My life was a perfect example of unmanageability before I started attending Al-Anon. I was a wreck. Running full speed in my squirrel cage, I felt hurt, angry, confused, and frustrated. Now that I have been attending meetings for a while, I practice acceptance and experience serenity. I don't always achieve both, but I know I want to experience both more often.

Serenity—how did I obtain it? It was simple, I used the Serenity Prayer as my tool. Whenever I felt crazy, I said this short prayer, line by line, over and over. "God grant me the serenity. God grant me the serenity." I repeated the phrase many times. It helped me to clear my mind and to focus my thoughts.

With an uncluttered mind, I could move on "to accept the things I cannot change." With a clear head, I asked myself, "What can't I change?" My Higher Power often gave me an answer. Then I could move on to "Courage to change the things I can." What could I change? How could I make the change? Keeping my serenity was my goal, so I had reason to work on changing what I could in order to maintain serenity. "And wisdom to know the difference." For me, wisdom was the growth I gained from using the Serenity Prayer as a program tool.

How do I practice acceptance? The Serenity Prayer helped me discover what I need to accept and the slogan, "Let Go and Let God," helped me to accomplish it. My situation improved. Uncomfortable feelings and frustrations became tolerable. My situation may not be ideal, but I am living through it with the help of my Higher Power.

Now I am working on the slogan, "Live and Let Live." I want to allow others the dignity to make their own choices and live their own lives. I know I can accomplish this by remembering to "Keep Coming Back"!

By Anonymous
The Forum, February 2005

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