Hi. My Name is......

[newcreature]

I wrote this tonight and thought I would share it. Easy does it!!!!

"Condition"

All that I was has everything to do with where I am today.

All that I am depends upon my focus.

All that I can be is nothing more than I am at this moment.

By: Elaine Mc.

 

[justanobserver]

I would like to share what my Starbuck's coffee cup had quoted on it this evening. And the timing was perfect for me. When I have more time, I will share where I am at.

"The Way I See It #150"

All unhappiness and stagnation
result from a feeling that you are
at the mercy of the world and the
people in it. But what a joy it is,
what a major shift to strength and
power, when you no longer wait
around for others to favor and
love you, for others to flatter and
reward you. Reward and flatter
yourself, favor and love yourself.

--Kira Salak (Writer and Nat. Geographic Emerging Explorer)

thank you for sharing this! gives me more to ponder on!

 

[justanobserver]

I wrote this tonight and thought I would share it. Easy does it!!!!

"Condition"

All that I was has everything to do with where I am today.

All that I am depends upon my focus.

All that I can be is nothing more than I am at this moment.

By: Elaine Mc.

concise, to the point and sais a lot in few words. gives food for thought. thank you for sharing this too!

 

[formykidsiwill]

(standing up)

Hi, my name is Norm and I am a recovering alcoholic/addict. Havent spoke for a bit and had some thoughts runnin around the hamster cage in my mind.

Just sittin here perusing the threads and posts, thinking and re-thinking a lot of things, pondering a lot and wondering even more, from where I want to go and be to questioning acceptance by others. As I grow in my sobriety, I am viewing life thru clean and sober eyes and the reality can be scary at times since I am not hiding behind a substance. It forces me to deal with that which I would drink away to forget the horrors that I once lived not all that long ago and to accept that not everything bad that I have gone thru is my fault or that I am responsible.

To find the balance to where I can take responsibility for my own actions and to learn and to not blame myself for things that I had no control over, can be challenging. Things in my past I am still sorting thru to find the answers so I will not repeat them in my future. Things in my present I am sifting thru constantly, gaging what is good and what is not and what is neutral, who are true friends, who are not, who are the ones that look thru/past/around but dont/dont want to see you because your not like them - these things I deal with in my present - to keep only that which is good.

Getting clean and sober I think is the hardest initial step in road of recovery but many a time I think the daily maintenance of daily personal inventory and staying sober is even harder.

And to do all this while being sober! Time to time, that old voice whispers in my ear how it is so easy to just drink it away, or to smoke it away, and let the troubles just go bye.

Sometimes for me just trying to grow in sobriety is the hardest step I have taken. And to accept all that I am learning, seeing, pondering.

and with that;

Hi, my name is Norm and I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. I am in my first 2 yrs. thank you. (and I sit back down)

Wow. That is so cool. I was JUST talking to my husband last night about this very thing. Unfortunately, he still drinks. He won't open up, and it makes me so angry. It also reminds me that I can not keep things inside of me, that makes me very sick. If I try to handle this on my own I won't be well.

Getting to the point where I can not beat myself to death for mistakes, and also acknowledging that some things were not my fault, that is so hard. I told my husband last night that now, I'd rather blame myself then others because at least then I am responsible for my own life, but thanks to Norm's post I realize that there ARE some things that I didn't CAUSE. Dag nabitt sometimes bad things just happen. Maybe there is NO ONE to blame. I guess for the sake of 'justice' I like to be able to lay the fault somewhere, and I realize, I just dont' have all of the information, so I can't do that.

Thanks for sharing this, maybe I can't put into words everything I'm feeling but this post made me feel like I am not alone, and I need that.

Blessings,
B~

 

[bluesbob]

Hi, I'm bluesbob.

I've been sober since July 15, 1995.

I don't post here often, I mainly just read.

 

[PrairieGurl]

Hi, I'm bluesbob.

I've been sober since July 15, 1995.

I don't post here often, I mainly just read.

HI BLUESBOB

Thanks for introducing yourself!

Congrats on your 11 years!

This is good reading isn't it?

Wendy
​

 

[PrairieGurl]

I wrote this tonight and thought I would share it. Easy does it!!!!

"Condition"

All that I was has everything to do with where I am today.

All that I am depends upon my focus.

All that I can be is nothing more than I am at this moment.

By: Elaine Mc.

Thanks Elaine for perfectly putting my thoughts, on where I am today, into words.

Wendy

 

[PrairieGurl]

Slogans are handy at times, like:

This too shall pass.
One day at a time.
Let go let God

Challenging times are good for us believe it or not. They give us confidence that we can make it through the rough times without having to resort to our old ways.

Please don't neglect the meetings WTB, especially as life gets busier. The busier it gets the more important it becomes to do a morning meditation and get to regular meetings even if it is at the expense of neglecting family life for now. Could you please expand on this. If a person has non drinking friends that want me to succeed, recovered alcohlics with 10 years or more, and don't go out where I would be tempted...and maybe hit a meeting a week...is this not enough?

Triggers will come at the most unexpected times. Be on your guard for them and recognize them for what they are and please don't hurt yourself by dwelling on your past life with the booze and pills. They only make the craving worse. Don't these just come at random times thru out ones life? Even if one does not dwell on them?


ps- If you need a phone you can download and install Skype set up a free account and it will allow you to make free calls across North America to landlines and cellphones until the end of the year. It requires a headset and highspeed internet. I've been using it for a couple of months now and it works great and I haven't paid out a cent or even given them a credit card number or cash.

Thanks for the tip Lion of God! After a week...we finally got our phone back

Thanks,
Wendy

 

[PrairieGurl]

(standing up)

Hi, my name is Norm and I am a recovering alcoholic/addict. Havent spoke for a bit and had some thoughts runnin around the hamster cage in my mind.

Just sittin here perusing the threads and posts, thinking and re-thinking a lot of things, pondering a lot and wondering even more, from where I want to go and be to questioning acceptance by others. As I grow in my sobriety, I am viewing life thru clean and sober eyes and the reality can be scary at times since I am not hiding behind a substance. It forces me to deal with that which I would drink away to forget the horrors that I once lived not all that long ago and to accept that not everything bad that I have gone thru is my fault or that I am responsible.

To find the balance to where I can take responsibility for my own actions and to learn and to not blame myself for things that I had no control over, can be challenging. Things in my past I am still sorting thru to find the answers so I will not repeat them in my future. Things in my present I am sifting thru constantly, gaging what is good and what is not and what is neutral, who are true friends, who are not, who are the ones that look thru/past/around but dont/dont want to see you because your not like them - these things I deal with in my present - to keep only that which is good.

Getting clean and sober I think is the hardest initial step in road of recovery but many a time I think the daily maintenance of daily personal inventory and staying sober is even harder.

And to do all this while being sober! Time to time, that old voice whispers in my ear how it is so easy to just drink it away, or to smoke it away, and let the troubles just go bye.

Sometimes for me just trying to grow in sobriety is the hardest step I have taken. And to accept all that I am learning, seeing, pondering.

and with that;

Hi, my name is Norm and I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. I am in my first 2 yrs. thank you. (and I sit back down)

Now you got my brain of mush turning into "deep thought mode". (that can hurt sometimes )

Thanks Norm,
Wendy

 

[justanobserver]

Hi, I'm bluesbob.

I've been sober since July 15, 1995.

I don't post here often, I mainly just read.

hey bluesbob! welcome to the recovery threads! please post when you can and share what you know. Congrats on your being sober since 1995.

this thread is for everyone to share and post and express and support and encourage and.....

 

[LoG]

Could you please expand on this. If a person has non drinking friends that want me to succeed, recovered alcohlics with 10 years or more, and don't go out where I would be tempted...and maybe hit a meeting a week...is this not enough?

Ok Wendy, I'm going to assume you are being facetious here.
If a sponsee were to put something like that out to me my response would be: If your spouse and childeren weren't enough motivation to keep you sober in the past, what makes you think non-drinking friends or a recovered alcoholic will be? Alcoholics only have a chance when they want to stay sober for themselves.

maybe hit a meeting per week? A sponsee who is not 3 months sober and hasn't yet worked the Steps would be looking for a new sponsor since to me that would be a serious lack of commitment to staying sober. Just too much heartache and wasted time when someone is not committed to working the program in a meaningful way. We get out of it what we put into it. Maybe it sounds like "works" but that has been the experience of myself and many others I know.
This would only be the case if the sponsee chose to attend once a week in spite of having the time and oppurtunity to go more often.

Maybe I am just sicker than most but even after over 12 years, I only subsist on one meeting per week.

Don't these just come at random times thru out ones life? Even if one does not dwell on them?

Thru out one's life? Not when God removes the obsession to drink and even if it does it is as a result of a trigger. Dwelling on drinking and drugging purposely, sets alcoholics up for a relapse.

 

[PrairieGurl]

Ok Wendy, I'm going to assume you are being facetious here.
If a sponsee were to put something like that out to me my response would be: If your spouse and childeren weren't enough motivation to keep you sober in the past, what makes you think non-drinking friends or a recovered alcoholic will be? Alcoholics only have a chance when they want to stay sober for themselves.
No, I'm not trying to be facetious. Maybe I'm looking for excuses as to why I haven't been attending meetings recently.
I haven't thought of it as you typed above before.
You are right...those people did not keep me sober.
More times then not ... some of them were triggers, or at least their actions or lack of them were.
maybe hit a meeting per week? A sponsee who is not 3 months sober and hasn't yet worked the Steps Do you mean all the steps? would be looking for a new sponsor since to me that would be a serious lack of commitment to staying sober. Just too much heartache and wasted time when someone is not committed to working the program in a meaningful way. We get out of it what we put into it. Maybe it sounds like "works" but that has been the experience of myself and many others I know.
This would only be the case if the sponsee chose to attend once a week in spite of having the time and oppurtunity to go more often.

I think you once said...even if I'm tired...I should go. I have felt totally exhausted since starting back to work full time. I get up at 5:30am and am asleep, in bed by 9:00pm.

Maybe I am just sicker than most but even after over 12 years, I only subsist on one meeting per week.

Is there really one sicker than the other with this disease? (sorry for asking, but what does subsist mean?)



Thru out one's life? Not when God removes the obsession to drink and even if it does it is as a result of a trigger. Dwelling on drinking and drugging purposely, sets alcoholics up for a relapse.

Does it sound like I am dwelling on drinking and drugging? I truly have not been. I'm far to tired for that.

Sometimes it feels like a long time since I've been sober. At other times, when I realize how much further I have to go...I do realize it has only been 2 months.

I hope I have not upset anyone...what I posted is the questions I had at that time

Wendy

 

[justanobserver]

Does it sound like I am dwelling on drinking and drugging? I truly have not been. I'm far to tired for that.

Sometimes it feels like a long time since I've been sober. At other times, when I realize how much further I have to go...I do realize it has only been 2 months.

I hope I have not upset anyone...what I posted is the questions I had at that time

Wendy

You are such a silly goose! The purpose of this thread is for anyone to ask, speak, talk about their addiciton to alcohol and for others to encourage, support, help, advise. You got questions? ask them. You got a comment? say it. Everyone here cares and is here to help one another. I know I am always in need of help and support and every hug, comment of encouragement, word of advise, etc is accepted with appreciation and always thought about.

 

[PrairieGurl]

You are such a silly goose! The purpose of this thread is for anyone to ask, speak, talk about their addiciton to alcohol and for others to encourage, support, help, advise. You got questions? ask them. You got a comment? say it. Everyone here cares and is here to help one another. I know I am always in need of help and support and every hug, comment of encouragement, word of advise, etc is accepted with appreciation and always thought about.

Hi Norm

There's that 'silly goose' again
Thanks for the clarification, really.
It is great how everyone is here to help and support one another!

Wendy

 

[justanobserver]

Hey to all. Just checking in and posting a howdies.

this week has been tough - quit smoking (well, trying to quit smoking) as well as dealing with a jerk at work and drug dealing neighbors that think the neighborhood oughta listen to rap music at 2 am (not just this week but week after week after week after...) and the police do not have a music/noise law/ordnance on the books to enforce. most they can do is "ask" the neighbors to turn it down but they cannot enforce it. go figger.

lets see, where did I put that Serenity Prayer again?????

looks thru the files on the hard drive.....

 

[formykidsiwill]

Hey to all. Just checking in and posting a howdies.

this week has been tough - quit smoking (well, trying to quit smoking) as well as dealing with a jerk at work and drug dealing neighbors that think the neighborhood oughta listen to rap music at 2 am (not just this week but week after week after week after...) and the police do not have a music/noise law/ordnance on the books to enforce. most they can do is "ask" the neighbors to turn it down but they cannot enforce it. go figger.

lets see, where did I put that Serenity Prayer again?????

looks thru the files on the hard drive.....

Hi! so, did you find that prayer? (lol)

Quitting smoking huh? Thats fun...:o , I quit May was a year ago, and I still have craving, NOT AS BAD, ofcourse. I am so glad I quit too. It smells horrible to me now, and oh how much I have saved. This is the second time I have quit. I thought I could smoke "just one" (Lol) The first time I was quit 2 years, its been over a year now so I'm on my way. Anyway, congratulations..you can do it, and once you get through the first two weeks it's bearable.

The neighboorhood sounds like the one I use to live in. How annoying. I even get annoyed at the red light if people have their radio too loud, forcing everyone around them to listen to what they do. (so, I make sure at the red light I turn mine down so I am not part of the problem, lol)

Well, I hope everyone is well.

Bye~

 

[PrairieGurl]

Aww there she is ~B~

Noise...must be a normal irritation. Music tho, (exluding rap cr*p and a few other noise that some call music) is something that I do blast....but it's uplifting music to drown out the other noises

Quite smoking.... still not on my agenda.

I have to smarten up, due to self inflicted lack of sleep

So glad I'm back at work.

Been invited to a 40th B-day party. I really don't want to go.......one of my dearest friends....but I really don't want to be around a whole bunch of people drinking

Anyways
Wendy

 

[PrairieGurl]

Not at AA meeting so thought I'd drop in here. Feels good, warm, home for the weary.

I haven't called my friend yet to say I won't be attending that party. I just can't. I'm not dumb enough to think that I wouldn't drink. Having a tough evening and know that being around booze would be the stupidest thing I've done in a long time. I know she's gonna be upset...but...unless you've been where we've been...you truly can not understand.

Wendy

 

[mustang_94]

Hey everybody -- Jim, Alcoholic -- I have been sober 21 yrs. as of 9-15-06. Been going thru some tough times emotionally - deaths in the family- but I don't feel like drinking. Just in search of fellowship. Hang in there - when you feel like you're slipping, just tie a knot in your rope and come back here.

 

[PrairieGurl]

Hey everybody -- Jim, Alcoholic -- I have been sober 21 yrs. as of 9-15-06. Been going thru some tough times emotionally - deaths in the family- but I don't feel like drinking. Just in search of fellowship. Hang in there - when you feel like you're slipping, just tie a knot in your rope and come back here.

Thanks Jim

I so enjoy hearing of folks like you who have so many years of soberity...helps the hope factor go up

Glad you stopped in to introduce yourself.

Sad to hear of the things your going thru right now.

See ya around,
Wendy