Independence! An AF July

[NoSugar]

Independence! An AF July

Hi, Free!

I'm so glad to hear that things are going well! Do you get a long break when you return?

[free at last]

Independence! An AF July

Thanks, NS. I am going backpacking in Europe for two weeks! I think I'll get four weeks without traveling for work -- yeah!

[NoSugar]

Independence! An AF July

You know. Free, sometimes I feel bad for you about your hectic, erratic life and other times I am just plain JEALOUS :H! (not really - I am very happy for you and hope you have a wonderful time!)

[mylife]

Independence! An AF July

Good morning!

This is our last day at the beach for a 4-day weekend. We had a really nice time despite 2 days of rain. Today we're watching some boat races and then headed home. I didn't really miss AL at all this week. It really helps my hubby is not a big drinker. He had a glass of wine (one!) on Friday night when we went to a play and a Bloody Mary yesterday at a beach restaruant we went to and that was it. I didn't feel any desire to join him either time - what's the use of ONE glass of wine??!! LOL. That's really what stops me most times - "just one" will never be enough - so better not to have any!

As is my new usual -- I'm up on a Sunday morning early and feeling good - as someone here as quoted before "You'll never wake up wishing you'd drunk the night before" and it is so true!

Hope you all have a great Sunday.

[halo]

Independence! An AF July

Posts are so positive, so proud of everyone, it's amazing how quickly those AF days add up! I remember as a kid summers seemed to last forever, and now the days go so quickly, that before you know it we will have an AF summer completed! The rain is not only good for the garden, but eliminates the cravings of wanting to sit on a patio having drinks, here's to the rain!!! :H

I will be leaving for cottage country for two weeks so will be AWOL for awhile but am committed to this AF journey. Sendings positive vibes your way :l

[halo]

Independence! An AF July

NoSugar;1529138 wrote: You know. Free, sometimes I feel bad for you about your hectic, erratic life and other times I am just plain JEALOUS :H! (not really - I am very happy for you and hope you have a wonderful time!)

My thoughts exactly No Sugar , I think it would be harder trying to remain AF though, that's why you are so inspiring Free!!!!

[NoSugar]

Independence! An AF July

I agree with you, Halo. I am able to control my schedule almost entirely and I know this has helped me enormously! Free has a much bigger challenge in many ways. I am so impressed by her.

Have a great holiday! We will be glad when you've safely returned! :h NS

[free at last]

Independence! An AF July

Thanks, NS and Halo, the life of a road warrior is nothing to be jealous of, I am sorry to say. It's airports, planes, hotels, meetings, conferences, with some strategic thinking and some dicey situations. (The other night my plane was delayed five hours so instead of arriving at 8pm to hotel pickup at the airport, I arrived at 1:30am in a very big city in a developing country with no transport to the hotel. Had to get a taxi to the hotel, riding through empty streets. I tried to text the license plate number to my DH but there was no cell phone coverage. I do enjoy my work, think I make a contribution to the issues I have been asked to help address, but believe me, it's not glamourous.

Happy to report that when I finished work at 9:30pm, and thought I'd really like to order two glasses of wine from room service, I immediately took an LGlutamine, drank some SW&L, and made myself hit the gym. That worked. The thoughts of wine dissipated.

Glad to see everyone making progress on an AF July.

[mylife]

Independence! An AF July

Free - all I can say is "wow". I don't know how you do it - but GOOD JOB. I think the ride through the deserted streets of a developing country and the 1:30 am arrival would have done me in. HOWEVER, that being said, I will say I don't have so much of a feeling that a glass of wine will relax me anymore. In fact, I visualize how it will taste and I find myself kind of cringing and feeling anxious - so I hopefully have undone my "relaxation association" with a glass of wine.

Halo - you are so right - the summer will be over before we know it and we will have spent it sober. What a great thing to look forward to - at least for me - this will be my first "sober summer" in more years than I can remember! Have a great time at your cottage!

NS - great to hear from you!

Hope everyone has a great AF day.

[thelaststraw]

Independence! An AF July

vacation for a month - be carefull everyone.

-S-

[mylife]

Independence! An AF July

Hello everyone - just checking in. Hope you are all doing well! I'm hanging in there - I have I think over 45 days now...and plugging away.

Have a great evening and those of you on vacation have a wonderful AF time!

[jenniech]

Independence! An AF July

hello everyone!!! I have been so busy that I have had practically no time to myself....dangerous, I know.....because when stress levels get high, I tend to become weak.....but here is the thing....now that I have so much AF time under my belt, the thought of drinking is JUST NOT THERE......I can't believe this has happened FINALLY!! I mean, I am working crazy hours, taking on enormous responsibility, dealing with a staff who has lots of their own resentments, yada yada.... the list goes on.....and if I think about AL, the thoughts are that if I did, I would be completely sabotaging myself. I mean, I just would not be able to function with all that is going on at work.

So, for the first time since January, I can HONESTLY say that I DO NOT WANT TO DRINK PERIOD
Wow, what a revelation!!!

Have a great day everyone!

[NoSugar]

Independence! An AF July

Hi, Jennie, you sound great! It is fabulous to get past the point of struggling, isn't it? With the extra work you've taken on, it would be so awful if you were doing all the second-guessing that comes with drinking. You can just make decisions and that is that!

Free, I'm not sure if you're in a remote place working or out on some hiking trail in a European country right now but whichever -- I hope you are Joyfully AF! I miss seeing you on the boards.

Halo and TLS are on vacation -- what's up with you, MyLife?

Have a great weekend! :h NS

[mylife]

Independence! An AF July

jenniech;1531315 wrote: hello everyone!!! I have been so busy that I have had practically no time to myself....dangerous, I know.....because when stress levels get high, I tend to become weak.....but here is the thing....now that I have so much AF time under my belt, the thought of drinking is JUST NOT THERE......I can't believe this has happened FINALLY!! I mean, I am working crazy hours, taking on enormous responsibility, dealing with a staff who has lots of their own resentments, yada yada.... the list goes on.....and if I think about AL, the thoughts are that if I did, I would be completely sabotaging myself. I mean, I just would not be able to function with all that is going on at work.

So, for the first time since January, I can HONESTLY say that I DO NOT WANT TO DRINK PERIOD
Wow, what a revelation!!!

Have a great day everyone!

What a great post Jenni. I am so happy you posted that. I've been a little discouraged this week with thoughts of AL...I didn't give in to them but I was wondering if they'll ever go away. Thank you! :thanks::h

[mylife]

Independence! An AF July

PS I am going through a similar time at work and i can relate to not sabotaging myself right now!