Service Work: When Is Enough Enough?

Taking care of ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually is the key to recovery in Al-Anon. We first do this by coming to meetings, then by working the 12 Steps of Al-Anon. We learn further by using the 12 Traditions of Al-Anon in our group meetings and in our family, friend, and work relationships. Many of us then move on to Area World Service which is our way of practicing the 12 Concepts of Service. (An Area is usually a state, although a few heavily populated states have split into two Areas.)

There are many other forms of service work, though, such as chairing meetings, serving as your group treasurer or secretary, volunteering to help with Al-Anon events, and most importantly, in my opinion, sponsoring others who want help in working the Steps, Traditions, and/or Concepts. Whatever we do to recover from living with the disease of alcoholism in a family or friend is our choice. We don't all follow the same path. For example, we can not all serve as a delegate to the World Service Conference.

And neither should we strive for this as it is simply one calling. I personally have put a lot of time into holding "formal" Al-Anon service positions, and I am being encouraged to continue. However, I am seriously considering taking a much more relaxed approach to this part of my recovery by concentrating more on sponsoring others and maybe facilitating another step study, which I really enjoyed. I also have other parts of my life outside of Al-Anon that need some attention.

The key is to talk to my regular Sponsor and my Service Sponsor but mostly to connect to my Greater Power, asking for his/her will for me and the power to carry that out. I am willing to be willing to do whatever is asked of me, even though I believe if I no longer have the desire to do something, then it probably isn't the best thing for me to do. If I'm wanting to write more and spend more time with my grandchildren, then I need more time to do that. And as my Sponsor tells me, God and I are the only ones who need to approve of me.