My Friday night in

[Serenity]

Not a very profound post in fact you "old timers" probably have heard this all before but it is important to me and I it helps anyone then I must put it out there.

I was the original good time drinking buddy - at 5ft 10 I am a tall girl and could drink most under the table - what a gift! what a novelty for a bird!
Anyway it all changed when I had my children and wanted to stop but couldn't.
This is my first friday in I don't know when where I haven't had a drink and whats more don't want a drink.
About 3pm today - usual time I heard the voice - you know the one - how bout a glass of chilled wine..
I started to get anxious, heart beating faster, slightly irritated, head fuzzy, thought here we go... hold tight for a bumpy ride.
I put a hypno CD on, felt calmer. Then I thought you have felt really good for past 5 days- looking to future - thinking about losing weight, exercising, working better, treating kids better. Imagine how good it will feel 4 weeks in and then 4 months. I don't want the hangover tommorrow or to admit defeat - when I didn't have MWO and totally on my own with no-one to talk to I could convince myself it didn't matter because I didn't matter. Now I feel I do as I am part of something better.

Something has changed in me and I can see the positives of not drinking instead of the negatives of not drinking. I have finally seen it for what it was doing to me making me nervous, depressed, existing day by day sometimes hour by hour before I could go home to bed.
So 5 days is no big deal to some!! but to me it is a chance...I may just do this.

Love
S

[irishlady]

My Friday night in

Serenty dear heart, there is NO may about, you CAN and you WILL do this...

You are already in the right mind set, instead of fixating on that first drink, what did you do??? Why you thought past that, you went to tomorrow morning.....No hangover.......Then took it one step further and thought about your children, exercising, and losing weight... Keep focused on those things, you CAN do this.

You say 5 days is no big deal to some, Serenty, there was a time when 5 hours was too much for me, and I am now in my 6th month of soberiety, and do you know how I did it, because like you I WANTED TO...

Good Luck, Love, Louise xx

[Guest]

My Friday night in

Serenity, I second Irish....it is a hard road, but we can do it...

[AAthlete]

My Friday night in

Serenity, what a great post, although you'll have to grow past 6'4 pt pass me (not too hard anymore)!

This is a great place to start, and it was my pleasure to meet you in chat!!

[lushy]

My Friday night in

Serenity, what a great post. We have much in common from reading your story. Bravo on a Friday night AF. I find those CDs very helpful as well. And you know what? FIve days is a HUGE deal. Keep at it!!!

[tawnyfrog]

My Friday night in

Gosh Serenity,

You just made me remember something. I'm also a 5'10" girl and I used to arm-wrestle for pints at a pub in Hastings, Sussex.

A life-time ago.

And 5 days is brilliant! Just keep going.

[Breez]

My Friday night in

5 DAYS is a BIG deal. Pat yourself on the back. You're doing great.

[Waves 2]

My Friday night in

Hi Serenity,

You have made a real discovery here by focussing on the future and not the voice. Friday night is a hard night to beat.

Well done on 5 days.

Love Waves

[Popeye]

My Friday night in

Ditto.....

[redrobin]

My Friday night in

Serenity,

As I read your post I'm toasting your alcohol free Friday night with a fine glass of sparkling mineral water garnished with a wedge of lime. Cheers my dear! And well done you.

It's Saturday night here , my second Saturday night without a glass of wine. I may even make that 30 day AF goal yet. Just imagine! I do agree that its important to focus on the positive aspects of not drinking - and if all else fails smugness helps!

But as you said, the 'old hands' are only too aware of what a liberating experience this is....

RR

PS I have another task which is far more baffling - how to fit my chosen avatar to my letter head, hmmm!

[stoatqueen]

My Friday night in

tawnyfrog, you remembering something has made me remember something..i'm 5'9 and used to regularly arm wrestle in the pub..how embarrassing

[nattie]

My Friday night in

well done Serenity - you have done so well !

xx

[sammys]

My Friday night in

I think five days is a big deal, I think you are doing really good.


Sammys

[Serenity]

My Friday night in

Thanks everyone as always!!!

[cassy]

My Friday night in

Hi all

Along with so many i cant believe i have done several weeks AF ,,,My good ness its 28 days tomorrow!!

Cant pretend its been easy and Fridays and Saturday nights seem worse but I have been luckt to have hubby and a close friend on board.

i do hope i can moderate in the future and at present not ready to try it...dont want to undo the hard work.

i set out on this Af route with a goal of 40 days,,,the period Of Lent. I,ve laways fely a bit ashamed that I didnt have what it takes to suatain either doing something or not doing something for forty days!!!Doesnt seem like a lot to achieeve...until i tried it!!

Anyway heres hoping day By Day that we can spur each other on to meet personal goals and encourage each other when we temporarily slip up.(well some of us may)

What is really obvious to me is that everybody on this site has made some progress whether its not drinking as much., not drinking at all or not drinking for a day.

well Off to enjoy the Rest of St Patricks day with my mom aged 87 and my hubby and a glass of soda and lime....It feels good to be with those I love and vice versa and on top op that I,m SOBER...yipee.


Good Luck to you all especially the new members ..boy its emotional to make that first step but its worth the effort .