"ACA is a worldwide fellowship…. New groups are established each week somewhere in the world." BRB p. 350

We suffered such confusion and chaos as children. Feeling horribly alone, on display, hunted, in danger, and lost, we wondered when our world would ever look like other kids' worlds. What was wrong with us that made our world different?

Many of us grew into adults who became jaded and numb and shut down. We gave up on our world becoming like others. We were just hoping to get by without too much drama, too much pain. We did little things daily to hang on, but we were aware that our lives were a struggle and very disappointing.

When we got to our first ACA meeting, we discovered that we were not the only people who felt like this - we weren't alone after all. When we heard that ACA was a worldwide fellowship, it was exciting to know that so many people were finding help. Sadly, this disease of family alcoholism and dysfunction exists everywhere.

Now that we know this is a global problem, we also know it wasn't created by our particular parents, and we must admit they weren't the only problem. It's bigger than that. Knowing that we're part of a world of people who are now recovering together as adult children gives us great hope and a feeling of comfort.

On this day I join hands with the world of adult children as I remind my Inner Child, "We were never alone."