That, of whichI was so afraid, had finally happened- incarceration. I felt no anger,resentment or shame; just sadness.Sadness overwhelmed me to the pointthat although I could hear faint, endlesssobbing, I did not realize it was comingfrom me. Surprisingly, it stopped asabruptly as it hadl started and a voicefrom within told me that I would findthe strength to cope with whatever hadbeen sent me. S~EP TWO, a Powergreater than myself was waiting toguide me along this journey.

After a family meeting, we decided tosupport our addicted loved-one, 'up toa point.' However, there is no 'up to apoint' when deali~g with the law. Youare either in it completely or not at all.The first priority is to get a good lawyer,and what is a good lawyer? Unless youhave been through the justice systembefore, you might as well pick a namefrom the telephone book, or contactsomeone you've seen on TV. Thearraignment was two days away. Wehad to make a quick decision. We chose

an acquaintance that we could trust;somebod! who would be interested indoing wHat was best for the addict.

I .Next came the necessary, painful

visit to the holding cells where ourcredentials were scrutinized and ourbelongin~s searched. The THIRDSTEP w~s called upon, as there was noway I co ld handle this visit alone. Mywill and life were turned over to God.

IWhen I saw my loved By being so wrapped up in my

one, he was almost • •unrecognizable. His misery, I was too blind to seestomach I was caved i~, the little miracles around me.his chee~s sunken. But Itwas the fear in his eyes that pierced

Imy heart. As he peered throughthe dirt1stained glass window thatseparated us, he stooped over,grippingl his sides as the withdrawalspasms tracked his body, renderinghim speechless. I picked up the phoneand be~an a feeble conversationwhich turned out to be futile, as hehad little idea as to where he was andhis fear made him incoherent.

And s~ began the family's jailexperien6e; speaking through filthyglass wJdows, passing through drug-detectors' having the contents of bagssearched! waiting in queues to enter thecell bloc~ and numerous visits to socialworkers. IT never got used to it and itnever got easier.

One morning, the alarm on the drugdetector went off when a man, carryinga small plastic bag containing two pairsof socks, passed through it. His faceturned ashen and he frantically looked

at his parcel in disbelief and fear. Theguard began searching his pockets andpathetic little bag.

It was a false alarm and those of uswaiting in the queue breathed a sighof relief. This incident gave me thejitters each time I passed throughthat detector, making me paranoid,imagining somebody planting drugs inmy bags.

It was the frantic phone calls wereceived from the prison that rattled!me, as I was powerless to help or pacifythe inmate. The calls were not ones ofcomplaint but simply of frustration atbeing behind bars. The only thing Icould do was be supportive.

Perhaps it was then that 'LET GOAND LET GOD' enlightened me and Iwas able to cope better in my everydaylife and also manage the year-longvisits which seemed like a lifetime.STEP ELEVEN also helped me throughthese dark days; praying for knowledgeof God's will for me and the power tocarry that out. Surprisingly, the mostunlikely of people gave me strength;the other visitors. They were so jovial,chatty, loud and bringers of news andgossip to their loved ones. Nobody satsulking and scowling as I did on manyan occasion. They had reached thestage of ACCEPTANCE and because I(Continued on Page 6)

OFFICERS:

ChairMarc M, Westfield, New Jersey

Vice ChairGeorge R, Lake Anna, Virginia

Recording SecretaryRenee S, Albuquerque, New Mexico

TreasurerAlice Q, Thomasville, Georgia

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE:

Beverlee C, Bristol, Connecticut

Barry K, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Kristie (Lynn) R, San Jose, California

Robert B, Scarborough, ON Canada

Ann P, Manlius, New YorkBill C, Glenview, Illinois

Lisa K, Bloomfield, MichiganMary Ellen B, Madison, Wisconsin

Ken H, Merriam, KansasEdK, Suffern, New York

Robyn MeN, Morganville, New Jersey

Published six times a year byFamilies Anonymous, Inc.

701 Lee St, Suite 670Des Plaines, IL 60016-4508

847-294-5877800-736-9805 (USA only)

FAX: 847-294-5837

EMAlL:12steprag@FamiliesAnonymous.org

EDITOR: Lisa W

RAG STAFF: I

Judith H - Maggie B - Mary D

OUTLOOK FROM THE CHAIR

One of the most difficult columns for me to write is the outlook for the comingyear. This year's column is particularly challenging since it marks the beginningof my last year as the WSB Chair and requires me to focus on both the goals thatI hope the Board will accomplish, as well as making plans for the transition ofWSB Officers.

Everything that the WSB has focused on during the past three years has been tostrengthen the fellowship and improve the way we carry the message. This yearthose efforts will continue with the help of our newly adopted internet and socialmedia policy, which will guide our groups and members to make more effectiveuse of the internet and amplify the efforts at carrying the message.

While most members find us through the use of internet searches, there arestill many that enter our rooms through the guidance of treatment professionalsand others who are aware of the benefits found in the principles and practicesof the FA program. The challenge I would like to pose to the fellowship isthe development of a speaker's bureau that could answer the call to share theexperiences, strengths, and hopes that were found through working their program.Very often, we get requests from news media, treatment facilities and communitygroups for experienced members to share their story. This new program would bean excellent way of providing service to the fellowship and helping others.

A major goal, as we move forward this year, is to increase member awareness ofthe importance of group support and participation in World Service activities. AsI travel and visit with FA groups, I often find that many of our members are onlyaware of their home group, or perhaps a neighboring group. Strengthening ourfellowship comes about as we develop new relationships with other members andgroups and form strong support and recovery networks. In turn, these networkshelp to support World Service activities such as service work, committeeparticipation, convention attendance, and ultimately, tenure as a member of theFA World Service Board. In our reading "Helping" we are provided with theadmonition of the dangers of struggling alone. The wisdom of this passage is thatthere is strength in numbers and the same is also true on the more macro level ofour participation within the fellowship. To this end, it is my hope that groups willbecome more outgoing in supporting the creation of new groups, establishing newintergroups, and perhaps holding regional conferences and conventions that fosterfellowship among members.

All of these things work toward the goal of growing our fellowship. There aremany opportunities around the world for this growth to occur. Will we be readyand able to take advantage of them? I know that if we focus on our program andTraditions, in which we keep in mind the importance of placing principles abovepersonalities, and remember that our common welfare is bound up in the commonpurpose, we can continue to grow.

Recovery is not a spectator's sport. It requires work and dedication. It requiressharing and caring. l am confident that we can continue to move from strength tostrength. Please make this year one of reaching out to support FA with your skillsand talents, your financial support, and your energy. Answer the calls for service.Be there to help others find what you have. These are the tools for growth andrecovery. Pick them up and use them.

With love in the fellowship,MarcM.

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NEWCOMERSWhen You Are Ready To Work It...Dear Newcomer,

You have already taken an importantstep in healing yourself by attendingan FA meeting. Here, you will begin tounderstand that you are not alone. Soonyou will be ready to work your programto make your goal of serenity a reality.The fellowship and the program of FAprovides many tools that can aid you inyour recovery. Here are some ways tocome closer to your goal of serenity.

Attend your FA meetings. Read andlisten to the foundation readings. Learnfrom the topics and the experiencesof your first-name friends. Share yourthoughts and feel the compassion andempathy of the fellowship. Betweenmeetings, call other members for helpand support.

Read HToday A Better Way" daily, aspart of your personal investment inyour emotional health. In addition,during times of stress, many of uswill "dive for the red book" as a way

of calming ourselves. Reading one ormany entries has a way of restoring ahealthier perspective as we deal withour addicted loved one.

Choose a sponsor. Soon you willbe able to identify someone at yourmeeting whom you feel you can relateto; someone who projects a feelingof serenity. The booklet "FamiliesAnonymous and Sponsorship" canoffer you suggestions about how tochoose and interact with a sponsor ina way that is most comfortable for bothof you.

Work the steps. With the guidance ofyour sponsor you can begin the realwork of healing yourself. The "FamiliesAnonymous 12 Step Workbook" canhelp you find your answers and offersuggestions for ways to approach yourstep work.

The program works if you work it.SO WORK IT. YOU'RE WORTH IT.

by the Sponsorship Committee

IT'S O.K. TO RELAXI recieved a call at about 9:30 p.m. My son decided he was tired of being on the runand turned himself in on the two warrants he had outstanding. My first reaction wasI wanted to go see him and make sure he was O.K. but instead I finished watching ashow on TV and then went to bed.I slept well and was in court at 9 a.m. the next morning; since he is a minor I had tobe there. The attorney asked me if! could control him and it was all Icould do to notlaugh out loud. If I could control anything we would not be in a court room waitingfor him to be arraigned for a theft charge! I took a deep breath and calmly replied noand they decided to hold him until his next court date which was in a few days.

When I left the courthouse all I could do was look around at the blue skies and takea deep breath. Irealized at that point that Ineeded to take some time for myself andcalled into work and let them know Iwasn't going to be there and spent the rest ofthe day shopping and reading and relaxing. Ihaven't been this relaxed in a couple ofweeks.Here's to FA for showing me it was O.K. to enjoy some time for myself even whenmy son was having a rough day. His choices, his consequences.

Praying for all to find the sense of peace that I was able to find for myself even if onlyfor a short amount oftime.Helen, E-Meeting

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l?i-lI..rrl~lli,rl"JIlI~S)0'.,1 ..1(;I.,.,

NEW! NEW! NEW!

Helping Series #1Negatives to Positives

Helping Series #2Fear to Faith

For years the powerful wordsof Helping have inspired FAmembers with their profoundwisdom about human emotionsand their challenge of change toachieve serenity. Now there is agroup of pamphlets being createdthat supports this favorite piece ofFA literature-the Helping Series.The first two in the series (out ofa possible nine) are printed andready for the literature table:

These two pocket -sized pamphletsare packed with thoughts abouthow we change ourselves andthe benefits of these changes inour lives. The series is inspiredby the first paragraph in Helpingwhich begins:

I will change my negatives topositives; fear to faith; contemptfor what they do to respect for thepotential within them; hostility tounderstanding; and manipulationor over-protectiveness to releasewith love ...

These new literature pieces comewith questions for individual useor as group topic discussions. Dosomething for yourself! Orderthese pamphlets from the WSO oronline at the FA website:

#2003-1 Negatives to Positives(12 pgs) $1.75

#2003-2 Fear to Faith(20 pgs) $2.50

A Trip to RecoveryMost people I have met in FA talk about the prOVerbial1roller coaster of recovery.I'd like to take you on a mystifying journey. The bl is going to pick us up at

Catastrophe Crossing. This is the place we were beforelwe found FA. It was a placeof confusion, fear, chaos, loneliness and heartache. We rll wanted to leave that placeand venture to a better one. .The next stop was FA Valley. This was really a place for us; a place where we could

learn to cope, not to mention a refuge of hope. Before ire got off the bus, we had toevaluate this place called FA. What was here for us? The~e were lots of steps and eachstep had a saying that told us what to do. The first step t6Id us we were powerless; we

Ineeded to let go. The second step told us there was a ~igher Power and we neededto find Him. The third step told us the Higher Power coJld make things better if welet Him. The fourth step told us to take our invento~ (now that was pretty crazybecause we weren't the ones that needed to be fixed). Tlie fifth step said we needed tobe willing to admit we were wrong. (This was a bizarre one; in fact there were a fewcracks in this step that needed to be filled.)We were beginning to get tired. This was a big job to climb those rocky steps. Almost

halfway there we encountered the sixth step=be ready to have God remove our defectsof character (did we have those?). The seventh step told us to be humble and ask Godto remove our shortcomings. This was getting harder and harder; the steps seemednever ending. The eighth step said to make a list of all those we had harmed and (getthis one) be willing to make amends to them. And the hinth step said to make directamends to these people. This was tiring. Were we ever ~oing to reach the top?

I .Someone told us there were only three more steps to go. Step Ten was a restingspot. It told us to "continue to take personal inventof and when we were wrongto promptly admit it." This was really work and it was hard work. But the thoughtemerged that if we finished this step, there were only +0 more and we would reachthe top. Up to Step Eleven. That was the prayer and meditation step and finally welanded on the top-Step Twelve, the spiritual awakeniJg.

It was getting very comfy in FAValley but the bus hadlto move on. We took a wrongturn and ended up in Pity City. Or was it a wrong turn? Pid our Higher Power do thison purpose so we could park here and rethink Step TenrWhile the bus driver filled the tank, we had an oPPfrtunity to take our personal

inventory. What we needed to understand was that if we were wrong, we had to admitit (this was a real killer and attacked our ego).

O.K., with the tank filled we were on the road agai and headed toward our finaldestination-Recovery Ranch. We made it and there ere so many lessons learnedalong the way. We learned it is so easy to get into a com ort zone and it was really hardto leave that zone. However, that didn't mean we are exempt from what we neededto work on in our inventory. We needed to do what ,.as uncomfortable sometimes,in order to prosper and grow. Another lesson learned on this journey was if we took a

Iwrong turn, we could quickly get back on the right path and the right path is the onethat would lead us to recovery. I

Lastly, even if we wandered off the path to recovery, we now knew the route and wecould go right back to where we needed to be.

BevC

Simsbury, CT

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FA Tools inEarly Recovery

My best tool in early recovery waspeople. That may sound odd but mypreferred way of dealing with problemsis to research it, read and study. Thatway I am able to ponder and assimilateat my own pace.

I found my Face 2 Face group and theE-Group about the same time. My homegroup was very welcoming and wouldcall between meetings to see how I wasgetting along. They challenged some ofmy ideas and assumptions. Several ofus experienced new challenges over theholidays and I felt a weight lifted frommy shoulders after my meetings. Notthat anything in particular was said butthe fact we are there for each other isvery comforting.

Likewise, there was a special person inthe E-Group who was so patient withme when I first came and correspondedwith me one-on-one over many monthsuntil I started to understand. I will beforever grateful.

JudithiSC

The very first thing that I did, that reallysticks in my mind, was being mindfulof my expectations. It all started in onemeeting of Meeting Without Walls andthe topic was expectations. I learned alot that night. The fact that expectationsequaled disappointments made mestand up and take notice. I started tojot down what my expectations werejust so that I could prove it to myself.And sure enough every single eventthat I anticipated and had expectationsfor, was always unfolding differentlythan I had envisioned it. So, in thisinstance, the meeting was the first toolthat helped me grow.

FrancelFL

THE TASK AHEADIS NEVER AS GREAT AS

THE POWER BEHIND US.quote submitted by Laura C, OR 262

"'Everybocfy needs beauty as were as bread; y[aces to y[ay in '!;nc(pray in,where nature may heal. and give strength to body and sour. John .'M.urr

Nature heals. Its beauty can stop us in our {{ As I walked in the sunshine and {{ My garden is full of blooms thattracks and slow down our hyperventilated cool temperatures my eyes took are bright red and yellow with athinking. We can find peace in that pause. in so many beautiful things but the one I peppering of purple and orange. I don'tNothing changes if nothing changes, and loved the most was the sight of my daffo- recall their names; I didn't save the pricechange is Nature's delight. With this in dils blooming in my own yard. I planted tags after I cut them off the stems. Theymind, we asked members of the E-Group them in 2008 while I was undergoing stay fresh and bright looking if I keepto go outside, give their full attention to the chemotherapy and the entire time I told them in the shade and remember to putbeauty around them and report back to us. myself that when they came up I would them in the shed before the first winterHere are some of those shares. be done with the treatment. Every year frost. Every few years I go to the craft

they come up to remind me I'm ALIVE, store and replace the ones that start toHEALTHY and living my life. look shabby.Lori/WI

{( The weeping cherry tree ourfriends gave us when our son Ben

died is blooming in our back yard. Wedidn't expect it since it was just plantedin October, but God sends us signs thatlife will go on.

Our son overdosed and I miss himterribly, but not the son I knew for thelast year. I miss the son I knew beforeaddiction. In that respect we all grieve forOur sons and daughters. We all deservethe peace and serenity FA can lead us to.

Today, I am here trying not to help myother son when he can help himself. Everyday I get support from the E-Meetingmembers. Their stories and our readingsalways seem to tell me what I need tohear. How does that always happen?

Let Go Let God. One day at a time.

April/CT" II nas oeen a mange weatner

pattern in upstate NY; foolingtrees and flowers. Some threw cautionto the wind and bloomed early. I love towatch perennials break through the dirt.I do believe I take their inventory eachday. Daffodils are starting to "age" butthebforsythia are out. Soon azaleas andlilac will perfume the air. I love this timeof rebirth. Joy is in the air.CookielNY

(( Dandelions are bloomingeverywhere. Yes, I know they are a weed.But you know how little kids don't knowthey are weeds and always pick them togive to their loved ones? My grandson,who is four, proudly picked some theother day for his mother and me. We wentto the playground to wait for his mom topick him Jp and Iheld my little bouquet.He ran a~ound while holding onto herflowers. When she came they were a bitsquished but still so special.ConnielNH

~~ I'ml not much of a .gm:dener anymore so my yard IS Just grass.

There is a spot in it though, where grapehyacinth blooms. Many years ago myneighbor ~cross the road was dividinghIS hyacinth plants and my childrenwhere there watching him. He gave theextra plants to them. They started backacross the road and just past the mailboxsomething else captured their attention.They set the plants down and forgotabout them. They come up every year.We always wait to mow until they'vebloomed. They are a sweet reminder ofmy three precious children!LynnB

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Silk became the compromise betweenmy husband and the backyard critters.We have a groundhog, Mr. Ditta, livingunder our shed. In the garden reside abeautiful rabbit, Mrs. Daniels, and herbunnies. Three chipmunks, Chip, Daleand Dale, have divvied up the spacesbetween the rocks of our koi pond.There's a mockingbird, Midnight, whofollows my husband around the yard.And my favorite, a cardinal, Ozzie, whois redder than Williams' wheelbarrowand his wife, Mrs. Smith, that visit medaily. They all live in harmony with eachother and my husband, who has eventraded in his Wiley E. Coyote guide tocatching and trapping for a backyard birdwatching guide.

There are some live plants like the lilactm!'!he!'! T nl~nted out!'!ide the waitincnursery several years ago. My sons, nowfour and one, love their fragrant fillednaps. I also have basil and parsley inhanging baskets on shepard's hooks thatattract the most magnificent butterflies.

I am grateful for the sights, scents andsounds of my garden; for my saggingshed, soccered over lawn, my sun-lovingsons and my husband's sanity.Lisa/NJ

Who Am I?Who am I to expect from you,to live your life the way I do?

Who am 1to expect you to obey,and do exactly as 1say?

Who am I to enable and help,as you go down a path to

destroy yourself?

Who am I to point out yourflaws or sin?

You already know the strengthto recover must come from

within.

Who Am 1?

1 think 1now know.

1 am someone who loves youand it is now so.

I release you with love andwatch as you go.

To find your own way,and hope that you grow.

by Cliff S. Medina, OH

(Continued from Page 1)

admired their attitude, I learnt to followsuit. Not that my chirpy chatter wasalways well received!

By being so wrapped up in my misery,I was too blind to see the little miraclesaround me. Firstly, the family's inabilityto help in any way put an end to therescuing and enabling at which wewere so adept. It was the first step formy son to stand up for himself and beresponsible for his actions. Secondly, hewas clean, which meant that we couldhave a lucid conversation, somethingnot possible for many years. Theseconversations would start off well, butdeteriorate once the anger rose up in allof us, the communication coming to anabrupt end. We soon learnt to drop theball when anger was involved.

Next came one of the most important

Memorial Donations

In Memory of In Memory of

Janelle~

KarenCa faithful, wise member of by

our FAmily Group 1027You are greatly missed Lake Orion, MI

by

~Group 1458 ~ In Memory ofLubbock, TX NathanC

~byIn Memory of Group 1027

Rory Lake Orion, MIson oflong time members

~Florence and john In Memory of

;f .•.. by MatthewMGroup 1187

~ byBloomfield, CT Virginia B

Farmingdale, NY

In Memory ofJonathonD In Memory of

grandson of Shelby P BillM~by by 3'

~Group 1318 Group 1096Boca Raton, FL Richmond, VA

,

gifts. B~ court order, my son was tojoin a therapeutic group that worked onthe same lines as NA. Although he wasloath to attend these meetings, he soonbegan to warm to the program and tothis day has only positive things to sayabout the committed therapists withwhom he came into contact. He alsochose to work, which entailed cleaning,mopping and scrubbing. For a personwho had never given menial labor anythought, it was indeed an importantstep forward.

One afternoon, out of the blue, thelong awaited phone call came. "Comeand get be. I'm standing outside theprison door"- my son's voice. It waslike manna from Heaven. The pain,tears and anxiety were over. Little didI know that when this journey began

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it would lead to so many blessings.Miraculously, upon his release, hewent straight into a rehabilitationfacility, something that he would neverhave done had he not been taken intopolice custody. This was his chance tochange his life.

And so I carry the STEP TWELVEmessage: having had a spiritualawakening as a result of the steps, I'mtelling you my story. I'm convinced thatwithout the precious FA program thatteaches strength, hope and serenity, mybeloved home group and the supportof FA friends and the WSO, and all thewisdom I have gathered from the RedBook and FA Literature, I would not bethe sane survivor I am today.

Anonymous/Greece

l've Learned ...This room is my time-out, my validation,my renewal, and has become anotherhome. I have found something that Inever knew I was looking for. .. and I ameternally grateful. I also have a new anddeeper understanding of our teachingsand I appreciate that this is an evolvingprocess. Something in my thinking hasstarted to shift.

Full disclosure: I have not, nor am Icurrently, working the twelve steps in anyformal way. I am, however, drinking it allin, slowly and deeply, and it is beginningto take residence in that quiet place insideme. Although I was born and raised inthe Jewish tradition, went to Sundayschool and Hebrew school and enjoy myheritage, culture and identity; it is here,within this group, that I have found my"Higher Power."

A curious phenomenon has occurred.Every first Wednesday ofthe month, I haveunexpectedly found myself captivated ...listening with a greater intensity andfocus to FA's interpretation of the TwelveSteps. They have begun to resonate withme and expand my consciousness. Tosimply read or memorize the list does notbegin to do them justice. The insightfuland authentic re-telling of these steps,imbued with real human emotion, tapinto how we, as human beings, actually

Let'S talK ...Let's talk about healing through art.

We are looking for members to sharehow they use art to help heal.

Does anyone journal or write poetry?How about photography?

What about music or sculpting orpaint by numbers?

Does the creative process give you arespite from the pain life can bring?

Does art help you make senseof your emotional needs?

Send an e-mail to:12steprag@familiesanonymous.org.

feel and react. I should have realized withthe first line of Step One ("We admittedwe were powerless over drugs and otherpeople's lives---that our lives had becomeunmanageable") that this would be a lifechanging journey, but I wasn't quiteready to let it all in. Now, as the processhas evolved for me, it is starting to stick.These teachings are deeply healing andcompelling and validate us all.

Since discovering FA a year and a half ago,I have learned a new way of thinking and anew way of living.

I. I've learned that we cannot control orchange another person, that we can onlychange ounselves.

2. I've learned that denial is a humanreaction io a situation we can't yetunderstand, but can lead to acceptance, andhence, serenity, a worthy goal.

3. I've learned that in order to achieveserenity, we each need to find our ownunique version of our "Higher Power."

4. I've learned that we sometimes do themost for our loved ones when we do theleast.

5. I've learned what it means to "releasewith love" and am working on it daily.

6. I've learned how crucial it is to respectone another and accept, rather than judge,our differences.

Today A Better Way:I Volume Two

It is e+iting to announce that ourmember-written daily thought book,Today A Better Way, is being expanded

to a second volume.

The format will be the same: a shortreading Iwith a Today I Will call toaction . .tX list of suggested topics will beavailabl, soon on the FA web site butmembers are encouraged to share the

expe±ibnces that have moved them.

This is a ig project and member supportis nee ed. We need submissions,member~ with editing skills andmember~ to help in the selection process.Any member interested in joining the

project please contact Lisa atnewtabw@familiesanonymous.org

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7. I've learned the importance of giv-ing another the dignity to make their ownchoices and face the consequences of theirown decisions.

8. I've learned how necessary it is, despitedisappointments, to keep going.

9. I've learned how empowering it can beto offer support to another.

10. I've learned the power of honesty ...how telling the truth can set you free.

11. I've learned that if I'm having a badweek, I can count on the warm blanket ofcomfort I will find every Wednesday night.

12. I've learned that if I'm having a goodweek, I can look forward to having the en-ergy and gratitude to share with someoneelse next Wednesday night.

13. I've learned that others have beenthrough equal and more challenging timesthan us and have survived and thrived.

14. I've learned that despite our best in-tentions and efforts, the lives of our lovedones will take their own course. We do notown them.

15. I've learned the power of a group ofbattle-scarred, but resilient, determined,and deeply human people.

by Marcia S,Winnetka, IL

Call For Submissions

Do you have a story to tell? Wewant to hear from you. Send us yourpoems, art, musings, questions,stories, bios or group history.12steprag@farniliesanonymous.org

The Families AnonymousWebsite has a NEW Look.

Visit us at

www.FamiliesAnonymous.org

Emeeting:www.tabw.org

&Meetings Without Walls:

http.Z/tabwa.forumer.com