Well, That Didn't Take Long

[allswell]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Hello everyone,

Lifechange, I hope Sunday turned out to be great and Bydie's point there aren't two bad days in a row holds true. I agree with Pinecone, exercise is a very important part of this new life of ours. It improves my mood, focus, and the last thing I want is a drink after getting in a really great workout.

I also agree about the meditation. I've been listening to a series of binaural beats CD's with headphones and immediately fall into a deep meditative state. It's amazing the improvement it makes.

Have a good Sunday evening everyone!

[free at last]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Hi all,
I've been offline for several days -- up at 6am and sometimes not home until 10pm. But, not complaining because as a consultant there will come a time when I have no/little work. Wanted to report that I remain AF, though Monday was a challenge. I was having a diinner at our apartment for work colleagues who were in town for various meetings. I so wanted to kick back and have a glass of wine with my guests but I also didn't want to blow this quit. I really was of two minds. It had been over a week since I had taken an antabuse and I was so nervous that in the middle of the party, I would cave in and have a drink. Again, the AB gave me the little extra resource I needed to get over the difficult mind chatter. Went on to have a lovely dinner party, poured wine for my guests and didn't think twice about pouring more seltzer water and lime for me.

And, my husband was so pleased to see me enjoying my guests without a glass of wine in my hand. I am, indeed, quite fortunate to have his full support in this journey.

Will try to be more active once things slow down for me at work.

[Pinecone]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Hi friends,

FAL, thanks for bumping this thread up. Good job staying strong. Don't listen to that other voice! Just say "Tshhh!!" like Cesar Millan (my three year old really loves his show right now for some reason), and push those thoughts right out. The fantasy of kicking back with one drink is just the old "bait and switch." It sounds like after you had that initial battle, you just relaxed and had a great time, kudos to you!

Alls, sorry to respond late, but I liked your last post and it got me thinking. An expression I like about learning things is "the basics done well is what makes you advanced." To me it means that when you really practice the basics and stick to our plans, we can really string the AF days together. To me that means: proper sleep, proper nutrition, excercise, hydration, meditation and spending my free time in pursuit of authentic and fulfilling activities.

I hope everyone is doing well. Hello to NS, Lifechange, Unwasted (hope your move went well), Mylife, Mein, sorry if I missed anyone! Have a great AF day.

[NoSugar]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

We need UN back ! I love this thread but it is hard to keep it going without her.

I read a really interesting article this evening:
The eightfold path to chemical addiction recovery | Counseling Today

The author relates addiction recovery to Buddhism. Much of it rang true to me.

I hope all of you are doing well. :h NS

[lifechange]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Good Morning!
I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off!
I am thinking about you all-- Look forward to having some time tomorrow to catch up and read articles, stories, etc.
xo

[Pinecone]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Hi friends,

Life, great to hear from you! I hope you can relax a bit and enjoy your weekend if you are off.

NS, you are right. Un really kept this thread on the rails. I was really liking this thread a lot too. We have a really great group of sincere folks posting here, I'd sure hate to lose it!

I've been doing well with meditation. I can definately tell the difference in the way that I deal with things. My mind feels calmer most of the time and I can resist getting pulled away with negative emotions better. There is also less chatter going on, or it seems to be a much weaker signal. Meditating daily was just another fantasy I had when I was still drinking. Now I am able to make it my reality.

Hello to Alls, FAL, anyone else checking in today. Have a great AF day.

[free at last]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Hi all,
Just checking in on this Friday morning to say all is well with me. NS, I'll check out the link you provided. Sounds good.

On a separate note, I am reading a fascinating book -- The Warmth of Other Suns. It's about the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the North and West. It won the Pulitzer Prize and I can see why. Highly recommend it.

UN, if you are reading, am sending you lost of positive vibes on the move and hope the cats are settling in and you are hitting the trail outside your new home!

[allswell]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Hello everyone,

NS thanks for the link, I read it and the author makes so many good points I've saved it because I think it will be good to reread it several times.

Been campaigning and knocking on doors and being all things to all kinds of people and all of a sudden out of the blue my mind said "F it, let's get a 12 pack". I don't know if it's all in my head but I immediately went home and had water and a spoon full of spirulina powder and everything was okay again. Ready to get back to it tomorrow, man I hate those twisted, out of nowhere drinking thoughts.

I too find real value in daily meditation, I now wonder how I got by so long without.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. UN, if you're out there here's a big Hello!

[3June2013]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Hey you all! Just home from a four week vacation, travelling, camping, visiting. First sober holiday EVER and I loved it. Sure I had moments of awkwardness but that's really all it is now. I don't drink any more.

Reading "Alcohol Lied to Me" and received my MWO hypnosis tapes. I'm well over three months AF but I refuse to let my guard down!

Doing yoga every other day or so, it really slows down my mind and connects me with my body. I want to try meditation but don't seem to have the patience. For now yoga will do.

[NoSugar]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Hope everyone is having a good Friday evening!

Alls, I had that same seemingly out of nowhere addiction voice talking to me about a week ago. And it was an oh-so-casual suggestion that I have a nice glass of wine - not the whiney, demanding voice that I have no problem tuning out. Our brains sure can play tricks on us! Great job not listening to that voice and good luck with your campaign!

Thanks to everyone on this thread who has been encouraging regarding meditation. It has been especially helpful for me the last couple weeks. My plan is to stick with it even when I'm feeling better and less stressed than I am right now.

Free, I'm next on the list at my library for the book - thanks for the recommendation.

June, Great to see you here. We are missing our thread-backbone, Unwasted, and would love to have some more participants! We might even get you to meditate...

UN, MyLife - I hope you are both doing well and that we hear from you soon.

Have a great weekend! :h NS

[Pinecone]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Hi friends,

3June, great to see you here. I absolutely love your avatar, what a grata quote that captures the ultimate contradiction that is our problem. I've enjoyed your posts on other threads. My first week or so of meditating I felt very fidgety, mentally and physically (which was the monkey mind resisting, I think). After that things started to settle down quite a bit.

NS, hope you are feeling better soon! Thanks for helping keep this thread afloat.

Alls, campaigning sounds exhausting! I wish you the best of luck. It's comforting to know there are good people trying to serve the public. I am a newcomer to meditation, but it is becoming a powerful part of my life.

I've had those experiences where the enemy changes tactics and suggests drinking in a nonchalant way "hey buddy, how about..." and it just blends in with the rest of the normal noise in my head. I still say "NO HELL NO!" out loud, like I learned from Byrdie.

Have a great AF night!

[lifechange]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Good Sunday Morning everyone!
I have been checking in here but haven't posted because I haven't known what to write!
This time, with quitting al, I really feel like a Newbie--I'm all over the place emotionally, trying to deal with relationships, but not making any huge decisions or changes--realising the the people who annoy me the most are the ones I should pay the most attention to, because they are most likely reflecting my deepest issues. This is unfortunately the case with my boyfriends's son, who lives with us more than half time. He's 12 and I have such an aversion to him, and then such guilt because he's just a kid.
I have so much work in front of me and I'm trying to accept myself, how I am now, while trying to move forward emotionally and spiritually. I'm trying to have the courage to move toward the life I'm afraid to live-'afraid of because it means change and work.

NS, I've really enjoyed reading the excerpt from the Gift of Imperfection you posted in the nest. Is this the same woman who has the TED talks which have also been linked here? I'll have to go back and have a look. (I think I found it in Free's signature!!) How are you this weekend? I hope you're having some sunny fall days.

Hi Pinecone! You sound great-- I like the quote, "the basics done well is what makes you advanced"-- so important to always have in mind. Daily discipline has to be one of my weakest points--procrastination, too. Anything I really want I have to fight tooth and nail to achieve. Actually I don't understand that. If something like meditation or exercise makes me feel so much better, why do I fight it? Self sabotage! But why?
You must be having beautiful walking weather--before it get's too cold. Do you live by any lakes?

Free, I'm impressed by your ability to be such a gracious host. I can imagine it clearly with you--again, I'm so happy for you to have such a supportive partner.

Allswell, Thanks for your good wishes last weekend! I'm taking each day as it comes-How's the campaigning going? When are the elections? I wish you all the best with that!--Like Pinecone, I really respect your getting out there to make a difference!

Hi 3June! Super to have you back--

I'll be off tomorrow with my girls for 4 days-- we're going to a Demeter farm, belonging to the family of one of the kids at school. They do things the old fashioned way, horse and plow, etc, so it's great fun and hard work, but also very relaxing. Puts things in perspective.
Tomorrow is also 30 days for me-- which I am very proud of. I think it's the first time I've done it with so much thought and reflection--and with knowing there is no other way for me. It's actually (with the exceptions of pregnancies) only the 3rd time I've ever done it, but each other time, I knew in the back of my mind I'd drink again. This time it's different because I know I won't.
Big hugs to you all and a wonderful Sunday!:l

[free at last]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

For those who practice meditation, you might want to listen to NPR's show On Being, which aired this morning. Excellent interview with a great teacher.

Off for a two week consulting gig. Will post when I can.

[allswell]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Hey all,

Hope everyone is having a relaxing Sunday.

Lifechange, write whatever is on your mind, no need to hold back. I know the struggles of adjusting to the SO's children, it's tough and uncomfortable at times. I remember a SMART exercise where I listed all of the things that were important for my future and nowhere to be found was alcohol yet alcohol, at the time, was front and center in my universe. Moving forward gets easier and more fulfilling as the time goes by yet it doesn't happen fast enough I know.

FAL, I clicked on the link to Brene Brown, pretty powerful stuff.

Hi Pinecone.

Let's keep meditating, exercising, and living with purpose folks!

[free at last]

Well, That Didn't Take Long

Hi all, quick checkin from the airport lounge. One leg finished--with seltzer water and lemon (no limes!) thank you very much. On to second leg of journey--lots of travel during this two week gig so many not be posting much.

Allswell -- a quick note on how impressed I am with your running for office. You go girl!

Hope everyone had a great weekend.