So the meeting topic meshed remarkably well with my day yesterday - a day that I spent with Al. We had a nice, peaceful, fun day going to a local festival. We enjoyed the same musical acts, and were frustrated by the same inane and rude behaviour of some of our fellow humans. We talked about a lot, and we talked about a little. Digestible doses of each.
At the end of the day - and as I wrote to Al this morning - I felt more hopeful than I had in six months about our future. Much of the hope sprang from the lovely day; much of it sprang from Al's approximately one month of sobriety, and his commitment to continuing it.
Back to tonight. We spoke of, and read about, boundaries. It made me think about whether at times in my relationship with Al and with others I'd been too inclined to set up walls rather than boundaries. Walls are rigid; boundaries are flexible. Doors are open with boundaries - with walls, not so much. As I read and meet about, and absorb more Al-Anon principles. I look back and wonder what actions I've taken that perhaps were ill advised; what rules I've made that perhaps aren't helpful, either to Al or to me.
I need to think more about whether the rules I impose on myself and on others are more in the wall category, or in the boundary category. My guess is that it's the former, but with seeing the issue, my hope is that my rules will convert themselves.
In the meantime, I'm pleased about the sense of hopefulness that I'm experiencing now, and pray that it will continue.
*The 2nd Tradition holds:
For our group purpose there is but one authority—a loving God as [s]he may express him[her]self in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants—they do not govern.
