Today's Thought! - Friendship
Today's Thought! - Friendship
Today's thought is:
Friendships divide our burdens and double our joys.
Having women and men we trust enough to share our deepest secrets with is one of the many gifts of the program. While it's true that most of us already had friends, we seldom told them everything about ourselves. We held back the most intimate details to protect ourselves. We thought if they really knew us, they'd never want to be our friends.
Our understanding of friendship has changed since being introduced to the Twelve Steps. How we act as friends has changed too. Now we know that friends don't judge, they don't try to control, they accept how other people are, and they never betray a confidence. They listen, they love, and they offer hope. And they don't run away when they don't like what they hear. What we have learned influences our old friendships too, and everybody benefits.
To express my friendship fully to someone today means sharing honestly what I'm experiencing and listening intently while my friend shares too.
You are reading from the book:
A Life of My Own by Karen Casey
Friendships divide our burdens and double our joys.
Having women and men we trust enough to share our deepest secrets with is one of the many gifts of the program. While it's true that most of us already had friends, we seldom told them everything about ourselves. We held back the most intimate details to protect ourselves. We thought if they really knew us, they'd never want to be our friends.
Our understanding of friendship has changed since being introduced to the Twelve Steps. How we act as friends has changed too. Now we know that friends don't judge, they don't try to control, they accept how other people are, and they never betray a confidence. They listen, they love, and they offer hope. And they don't run away when they don't like what they hear. What we have learned influences our old friendships too, and everybody benefits.
To express my friendship fully to someone today means sharing honestly what I'm experiencing and listening intently while my friend shares too.
You are reading from the book:
A Life of My Own by Karen Casey
Originally Posted by Time2Surrender
Now we know that friends don't judge, they don't try to control, they accept how other people are, and they never betray a confidence. They listen, they love, and they offer hope. And they don't run away when they don't like what they hear. What we have learned influences our old friendships too, and everybody benefits.
I have found this to be so true in regards to my own situation. A few people I had considered "friends", really aren't. They are extremely judgemental and controling, and that isn't the type of relationship that I need in my own recovery.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,955
Originally Posted by Time2Surrender
And they don't run away when they don't like what they hear.
Great quote Time2Surrender, I have GOT to read that book.
Having women and men we trust enough to share our deepest secrets with is one of the many gifts of the program. While it's true that most of us already had friends, we seldom told them everything about ourselves. We held back the most intimate details to protect ourselves
Thank you, Time2Surrender
Hugs
Ann
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