Nora's journey

[NoraC]

Nora's journey

Absolutely Mama! It's a small book and has great information in it.

[mama bear]

Nora's journey

kewl...did you but that ac unit yet?

[NoraC]

Nora's journey

Back down in the 80's. Don't need it anymore. :H:H

[K9Lover]

Nora's journey

I'm butting into Nora's thread to say hi to Scottish Lass....HI SCOTTISH LASS!!! :wavin:
How are you doing? I can't keep up with ALL the threads lately...me little brain just can't do it. LOL

I am in Central California, so it looks like we've got the state pretty much covered. HA Only about 75 here and no sign of rain....EVER. My poor grass (or should I say straw) is thirsty.

Anywhooo...just wanted to pop in and say howdy. Hi Mama and Nora

K9

[scottish lass]

Nora's journey

Hi K9 - reading you everywhere - you remain such a strong cheerleader to everyone!
Well back to 100 again, and the straw on my lawn is such a mess - hopefully it can go green again if there is ever rain - however, really need not to complain, my parnets in England are suffering, their cottage has been flooded twice this summer, and they have not pot away their winter clothes - I can cope with this heat rather than no summer.
Hope everyone is having a great day....

[NoraC]

Nora's journey

8-16-12

Hi K9 & Scottish Lass. :wavin:
We were back up in the 90's again today. But, I agree with you.....this is much better than flooding. Our grass is all dead too.

Happy to put another X on my calendar today. Just love seeing all those X's. :H I really hate counting days so this is such a good visual. I've had 90 days before and then drank. I've had 60 days or 30 days, etc. So, counting the days just makes me stressed. This way, I can see a clear picture of how I'm doing. I certainly don't want to have a sad face in one of those squares but now I feel like it's not so horrible. That I would easily be able to put an X in the next square and that I haven't blown the whole thing. This probably doesn't make any sense to anyone else but I feel like such a load is off my shoulders now.

Casey came & took Scott out grocery shopping. Giving me a break. Scott has been depressed for days. He went off his AD quite a while ago. But, then he ran out of the Elavil that he takes at night. Has been trying to get that straightened out for weeks & weeks. Finally, it is eligible for a refill tomorrow. I am sure hoping that once he gets back on that that he'll start feeling better. It's been hard lately.

Well, off to read my book. Just love being sober and able to read in the evenings.

[mama bear]

Nora's journey

I feel really bad for Scott....messing with AD's is not good

glad the stickers are making you happy

[scottish lass]

Nora's journey

Yah to green X's!! and green dots! August is looking pretty and no running out of fingers to count. I have got up to 60's before, but not 90's - maybe this time, that will be a lot of green dots!!
Sorry about Scott (your husband) - I feel so lucky to have found this site, I had been given an Rx for AD's and in reading here I decided to try to see if no AL and other life changes could mean that I don't need to go that route - not quite there, but on a better path - interventions do great things, but there is always a flip side.
TGIF friends.....chat later

[K9Lover]

Nora's journey

Yay Nora...keep those X's coming!

When I have a purple X on my calendar it means a BAD day...but I haven't seen one of those in a looong time (but I do see them ALL over last years calendar).

Hi SL and Mama!

Nora, you asked in another thread about a pattern for crocheting scarves...I don't use (nor can I read) a pattern. I just go back and forth back and forth...pretty high tech huh? lol I have, however learned two new stitches: double stitch and V stitch. I try to learn one new stitch every couple of weeks (thanks YouTube!). I have to watch a video...I CANNOT learn from reading...I have a glitch in my brain somewhere

[mama bear]

Nora's journey

see what all the Bud Light did to you?????

[K9Lover]

Nora's journey

Fo' shizz Mama...it did some permanent damage. Let's not even talk about my lack of kitchen skills! LOL

[NoraC]

Nora's journey

From Sober Visitor:


I think some key quetions that we all need to ask ourselves and answer honestly based on our own experiences are:

1. Would I really be happy only drinking 1 or 2?
2. Was I ever able to control my drinking in the past once I started, more times that not?
3. If I wasn't able to control my drinking in the past once I started, more times than not, what makes me think that I'll be able to do so now that my addiction has progressed further down the slippery slope?
4. How much more am I willing to risk losing in my life so I can continue to keep my addiction alive?

[scottish lass]

Nora's journey

Nora and SV - these are exactly the reasons that brought me here and why I am still here - very clearly defined!

[mama bear]

Nora's journey

brilliantly said Sober Visitor

[NoraC]

Nora's journey

Another wonderful post by Mario:

101 Things to Keep You Clean & Sober
Use a few of these great tips in helping yourself --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Don?t underestimate your disease. Every single person does at first.

2. Take care of yourself spiritually. Be mindful of your connection to your higher power today.

3. Ignore the dismal relapse rates. You are creating your own success.

4. Make a zero tolerance policy with yourself concerning relapse. Don?t even allow your mind to go there.

5. Avoid fundamentalism, even in recovery. Rigid thinking and dogma can undermine your sobriety.

6. You are creating a life of recovery and you are responsible for ALL OF IT. Yes, others can help you. Their ?help? is mere advice. It is up to you to recover.

7. Don?t confuse enthusiasm for action. Figure out what you need to do to stay sober and then do it.

8. Listen to what the relapsing addicts keep preaching. Then do the opposite.

9. Take care of your social network. Reach out to others in a meaningful way.

10. Figure out a way to help other addicts or alcoholics.

11. If you attend 12 step meetings, find one to start chairing. Consider H&I meetings (taking meetings into jails and treatment centers).

12. Use mindfulness and a heightened awareness to overcome ego. Use meditation to overcome self.

13. Practice forgiveness. Forgive all your past transgressors. Forgive yourself. You must do this to get long term relief from resentment.

14. Be aware of diminishing returns, and spread out your recovery efforts (i.e., don?t focus on just ?spiritual? growth).

15. Rearrange all the furniture in your house. Anything to get through the night sometimes.

16. Clean your house from top to bottom. Same as above.

17. Go for a long walk.

18. Buy a pet and care for it.

19. Eat a gourmet meal.

20. Cook a gourmet meal.

21. Practice the arts. Paint, draw, sculpt, sing, dance. Etc.

22. See a therapist.

23. Work on a puzzle.

24. Connect with someone else who is hurting.

25. Start a project that is bigger than yourself.

26. Revisit an old hobby.

27. Teach someone something. (Anything!)

28. Learn something new each day. (Anything!)

29. Write in a daily journal.

30. Stretch yourself spiritually by suspending disbelief for a day.

31. Write a letter to your addiction where you say farewell to it.

32. Join a recovery forum online.

33. Start a free blog over at blogger.com and tell the world about your progress in recovery. Figure out your own tips on staying sober.

34. Reconnect with your family and spend time with them.

35. Go back to school.

36. Learn a new skill or trade.

37. Sponsor a newcomer.

38. Make a commitment to chair a meeting each week.

39. Celebrate the recovery of a friend.

40. Spend time with your family.

41. Email the spiritual river guy and tell him your problems.

42. Celebrate your clean time with a cake.

43. Write out a gratitude list.

44. Read through your old journal entries and see how much you?ve changed.

45. Try a new form of meditation (or make up your own?there is no ?wrong? here). Some of the best tips to stay sober come from within.

46. Write out a to-do list and cross each thing off as you accomplish it.

47. Always have a big goal in the back of your mind that is challenging for you, but would make your day if you met it.

48. Practice balance. Challenge your daily habits.

49. Practice humility. Always be in ?learning mode.?

50. Forgive yourself and move on with your life.

51. Sit down and write 2 goals out for yourself: one big one and one little one. Keep the paper in your pocket.

52. Inspire someone else to grow. Challenge them to be a better person in some way. Encourage them through your own success.

53. Learn to relax. Find your quiet place of rejuvenation and return to it often.

54. Elevate your consciousness. Watch your own mind and see how it responds to events. Repeat often. Learn.

55. Find the beauty in life. Appreciate all of it. Be grateful for beauty itself.

56. Ask yourself with each decision: ?Is this the healthiest choice for me right now??

57. Quit smoking cigarettes already.

58. Be grateful for existence.

59. If you go to the same AA meetings all the time, switch it up and go to a completely new meeting.

60. Write a poem about how you are overcoming addiction.

61. Turn off your television and read a book. Better: read recovery literature. Best: write your own recovery literature.

62. Use overwhelming force to conquer a goal.

63. Use the Sedona method to release emotions that are holding you back.

64. Write your bucket list. Then, act.

65. Figure out your life purpose.

66. Write out a fourth step and share it with your sponsor.

67. Take care of yourself physically. Exercise. Take a walk. No excuses.

68. Keep your priorities straight. Physical abstinence is number one. Simple and effective.

69. Keep a high price on your serenity. Don?t sacrifice it for just anyone and their whims.

70. Use a sponsor for stage 2 recovery. Let them guide you through holistic living.

71. Take care of yourself mentally. Go back to school. Get that degree.

72. Find your own path. It is your responsibility to do so.

73. Practice humility and stay teachable. Always be learning.

74. Go to long term treatment and be done with it. Best decision I ever made.

75. Don?t pin your hopes on a short stay in rehab. It takes more than that.

76. Call your sponsor.

77. Get a sponsor.

78. Use a zero tolerance policy when it comes to self-pity. Never allow it for yourself ever again. Ever. It is poison.

79. Read recovery literature.

80. Join a recovery forum.

81. Use outpatient treatment if that works for you. Take it as seriously as possible and connect with the others in your group.

82. Meditate.

83. Pray.

84. Go out for coffee with a friend in recovery.

85. Find your passion.

86. Work out.

87. Join a church.

88. Volunteer.

89. Take care of yourself emotionally. Don?t get knocked too far off your square.

90. Stay vigilant against potential relapse. The disease can find many routes (gambling, prescription drugs, sex, etc.).

91. Go to a meeting.

92. Don?t pin your hopes on long term treatment. It takes a lifetime of learning for alcoholics and recovering drug addicts to recover.

93. Use long term strategic thinking. Care for yourself, network with others, and pursue conscious growth.

94. Don?t ask ?why me?? Instead, ask ?how can I create the life I really want now??

95. Call a friend in recovery.

96. Sit down and write out a gratitude list.

97. Don?t live in fear of relapse. I wasted 5 years on this. Embrace the creative life and know you are strong in recovery.

98. Get extreme. Figure out what you need to do to stay sober?then double it and add ten. That?s how hard you have to push yourself.

99. Raise the bar. Stop settling. Use your talents as a gift to the world and make a difference in some way.

100. Live consciously. Set deliberate goals and go after them with overwhelming force.

101. Embrace the creative life in recovery and live holistically.

SOURCE: Spiritual River | Addiction Help