pmaslan

as long as you choose one to follow...to get healthy.
I really don't care if someone uses Alanon, Empowered Recovery,
Books & Periodicals or follows the yellow brick road.
All that matters is what works for you.
What I don't understand is how one program or another form of
recovery, can be pitted against another, if you haven't
at least tried it first.
I try everything once, just my nature. If I like it I do it again.
If I don't at least I can say I tried. That's me.
Recovery is a personal thing. It's like politics, religion and who
we choose to love or how we choose to live. Personal.
The good thing is that we can share what we learn with others.
The rest is left up to them and what they do with that info.
IMHO

minnie

I follow the Minnie (TM) path.

That's all I need.

cwohio

i feel the same way patty - whatever works for you is the best fit. diversity is what makes this world so wonderful!

Five

Is it not impossible to follow someone elses path exactly?

equus

It has to be the yellow brick road for me - but I think I went too far and married the wizard of oz!! (who is currently stuck somewhere on the M1!!)

I forgot to say I did have my reasons....

Because because because because becaaaaausse of the..............

LaTeeDa

I don't want to "use" any path. I want to create my own!

L

pmaslan

I guess I was remiss....a path can be whatever you want it to be...
just like a higher power.....
and creating your own way of doing things is by far the best way....
sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

equus

Use any path but travel only one road....

Sorry, I'm now in total silly mode because I need a pair of too large hairy feet to giggle at!

I do agree though - it's not how as much as doing something to move forward in life. For me, the more I find any person trying to squash me down their path the less I think their path has done for them!

GettingFree

Hi,

I'm glad to see your post. Because I don't follow the 12-steps, sometimes I feel a little outside of things even though I've been very rigorous in my own journey.

I was wondering if anything in particular, or any thoughts or feelings, led you to make the post?

best

gf

pmaslan

Oh yeah lost of thoughts and feelings Getting Free...
Most stemmed from the opinions and attitudes from a couple
of posts originated by Former Doormat.....(don't have anything
negative to say about your threads Jill, just commenting on the posts that followed.)

megamysterioso

I agree with it Patty, but I think you've got my intent all wrong. Read my comment on the other post. I said that I couldn't speak of Al-Anon and wouldn't b/c of my having no experiencewith it. I'm NOT ashamed of having NO experience with Al-Anon. I have NOTHING against Al-Anon. If I feel I need for it, I'll seek it out. Never meant for it to become a "one is better than the other" debate. I could give a rat's arse how people get to recovery- as long as they reach out and do it.

Magichappens

I have a lot of experience with Al-Anon, and it is what works for me. I tried a lot of other things, and eventually came down to taking that path because I had no other options. From what I gather, most people who are successful at working the steps have tried all other options, whether it's the 12 steps of Al-Anon, or another 12 step program, like AA. The first step is taken from a point of hopelessness, so if anything else presents an option of "maybe this will work", that person can't take the first step.

I encourage everyone I am in contact with to try anything they think will work. Many people find just going to meetings and sharing works for them. But if someone has exhausted all their options, and finds they are powerless to change in order to get better, I can teach them how to work the steps. It is my experience and I have the priviledge of letting someone who is hopeless find the serenity and sanity that I have found.

The true test to find out if what you are doing is the right thing is to ask "How is it working for me?" Hugs, Magic