GIVING COMFORT AND UNDERSTANDING – “He thought it better to give comfort than to receive it; better to understand than to be understood; better to forgive than to be forgiven.” (12 & 12, p. 101)
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When have you been the one to offer comfort to another person, lately?
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Alexander the Great Brief Bio (2:52)
Umoja – The Spirit of Together Trad. Dance (8:49)
A Burundi Meditation on Umoja (Unity) in Swahili (4:36)
Analysis of : Umoja: the Loving Connections that Bring Us Together as One
Today’s SFZ explores Umoja—the Swahili word for unity—through the lens of mutual support, compassion, and shared responsibility. By highlighting how loving connections sustain individual recovery and strengthen community bonds. The excerpt from How Al-Anon Works reminds us that healing often happens in the presence of simple, authentic connection. Whether through presence, a phone call, or a small gesture, these acts express love, solidarity, and hope. In this, we see echoes of psychologist Carl Rogers’ core belief: unconditional positive regard—the acceptance and presence of another—fosters growth and healing.
The quote from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions deepens this message by shifting focus from self-centered needs to the healing power of giving. Choosing to comfort, understand, and forgive rather than receive these gifts reflects what philosopher Martin Buber describes as the “I-Thou” relationship—where we see others not as objects, but as sacred beings. This kind of presence transforms recovery from an individual journey into a collective experience of grace and responsibility.
Alexander the Great’s quote reminds us that individual actions impact the collective. Unity, then, is not passive; it demands that we actively care for one another. In systems thinking, as author Peter Senge explores, the health of the whole depends on the contributions of each part. Recovery communities thrive not just because individuals heal, but because they choose to show up for each other.
Ultimately, Umoja is more than a concept—it is a daily practice of love, presence, and shared humanity. Through connection, we become whole.
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