I once read that 80 percent of people make changes out of desperation, while only 20 percent change due to inspiration. When I attended my first Al-Anon meeting, I was certainly not inspired to change—I was desperate. The truth is that pain can be a great motivator for change. I cannot say that change was easy for me, nor did it happen overnight. Week after week, attending Al-Anon meetings, I found myself seeking the camaraderie, friendship, and serenity I gained from our group.
It wasn’t just the people I met, the wonderful slogans I heard (they do make a difference), the shared stories, and the tears we all shed that kept me coming back. While those were invaluable, it was the reconnection to my Higher Power that “sealed the deal.” I remember crying at the end of my first meeting when our meeting chair led the closing, saying, “Who loves us?” I had not felt the love of my Higher Power in years, but now I felt a bond with God that I looked forward to each week.
Today, I “Keep Coming Back” to the “club.” I jokingly say, “No one wants to be a member at first, but somehow we are glad we are now.” I continue to grow into the person I desire to become while also helping those new to Al‑Anon find hope when there seems to be none. Pain in life is unavoidable, but suffering is optional. Al‑Anon has brought me the peace and serenity I desperately sought simply because I kept coming back. After all, I’m worth it!
By Anonymous
The Forum, September 2025
Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.