Nar-Anon Family Groups of San Antonio

08/28/2026

SA Serenity Nar-Anon Family Group meeting every Friday 6:30pm central time.

08/28/2026

Aug 28 ~ Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading

LOVE OR OBSESSION:

Nar-Anon meetings begin with the reading of several pages from our Nar-Anon literature. One night, a newcomer asked, “What does, ‘To watch is not to love’ mean?” I could not give her a clear answer. I knew that I constantly watched the addict in my life. Therefore, if ‘to watch is not to love,’ what was I feeling for the addict?

Being the logical type, I looked up the definition of love: “Love is an intense feeling of tender affection and compassion.” I examined the feelings I have for the addict. I had to agree that they are intense, but many of them are neither affectionate nor compassionate. I must love him; he is all I think about. I had heard before that many of us are obsessed with our addicts, so I went back to the dictionary again to find the definition of “obsession.” “Obsession is an idea or feeling that completely occupies the mind.” That certainly described the feelings that ruled my behavior when it came to the addict.

I remembered another reading that states, “We have learned that addiction is an illness… It is a two-fold disease: a physical allergy coupled with an obsession of the mind.” I then looked up the definition of “addiction.” There were two; one explained a physical dependence on drugs, and the second was more general… “great interest in something to which a lot of time is devoted.”

Thought for Today: When all I can think of is the addict in my life, I remind myself that the meaning of addiction is much closer to the meaning of obsession than to that of love. Today, I will choose love.

“To watch is not to love.” ~ Carl G. Jung

Copyright © 2007 by Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

Aug 27 ~ Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading

DETACHMENT WITH LOVE AND RESPECT:

“A breakdown paves the way to a breakthrough” is a quote shared by a Nar-Anon member from her therapist, which sums up my journey toward detachment with love and respect. My learning curve of many, many lessons, not mistakes, bruised my ego enough that I could finally understand and accept emotional detachment. It was not a happy time, although in retrospect, I can see it as my breakdown and an honest beginning of my breakthrough recovery in Nar-Anon.

I often hear the comment, “the addict has to reach bottom” and I can relate this to my own bottom, my own breakdown. Once I could understand, believe, and accept that I had to change, I could truly find enlightenment. For me, detachment is the key to success as it says in one of our Nar-Anon pamphlets. I continue to find new meaning in every word, phrase, and sentence of our literature and in the open sharing at the Nar-Anon weekly meetings.

Thought for Today: A Power greater than me has responded to my willingness by giving me the motivation to keep coming back and to keep learning.

“Be on the lookout for mercies. The more we look for them, the more of them we will see… Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings to counting your troubles.” ~ Maltbie D. Babcock

Copyright © 2007 by Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

08/26/2026

Aug 26 ~ Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading

ENABLING:

At my Nar-Anon meeting, there was a discussion on enabling. One member asked, “How can I give food, clothing, money, and shelter to a perfect stranger and not help my addicted love one? It is not right if I give to strangers and not to my family. If I love the addict, who is suffering from a disease, why deny him the basics?” Another member stated, “I think giving money, food, shelter, or clothing to the addict in my life is helping to dig his grave. I am not allowing him to experience the consequences of his actions. I am contributing to the prevention of his hitting bottom and seeking recovery.”

Do I love unconditionally when I enable the addict’s using? Am I standing in the way of natural consequences of addictive behavior? Am I acting to eliminate my own fear and guilt? Am I acting to make myself feel better or needed? To release with love does not mean to deny the addict, but to allow free choice to the addict. When I am enabling, I am not allowing the addict to find the dignity and the self-esteem that come from taking responsibility and solving problems.

Thought for Today: I have choices. First, I can consider my motives, and then the consequences of my actions. Once a choice has been made, such as setting limits on my giving or protecting my safety, I try to be consistent. With the help of my Higher Power, I make decisions. I remind myself that things change, even though I may not see it.

"If I stay in the problem, I am not working on the solutions." ~ Anonymous

Copyright © 2007 by Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters

08/26/2026

12noon central time ~

http://naranonmoms.org/

08/25/2026

It’s Tuesday virtual meeting day via zoom ~ Tonight 6pm central time.
You are not alone.

08/25/2026

Aug 25 ~ Nar-Anon Daily SESH Reading

ANGER:

My father had a terrible temper. My mother often told me that I had my father's temper. The day I hit my father over the head with his dinner plate, when he was cursing in my face, I believed her. When my boys were little, I was afraid to punish them in anger. I would send them to their rooms until I could cool down.

However, when my addicted son was using, there were many times he picked a fight as an excuse to leave and use. Many times, I obliged him by ranting, raving, screaming, and crying as he slammed doors and walked out of the house.

Today, even though I am in recovery, I still know how to push the anger buttons of the addict and others. I realize that others know how to push my anger buttons as well. Today, I take responsibility for what I am doing and where I am headed. Today, I try to choose my reactions. Today, I stop and think before I react with anger. Today, I will say something humorous or say things in a kind way. Today, I do not want my anger to give the addict an excuse to use.

Thought for Today: Recognizing and owning my feelings is an important step in my recovery. Learning to choose my reactions to my feelings is a priceless gift. Another’s behavior is not about me. I didn’t cause it. I can’t control it. I can’t cure it. My thoughts, however, are the cause of my behavior. Only I can control my thoughts. Only I can change my behavior. I can choose to let go of the negative. I can choose to embrace peace.

“God help me learn to accept my own and others’ anger as a normal part of achieving acceptance and peace. Within that framework, help me strive for personal accountability.” ~ Melody Beattie

Copyright © 2007 by Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters