Nov. 26 - Mon.

[retteacher]

I've been thinking about those very destructive rituals & habits that are being broken w/each passing day. They were almost as addicitive as the alcohol. Sometimes I actually forget that I:
-drove around to different liquor stores.
-drank in the kitchen while my husband was watching tv or company was in the living room.
-hid bottles.
-secretly disposed of bottles.
-tried to act normal when I was blotto.
Replacing the above (which it's good to remember once in a while), I now:
-live openly.
-save money.
-focus on what I'm doing.
-live hangover-free.
-have no alcohol guilt.
When listed in black & white, it's no contest. Not drinking wins out hands-down. Mary

[satori]

Nov. 26 - Mon.

Yep - It is all embarrasingly obvious AFTER we get some distance from alcohol.

Only with distance can we REALLY see what alcohol was doing to our heads, and how the addiction was "in control" and was messing up our rational decison making abilities while we were drinking.

Good Riddance to it!

Have a Great Day

Satori

xxx

[rustop61]

Nov. 26 - Mon.

Great post Mary. Sometimes it helps to put things in black and white. Its too easy to think of the positive aspects of drinking through a hazy glow when the memory of the last hangover is so much in the past. Have a great AF day everyone.

Rustop

[Breez]

Nov. 26 - Mon.

Morning all-

Alcohol made me the biggest liar, the biggest hypocrit, manipulative, sneaky-you name it. Yeah it was fun at first-all the sneaking around, getting away with things. But as this disease progressed the hangovers began & the sneaking around got sloppy. The lies became unbelievable. The blackouts, the missing of life's moments. It begins a downward spiral to hell where alcohol is no longer fun. Drinking consumed way too much effort and basically was sucking the life out of me. By quiting I am finally living.

Rainy day today. Trying to motivate myself to set up my Christmas village (it goes on my dining room table). Then I will be done with all my Christmas decore. AAAHHH!!

Have a great AF day everyone! Attached files [img]/converted_files/374560=2548-attachment.gif[/img]

[Determinator]

Nov. 26 - Mon.

Happy Hangover-Free Monday to ABlanders far and wide!
great attitude you all. nice kickstart to the week Mary and I fully agree and relate.
there is no contest: alcohol makes us losers and sobriety gives us back the rest of our tools to be winners.
I've got another tradeshow in a casino next week. good grief! more booze breath and cig smoke. oh well...the things we do for fame and fortune
Satori, nice to have you here man!
it's been very darn cold here but no snow ....yet.
be well friends

[retteacher]

Nov. 26 - Mon.

I love the idea that our memories of drinking are a hazy fantasy...& I mean fantasy. We selectively cull out all the bad stuff when we want to believe that fantasy. Who am I kidding? One drink for me? Never. I will always want more. It doesn't matter if it's the finest wine or spirits or the cheapest. It's the escape I was after. Now, life is a continuing adventure (sometimes struggle), but at least I'm here & participating. Mary

[pepper]

Nov. 26 - Mon.

Good morning all!

Mary and Breez you really hit the nail on the head! I am finally seeing what you are saying now that I am 20 days AF. I will try to keep these things in mind when I attempt to moderate! I fear that I may be like you Mary...one drink will never be enough and I will always want more, but I won't know until I try. Best wishes to you all this fine, chilly Monday!
Pepper

[july232007]

Nov. 26 - Mon.

Mary,

Oh, so true. The fuzzy thinking of an addiction. I had a family member who lived to be 95 years old. He gave up drinking 50 years prior to his death. He always described his drinking years as being in a fog. I often think of that. And the following fifty years of clear headed living.

July