Finding that SOMETHING ...

[tawnyfrog]

Finding that SOMETHING ...

I think 'letting go of the past' is essential. There is no point in reflecting on a time when you thought you were 'happy' because chances are you're looking back through tainted glasses. There was a time in my 20's when I lived abroad for 3 years. I had no major responsibilities, a good job and loads of fun in a foreign land. I remember it as total happiness until I remind myself that I was also bloody cold, lonely and home sick. The tyranny of time gone by plays tricks with our minds.

Today is what really matters. And I'm damned if I'm going to waste it.

Good thread, Skinned.

[cyclefan]

Finding that SOMETHING ...

Skinned Knees;539397 wrote: Cycle ... If you need any help with the crocheting, I'm a pretty good crocheter. Actually, I've sold alot of my finished items. I also sell crochet books on Ebay for extra money. As for French lessons, I took 3 years in high school and the only words I remember are: Voulez-vous que chez avec moi? LOL ... (Where's IAD with the disco video?) As for tying Chinese knots, good luck with that one. I tried tatting on a few occasions and ended up with the thread all wrapped around and knotted on my hands. :H

Thanks for the offer, SK. If you'll PM me your eBay link I'd like to take a look at your crochet books, I've done a lot of it and once won reserve grand champion ribbon at the county fair on one of my blankets. (So close....) It's something I enjoy.

These crafts are not filling that void we're talking about though, but I'm in no danger of taking up drinking again if I don't 'find' it. My husband showed me this video today, but I'm afraid this is a little too extreme for me.

wingsuit base jumping on Vimeo

If you find nothing works for you, I still have some invitations, balloons and the phone number of the band left over from my giant pity party. :H

[Ripple]

Finding that SOMETHING ...

Tawn, when you share with us WHO you R, we get to know YOU!! I tell about me every day. I love you so much.. Authority to me a Frog on a Rock. FUCK you ... :h:h:h

[rubywillow]

Finding that SOMETHING ...

I told my husband I wanted to try parasailing since I'm sober now, and it sounds like the next best thing to flying (I'm 57!). Hubs said he'd just shoot me and save the money. He's a smartass!

[sunshine_gg]

Finding that SOMETHING ...

Doesn't that just look like the ultimate thrill??? And the scenery???? !!!!!!!!

[Bird of Paradise]

Finding that SOMETHING ...

rubywillow,
that is a beautiful picture.

[rubywillow]

Finding that SOMETHING ...

Thanks, Bird. I finally found 1 of me I didn't mind putting up! LOL That was taken when Hubs and I were riding The Dragon's Tail, in Tennessee. Something crazy like 100 curves in 5 miles! And he won't let me parasail!

[peacenik]

Finding that SOMETHING ...

skinned, do you like to cook or bake? i find that gives me alot of joy because i can be creative and nourish the people i love. i get alot of satisfaction from people telling me i'm a good cook...kind of happiness, i guess! i even enjoy reading cookbooks (i'm a nerd).

i also like to work with glass (mosaics, bead making, etc...). i find glass soothing and so beautiful...sort of calming, which brings me joy.

reading a life list of books is a goal of mine...you know the classics we all should have read by now, but haven't!

i'd love to volunteer at an animal shelter, but there aren't any near me...

i'm going back to school (at 37!)

just some things i'm doing that bring me small joy and contentment daily

[BoozeFreeFox]

Finding that SOMETHING ...

Wow.

A Work in Progress;539353 wrote: OK, here's one thought that comes to my mind. More a question, I suppose. Why should there be such a close connection, in your mind (or anyone's mind) between "finding happiness" and drinking? Let's say that you spend the rest of your life always feeling that you are not as happy as you would like to be... would the best response to that situation be alcohol? Why? If your drinking is anything like mine, drinking would just make a reasonably content life into a living hell. Is that the logical response to deciding that life had, perhaps, sort of cheated me (or you) out of a higher degree of happiness?

At one time, I had been AF for a pretty good length of time, maybe 6 or 9 months. I was doing much better than I had been, when drinking, but still was having a hard time in my life with my partner. I decided that life wasn't any better, not drinking, than it had been, drinking. That was a lie I told myself, and chose to believe. I began to drink again, and very quickly my drinking did indeed made life much worse, but I felt unable to quit again for quite a long time.

I think that sometimes we drink out of spite, when we think life hasn't given us what we feel we ought to get. It's a normal, but childish, response to disappointment. Once we take a good hard look at it, I think we would all agree that it isn't the way we really want to engage in this one life we are given...

So: of course, work on finding whatever might make you happy, or happier! And please don't fool yourself into thinking that adding alcohol into any situation will do anything except make it much worse!

This is a really good, well thought out (yet simple) response that hits home with me. Thanks for posting it.

[Princess Fiona]

Finding that SOMETHING ...

Do any of us know true happiness..... I feel content, inner peace and serenity, I love the new sober me, I love my job, my daughter, my family, my AA support group....am I happy?? no, my heart is breaking as my divorce will soon be final, I love my husband, he loves me, his family and their issues have played a huge part, but my sobriety is thee most important....