alanon?

[rosie readandpost]

Today's thought is:
The alcoholic isn't the problem.

We come into the program certain that we'd be happy if only the
alcoholic would quit drinking. Surprisingly, he or she often does, and
then we discover we're still unhappy. Our problem isn't the alcoholic.
While it might be true that living with an alcoholic can be stressful and
his or her behavior can complicate our plans, we decided to give up our
happiness. The alcoholic never took it from us.

Meeting with other people who are content, even joyful, in spite of
sharing their lives with an active alcoholic gives us valuable food for
thought. Happiness is a by-product of how we live our lives, not how
others live theirs. Giving the drinker or the boss or the noisy neighbor
power over how we feel is always an option, but the payoff is not what
we really want.

We want to be happy. We deserve to be happy. We can be happy if
that's what we make up our minds to be.

My unhappiness can't be blamed on someone else. Immaturity makes
me want to blame others, but my program friends won't let me get
away with it. Today I will choose to be happy.

hazelden