Hi Josie
, and everyone,
Reading this made me think of something I read in "Codependant No More" - Melody Beattie, about us CRAZY Anons
!
"Picture ourselves standing on the shore. Way across the water is an Island called serenity, where peace, happiness, and freedom exists from the dispair of alcoholism and other problems. We really want to get to that island, but we've got to find a way to get across the water - that huge void that stands between us and where we want to be.
We have two choices. In the water is an ocean liner, a cruise ship that looks real posh and cozy. It's called treatment, therapy. Next to it, on the beach, sits a group of odd-looking people (he he - thats us
). They appear to be roeing a boat, but we can't see a boat, and we can't see the oars. We only see these happy people sitting on the beach, rowing an invisible boat, with invisible oars. The invisible boat is called Alanon (or A.A. or any other 12 Step Program). The ocean liner honks, summoning us aboard the treatment and therapy cruise. We can see the people on board: they're happy and waiving to us. Then there's these goofy people hollering at us to join them in their invisible boat. Would we choose the liner or the invisible boat? Of course, we'll get on the ocean liner, the luxury cruise. The next thing we know, we're heading toward that island of happiness.
The problem is about mid-way across the water, the ocean stops, turns around, and heads back to the shore where we started from. Then the captain orders everyone off the ship. When we ask, "Why?' he says, "Our cruise only goes so far. The only way you can ever get to that island is by getting in the invisible boat (called Alanon)".
So we shrug our shoulders and walk over to the people in the boat. "Get in!" they holler. "We can't see any boat to get into!" we holler back. "Get in anyway'" they say. So, we get in and pretty soon they say, "Pick up an oar and start rowing (working the steps)." "Can't see any oars" we holler back. "Pick 'em up and start rowing anyway!" they say. So, we pick up invisible oars and start rowing, and pretty soon we see the boat. Before we know it, we see the oars too. Next thing we know, we're so happy rowing the boat with the goofy people we don't car if we ever get to the other side."
I love the description of US goofy anons :p
Meg