Family Groups

W hoever says: "My name is So-and-So and I am an alcoholic" speaks but about himself/herself and involves nor blames anyone else. In the same way, whoever says: "My name is So-and-So and I am a schizophrenic, emotionnal, overeater, etc." But whoever says: "My name is So-and-So and I am a Family Group member", what does he or she speak about? ...

They speak (or avoid speaking!) about schizophrenia, depression and the whole series of "disorders"... Anxiety disorders (phobias, manias, whims, rituals, etc.), sleep disorders, learning disorders (attention deficit disorder, concentration or short-term memory disorder - lapses of memory, distractions, disorganization, etc.), conduct disorders (eating or sexual - bulimia, anorexia, etc.), personnality disorders ("defects of caracter"), obsessive-compulsive disorders (obsession for cleanliness, germs, gambling, etc), All of these are to be found in Family Groups for Families and Friends of Alcoholics and Drug Addicts and other 12&12 Fellowships. Emotionaly disturbed, neurotic, dysfonctional persons who walk the path together, pilgrims always...

Welcome with us. Soon you will start speaking about real things and you will be free.

Hugs and fraternal greetings. -- Quebec, Canada, Mars 2004

T he average age in traditional religious "congregations" in Quebec is 80 years and renewal is practically non-existent.

What does that have to do with Family Groups for Families and Friends of Alcoholics and Drug Addicts? Family Groups is a "fellowship" whose members are mainly women (88% in 2003) and whose average age is around 51 years.

Some women there still live with an "active" or sober alcoholic husband but do not feel sorry for it. They have learned to cope with their situation. "Live and Let Live", they say. Other women made peace with an ex- or late alcoholic husband and have neither resentment, nor rancour, nor bitterness. Married again, they are happy whith their new husband. "Water runs in rivers and never runs back", they say.

Some women there, alas, of a rather mature age, never took responsability for their mariage failure and will likely take no responsability for their sexuality. These never came to terms with men and never finish settling issues whith them. Shrews, scolds and misanders (men-hators); enablers, manoeuverers, dishonest persons and hypocrites. "Members are not willing to serve", they say.

It might well be necessary not to worry so much about the public image but rather renew and diversify Family Groups which otherwise could finish like traditional religious "congregations"...

Hugs and fraternal greetings. -- Quebec, Canada, May 2004

Self-knowledge - Self-acceptation - Self-esteem
To thine own self be true - Keep it simple

Listen and learn
We are no longuer alone

Easy does it
Together we move forward

Be good to yourself
Live and let live

One day at a time - Just for Today
One thing at a time - First things first
How important is it? For whom?

Let go - Give up - Surender
Surender to the grace of God
or to circumstances

Think - Think - Meditate
Awareness - Acceptation - Action

I am free today to pledge my word
I get involved for my own sake
That choice is mine

Serenity - Courage - Wisdom
"... Serenity to accept
the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And Wisdom to know the difference."

A time for every thing,
Everything in its proper time,
And Time fixes things well.
Time soothes passions
And heals all wounds.
Time is a Power Higher
Such as everyone can understand It.

Keep an open mind
Look for the good

Water runs forward in rivers
and never runs back.
Everything passes by, so shall we.
As much goes with the wind.

Pilgrim in front of the Eternal
Pilgrim along with other pilgrims
Among them, with them, in them
Together etc....