Serenity Prayer:
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Al-Anon LITERATURE SAMPLES
- Newcomer's Packet: https://al-anon.org/series/welcome-newcomers/
- Conference Approved Literature (with samples): https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/literature/feature-publications/
- Chapter excerpts from Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature: https://al-anon.org/blog/category/sample-chapters/
FREE DOWNLOADABLE COPY OF THE AL-ANON SERVICE MANUAL (2022-2025): https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/manuals-and-guidelines/service-manual/
FREE DOWNLOADABLE AL-ANON PAMPHLETS
https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/literature/downloadable-items/
and
Forum excerpt - July 2025
Happiness Is My Choice
I started Al‑Anon in my 30s. I’m now in my 70s. My perceptions of my alcoholic loved one have changed. I used to blame him for everything. If I was in a bad mood, it was because of him. I was sure he made me feel irritable and unreasonable. Then it dawned on me why I was feeling so angry at him: I wanted him to fulfill my every dream in life. How selfish of me, expecting this man to give me the world.
In Al‑Anon I learned not to expect others to make me happy. I was encouraged to start loving myself first. I needed to take care of myself and not expect others to bring me joy. I started doing what made me happy. If I decided to do crafts, then I would do it. If I wanted to do a yoga class, then I’d do it. It was my choice. Taking care of myself is my top priority. No one can make me happy, lonely, angry, or depressed. It is my choice if I want to feel these emotions.
My husband and I began having a better relationship once I came to believe that I was the one responsible for my happiness. I’m thankful I became a member of Al‑Anon and that I stayed with this program that is working on me. We are much happier since Al‑Anon is a part of my life.
By Mary C.
The Forum, June 2025
Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
NOTE FROM AL-ANON WORLD SERVICE ORGANIZATION
Maintain Your Anonymity on Social Media
According to social media research, nearly 3.5 billion people now use social media and are spending an average of nearly 2.5 hours every day on social networks. With stats like those, it’s no wonder that social media can be a great place to carry Al-Anon’s message of help and hope.
But before we as individuals start tweeting and posting, we need to consider the impact it may have on our personal anonymity as well as Al-Anon as a whole. As expected, we have members on both sides of this pendulum. Some are very cautious while others are more accepting when it comes to social media.
On page 122 of the 2018-2021 Al‑Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27), the “Digest of Al‑Anon and Alateen Policies” states, “Members maintain personal anonymity in all forms of public media including press, radio, films, TV, the internet, as well as other ways of reaching the public.” So how can you carry the message on social media and maintain personal anonymity? By liking or sharing Al-Anon WSO content to your network but not commenting about your Al‑Anon membership. The act of liking/sharing alone does not break your anonymity; Facebook is public so anyone, regardless of their relationship to Al-Anon, is free to like/share our content. We have several professionals and professional institutions who engage with our content on a regular basis.
Not commenting about your Al-Anon membership is key. If we publicly declare our membership on social networks, we risk becoming the “face” of Al-Anon, and any statements we’ve made or photos we’ve shared on social media, any time in the past, could potentially draw Al-Anon into controversy. We must remind ourselves that maintaining our anonymity is how we safeguard our program.
So, while it’s safe to hit the Like and Share buttons, we want to avoid comments stating that we are grateful members of Al-Anon—leave that for the rooms.
For more information, go to: https://al-anon.org/blog/maintain-your-anonymity-on-social-media/?utm_source=intheloop&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20190904ITL&utm_term=EN-textlink1_Read-more_&utm_content=/blog/maintain-your-anonymity-on-social-media/
AL-ANON PODCASTS
Please follow the links below to the Al-Anon World Service Organization's main web page. There are free podcasts available there on basic Al-Anon topics.
https://al-anon.org/newcomers/first-steps-al-anon-recovery/
TOPICS INCLUDE:
Did we cause our loved one to drink?
What does it mean, our lives became unmanageable?
Why did I feel afraid to go to my first Al-Anon meeting?
How did I feel at my first Al-Anon meeting?
AL-ANON/ALATEEN SERVICE MANUAL STUDY GROUP SURVEY
There has been some recent interest in the district to hold a study group of the Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual. Please click on this link to participate: https://forms.gle/Ptgmxncut1cUJJXt8