Merry Christmas, everyone! Let the games begin

Staying away from AA and Al-Anon during the holidays is not an option for me.

“Merry Christmas, everyone! Let the games begin.”

                             -heard at a meeting

Well, the holiday season is in full swing.  The family turkey already endured the family feud at Thanksgiving dinner, the shopping frenzy, the lights and decoration, they’re all here now for our enjoyment—or our craziness.  We get to be the ones to decide just how smoothly our holiday season will go.

In the midst of the holiday insanity, I often sign up to chair the meeting during the month of December.  This both keeps me accountable as well as relieves much of the holiday pressure that is sure to occur.  I keep in touch with my good friends in the meeting and get to meet some newcomers—maybe even help one or two of them.  It is a very different life experiencing the holidays in recovery. 

I remember one such year I signed up to be the chair in December.  It was Christmas Eve and Tuesday night, and we had taken a group conscience to keep the meeting open for anyone who wanted it.  Only one other person showed up, and she was a good friend of mine whom I had experienced a recent conflict.  Because we had already talked it out and made amends with each other, when we ran in to each other that Tuesday night, the only ones there, we were able to have a great time talking and sharing. 

Staying away from AA and Al-Anon during the holidays is not an option for me.  These programs are my new way of life, a way of life that I need on a daily basis, 365 days a year.