I didn’t have to lie to people in these meetings, and eventually I learned that I didn’t have to lie to anyone anywhere. I came to see that I can live my life for inner peace and not for outward appearances. ~ Family Groups, Al-Anon. Courage to Change—One Day at a Time in Al‑Anon II. Al-Anon Family Groups. Kindle Edition.

Getting to know you
Getting to know all about you
Getting to like you 
Getting to hope you like me*
You would never ave imagined
the person you most needed
to know and to like was you, yourself,
but for many…if not for most…
of us in the Rooms of Recovery,
that’s the sad truth.
In these rooms, we find our people…
finally. And, for me, the skillset
I’d worked sixty years to hone,
that of lying easily and convincingly
became extraneous.
My sponsor told me about lies,
the kinds of lies:
She spoke of Direct lies:
Not telling the truth,
a boldfaced lie.
Lies of Omission:
What did I need to say
to this person so they knew
how I honestly felt
about them and the situation?
Was I wrongfully silent?
and Lies to Self:
What was I  telling myself
that wasn’t true?
She described lies to me,
but I was so practiced
I had to pick them out
for her. I’ve learned not only
to know me, to like me,
but to dislike
wanting to lie in anyway.
Try it, you’ll like it!

 

 

 

• Richard Rogers