Sober Summer Pledges

[Janice]

Hi, most of you probs know I've been sort of struggling lately - sort of?? I mean I HAVE been!!!!!

Beck said she was making a list of things she wanted to do this summer and I think its a great idea. I thought maybe this could be a good thread, a good "motivator" for us????

I haven't got my "list" ready yet but there are a couple of things in my mind that I know I would not be able to do if I was drinking!! I thought I'd start my list here and add to it.....

1. Paint the study (mundane, I know, but still something that desperately needs doing!!!)

2. A helicopter ride round the Statue of Liberty!!!!! (Yikes!!!! Where did that come from!!! We're going to New York in August........I would love to do it and know theres no way I could if I was drinking!)

3. Empty and sort out my loft before my landing/staircase is decorated in September (I know, another mundane job!!! Again, something I need to do and I couldn't be bothered if I was back drinking).


Okay, thats me for now.........who's going to join me with a summer sober pledge????

love Janicexxx

[Tiny]

Sober Summer Pledges

Janice,

I never view painting or cleaning out as mundane because I see it as renewal!!!!

GREAT THREAD! I need to think about my list ...

[Doggygirl]

Sober Summer Pledges

Hi Janice & Tiny. Janice, this is an AWESOME idea!! Just another way we can batten down the hatches. You are so right - I don't get any of the "mundane" stuff done, OR do any truly fun and exciting stuff like your helicopter ride when drinking. And I think of the mundane stuff like Tiny - might be tedious to do, but feels so good and fresh when it's done.

I will also start a list and add to it. That will keep this motivational thread in front of me often - that will be good!

1. I want to learn lots more about WordPress and get my blog going.

2. I want to get my roof top garden underway - and maybe actually try to commit some names of plants and flowers to memory, and learn more about their care - rather than just pick something, stick in dirt, throw water at it once in awhile and hope for the best.

3. I want to learn more about using my camera in new ways and also learn more about photo editing. (this might require purchase of new software i.e. Photoshop.....Mr. Doggy will just have to get over it!)

That will keep me busy for awhile, and should be fun while sober!!

Thanks again Janice for starting this thread!

DG
*****************

[charlee]

Sober Summer Pledges

Now theres the Janice we know and love!!!!.....know you are still working through your personal issues, but I am so happy you are going forward regarding AL....A summer pledge..hmmmm....I mangage to get all my mundane stuff done, but I need to work on me. Slowly, and I mean slowly I can feel myself emerging from doormat status to "hey, what about me? status"....I want some freedoms that I have not allowed myself before, I think out of guilt. I will join in on the summer sober pledge too!!!...Maybe I will get that tiny little ankle tattoo I have always wanted, and maybe, just maybe I will through in that personal trainer!!!!.......

[Tiny]

Sober Summer Pledges

Charlee -- I love how you referred to a status as "doormat" -- I was that until 12 days ago...

[charlee]

Sober Summer Pledges

Tiny......sounds like you emerged "loud and strong"......Not me.....This is a phase of my life I need to tackle.....I think deep down, I just can't be bothered to deal with any confrontation on the home front...it exhausts me!!!...I am feeling stronger and stronger mentally....so I guess now's the time!!!

[meditation mama]

Sober Summer Pledges

very cool...

I want to learn to garden, even just a little bit. I want to be able to wake up fresh, happy and certainly not hung over - then go out into my new back yard or on my front deck and admire my work. I want to come home and stick my hands in dirt at the end of the day and listen to classical music - with a cold iced tea... I have my hanging baskets up and my garden is tilled and ready.. but it has been too cold still to plant, so I am reading about it..

Thanks!

MM

[ntcentral]

Sober Summer Pledges

1. train for a half marathon
2. touch the floor with my palms in yoga class with knees not bent
3. spend quality time with my 18 yr old daughter before she heads off to college (and make up, at least as much as I can, for all those nights during her high school career that I've been in La-La land)
4. take a trip somewhere where a highlight isn't sampling the local wine/beer/drink
5. buy something frivolous for moi that I wouldn't ordinarily buy because I deserve a pat on the back for going AF; I'm thinking a piece of jewelry, an entire outfit, an exotic cooking utensil, a drop-dead pair of shoes, an outrageous looking dress
6. make some new friends, just because I'd like to expand my current circle
7. spiff up my garden
8. sell my house (it's on the market!)
9. Keep my house clean so that it sells (now that I'm not blitzed at night I have the stamina for house work)
10. eat a a plate of onion rings and ketchup and then a great big hot fudge sundae with absolutely no thought about the calories involved
11. participate in the election campaign in the hopes of making a difference, at least locally
12. accomplish something worthwhile at work, so that at the end of the summer I can look at my staff and say, "Hey guys, we did it."
13. attend my husband's family gathering without getting blotto
14. practice meditation for several mornings every week---let's be specific here, 4 mornings out of every seven
15. walk out on the back patio every evening and purposefully watch the fading sky turn into night and think to myself, "Thank God I'm sober."

[Cinders]

Sober Summer Pledges

Great idea, Janice!!

I want to go on a wonderful vacation with my hubby this summer. And the possibilities are endless because it means I do not have to worry whether we will be where I can drink alcohol when I need to.

Maybe a nice long camping trip?

Love,
Cindi

[Evie.Lou]

Sober Summer Pledges

I want to spent time in Nature...Travel to new places....make love to my husband....but most of all i want to stay SOBER !!!!!!! EVIE

[retteacher]

Sober Summer Pledges

1. Ride my bike as much as possible w/my pup & husb (he just instralled my new doggie carrier).
2. Swim in my daughter & SIL's swimming pool.
3. Enjoy my son & g-children's visit this summer.
4. Have a great time on the West Coast w/my brother & SIL.

Love, Mary

[louise]

Sober Summer Pledges

Visit family and friends in Colorado without drinking
Travel in England and Scotland for 10 days and remember it all when I get home
Get the kitchen and family room painted
Exercise at least 5 days a week in a fun way - water aerobics outside, yoga, mountain hikes, etc.
Follow my healthy eating/lose weight nutrition plan at least 6 days a week

[lukalee]

Sober Summer Pledges

Lose 10 pounds
Quit Smoking
Go for long summer drives
Go hiking
Meet new people

[Beck]

Sober Summer Pledges

All right everyone,

This is my coping mechanism for this summer...plan some things that I can look forward to and will not do if I begin drinking again...didn't know Janice would challenge me to publish it though Seriously, I am happy to have said something that struck a chord.

Once a week I will take my girls on a day trip.
I will run 5x per week (because I like to)
I will visit my friends in the Philly area.
I will play with my kids (not just let them do their own thing)
I will go jet skiing, kayaking, hiking
I will go on several long bike rides with my husband
I will clear the dead trees off our 4 acres
I will take a family vacation
I will take a weekend getaway with my husband
I will spend money on myself and not feel guilty about it.

As you can see I have a lot to look forward to.
Beck

[july232007]

Sober Summer Pledges

Janice great idea,

I have started a large garden that I have spent the last few weeks planning and fencing. I planted today w/ my 8 year old son and we are looking forward to a summer of fun plants: watermelon being his favorite, of course. This is my transition time from work to home, check the garden, relax, collect the eggs, play with the kids. Who knew that you actually can do all these things if you have two free hands and not one attached to a Heiniken bottle?

July