Saturday, 31 May

[DogLvr]

Well - I've almost made it through my week in Australia AF.

Am now on day 31 (it's about 1pm here). Our team went out for dinner last night and gave me way too much pressure - but I just enjoyed the conversations, laughed a lot and kept my resolve. It was day 30 for me and they knew it - and kept me out past midnight to get me to celebrate my 30 day goal with a drink - not a lot of support there I guess!

But they are now on 20 hour plane rides with nasty hangovers and I am going for a run through the park! (I decided to spend an extra day exploring). Am feeling nervous - because I am not sure what my next step is - do i continue AF - or celebrate reaching my 30 day goal - a lot of thinking to do today.

Hope everyone has a great Saturday

[retteacher]

Saturday, 31 May

Doglvr: Only you can make the decision whether or not to begin drinking again after the 30 day abs.

Everyone: I just wanted to share something that came up at the AA meeting last night: "It's not how much you drink...it's how the drinking effects you." I think this gets to the heart of my denial. Whenever I've had lapses, I've always told myself:
-I'm not really that bad.
-There are people who drink a lot more than I do.
That kind of thinking led me straight back to the bottle, & the alcoholic drinking (for me). I cannot measure myself up to other people. I know the destructiveness of drinking for me...period, end of discussion.

The other comment that struck me was: "The most important thing I need to do today is NOT pick up a drink." Pretty simple.

I'm happy to say that I stayed sober all day today & am planning a sober day for tomorrow.

I'll check back much later. It's the wee hours her on the east coast of the USA.

Mary

[Loppy lugs]

Saturday, 31 May

Morning Doflvr, Renegade, Retteacher and all to follow.

It is a beautiful dawn here and as always that makes me cheerful.

Doglvr, Congrats on an AF May:wd: Only you can decide what comes next but I am going for an alcohol free June as well.

Renegade,I have never been to AA because I have a bit of a problem with the twelve steps, so not sure that I am the right person to comment because it has been helpful to so many people but if it doesn't work for you, keep pushing the Doc until they find something that does. Everybody is different. Must say that there always seems to be snippets of wisdom passed on by those who do attend AA.

I am going to start posting in the evening rather than at the crack of dawn. I find that by the time the morning comes around I am putting a positive spin on how my day has been rather than saying how things have really been going. Believe it or not even the posts about what a hard time I was having were the upbeat versions and highly edited.

I am off to spend the day at a course on emotional literacy based on the work of Claude Steiner who spent lot of time studying alcoholics. It is an area that comes naturally to me in a work environment but which I am totally rubbish at in all my other relationships. Knowing a little more can't do me any harm even if I am incapable of putting it into practice.

Retteacher hope by the time you read this you have had a peaceful nights sleep after your AF day.

Hope everyone has a briliant weekend

[Determinator]

Saturday, 31 May

Happy Sat morn from land! the cruise is over and aside from bloating I'm unscathed!
Renegade, i know the feeling as a fellow late poster I feel like I've missed the fun all too often....nice to see you here.
Mary, I attended AA meetings on the cruise ship and really enjoyed them. I'm sure it helped that they were very informal with little "fellowship indoctrination". good people keeping up the good fight.
In Seattle just for the day then off home for only one night before going back on the road.....sigh....vacation's over.

be well you all!

[Doggygirl]

Saturday, 31 May

Good morning all!

Boy Doglvr, that sounds like quite an evening full of temptation. Congrats on your success! I agree with the others - only you can decide about your next step. I can only speak for myself....I played my own mind game with moderation after 60 days AF and I regret it. I believe I KNEW deep down that I could never moderate. But the Beast got me all tricked up. I regret that. I would just encourage anybody who is considering a go at moderation be REALLY honest with yourself as you make your decision.

Renegade, best wishes finding a doc and a program that will work for you. No one program is the magic fix all for everyone. So if AA doesn't work for you, keep pushing those docs to support you in a different direction.

Loppy the course you are attending sounds very interesting. I hope you will post more about it sometime soon.

Deter, have fun in Seattle. It's such a bummer when a great vacation draws to a close, isn't it? "Re-entry shock" back to the real world!

Day 10 AF here - WOO HOO!! I am determined to make it through dog training day without AL - and BE HAPPY DANG IT!

Have a great day everyone!

DG
**********

[charlee]

Saturday, 31 May

Morning all
Just a quick check in as I am off to work..grrrrr...Will check back later....Enjoy your Saturday!!!

[caysea]

Saturday, 31 May

I would bet that all of us af tried mod and failed. I used to think it was great that I was only drinking a 6 pack every night compared to what i used to do .Who was I kidding. When i was trying to mod I was in a bigger battle with myself than being AF. 30 AF is really a great start to which every way you decide to go When you are AF you only have one decision to make each day Don't drink as i have said in other posts i had so many mod rules in place it was impossible and i was feeling like a failure way to often . Keep up the fight

Stay Healthy

[jessie]

Saturday, 31 May

Hi everyone,
Doggygirl, congrats on the 10 days, I also made it to 10 days and then slipped...ouchhh. Now day 2 almost over.
Loppy, the course you're doing sounds really interesting, I think we must learn as much about ourselves as we can. I did two of the online personality tests during the week and both came back heavily weighted towards the Dependant Personality Disorder Type. At least now I know.
Caysea, I am also trying to "moderate" and then could not even make it past 10 days. Duh for my hope. And believe it or not, I'm still thinking. ok, now I've learnt my lesson, now I will be more careful...
Love to you all.
Jessie

[on my way]

Saturday, 31 May

Good morning all.

I have a few kid sporting events this morning and I'm off to work. Have a great weekend! OMW

[retteacher]

Saturday, 31 May

Deter: Thank God for AA meetings aboard the ship! I'd have a hard time being around all that booze. There's a saying in AA: "Take what you like & leave the rest." I try to follow that. The AA meeting I went to last night really wasn't heavy-handed. Mary