TECHIE'S 30 DAY CLEAN SOBER CHALLENGE
Hi all! Techie, I hope you are feeling better today. You said something that I think is really important. I too used AL to "even out" any up and down emotions. Learning that it's OK to feel weepy sometimes is good. This is life. It's also OK to be deleriously happy sometimes and not have to "drink to celebrate" that emotion either. Sobriety really is such a learning process. You are also a tremendous giver. You put a lot of effort into "hosting" this thread and providing inspirational messages, etc. Another thing I'm still having to learn is that it's OK sometimes for me to take strength from others when I need to. I don't always have to be the one "leading the way." (don't know if that's relevant but it popped in my head so there you have it!)
Anyway...I hope everyone is enjoying a beautiful day sober. Because all sober days are beautiful regardless of the weather or other circumstances.
RC, IIRC your ultimate goal is moderation? I'm not able to do that so a poor one to offer any advice. However I think even with moderation it may not work to view AL as a reward. In the My Way Out book it talks about being able to view AL as a take it or leave it thing - like butter (I think that's the example used - it's been a long time since I read the book). I hope the successful modders help you out with some of those questions on your thread in the modders section. My husband is my "gold standard" normal drinker that I look to when my own thinking about AL seems warped. He does not view AL as a reward (or a punishment or anything). It's something that occassionally tastes good on a hot day after dog training or something like that. But he doesn't always have a beer after dog training - even when it's hot. And it's not a reward or punishment for doing well or not so well at dog training. For him it's not connected to anything other than whether he feels like a beer at that moment - and usually he doesn't feel like a beer. I have NEVER had that relationship with alcohol and it was a relief to stop trying. Having his example of a true "normie" under my nose is very helpful.
Day 837 AF and life is good. Holidays like this (US) just remind me of how grateful I am to wake up without a hangover. In the old days, Saturday AND Sunday would have been a no holds drunkfest with Monday as a day off. Makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it.
DG
Hi all! Techie, I hope you are feeling better today. You said something that I think is really important. I too used AL to "even out" any up and down emotions. Learning that it's OK to feel weepy sometimes is good. This is life. It's also OK to be deleriously happy sometimes and not have to "drink to celebrate" that emotion either. Sobriety really is such a learning process. You are also a tremendous giver. You put a lot of effort into "hosting" this thread and providing inspirational messages, etc. Another thing I'm still having to learn is that it's OK sometimes for me to take strength from others when I need to. I don't always have to be the one "leading the way." (don't know if that's relevant but it popped in my head so there you have it!)
Anyway...I hope everyone is enjoying a beautiful day sober. Because all sober days are beautiful regardless of the weather or other circumstances.
RC, IIRC your ultimate goal is moderation? I'm not able to do that so a poor one to offer any advice. However I think even with moderation it may not work to view AL as a reward. In the My Way Out book it talks about being able to view AL as a take it or leave it thing - like butter (I think that's the example used - it's been a long time since I read the book). I hope the successful modders help you out with some of those questions on your thread in the modders section. My husband is my "gold standard" normal drinker that I look to when my own thinking about AL seems warped. He does not view AL as a reward (or a punishment or anything). It's something that occassionally tastes good on a hot day after dog training or something like that. But he doesn't always have a beer after dog training - even when it's hot. And it's not a reward or punishment for doing well or not so well at dog training. For him it's not connected to anything other than whether he feels like a beer at that moment - and usually he doesn't feel like a beer. I have NEVER had that relationship with alcohol and it was a relief to stop trying. Having his example of a true "normie" under my nose is very helpful.
Day 837 AF and life is good. Holidays like this (US) just remind me of how grateful I am to wake up without a hangover. In the old days, Saturday AND Sunday would have been a no holds drunkfest with Monday as a day off. Makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it.
DG
Comment