AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

[caysea]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

Hi All
I am not a drinker .I will never drink again.I feel very strong when i say this.What the future will bring I don't know but this makes me feel strong to say this and put it in writing.
I am an alcoholic.Not a problem saying this.The reality is that I am a person who can't control my intake if I were to drink.The outcome of this is not good for me for many reasons. We all know them. I have reached a point that I never thought would happen.I am enjoying my life so much more now without al that I really couldn't consider putting it into my body.I to have reached an age were time is important to me.Drinking is one of the biggest limiting factors in regards to me living.I do have the ability to control it .It is not cancer or any other type of disease that takes over my body.Drinking is something I choice to do for many years for what ever reason.I can recognize some of them now and they aren't as important as wanting to live.The most important thing in my life every day is to NOT DRINK. For all of those starting out it does get easier.

Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
AF 5-16-08

[LVT25]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!:upset:

Just a quick check in with the Nebraska weather report. Freakin Cold!!!!!
Computer said 1.9 degrees F this a.m.!

I'm going to clean my basement and storeage room down there where the wood burning stove is going full blast!!

Have a great day/weekend everyone! :h

I posted this link in Holistics--but thought someone here might appreciate it. I though tit was interesting.

WholeApproach.com - Cravings Chart by Tarilee Cornish CNP

[momof3]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

Good Morning AF Warriors,

Hmmm, one day at a time or lifelong commitment to being AF?

I am seriously committed to being AF and throughout all of my AF time, I have not been able to commit myself to saying I will be AF forever. A wise MWO person pointed this out to me the other day.

I am currently re-examining this. Am I leaving a back door open to allow AL to quietly slip into my life again? A sobering thought, no pun intended. I am currently reading J. Trimpley's book, "Rational Recovery" and he addresses this. I will keep you posted on how/if my thinking changes.

On another note, the high energy and anxiety that is happening on this site durinng this holiday season is palpable. I so appreciate this thread because everyone is earnest and constructive in their commitment to be AF. Let's all keep up the good work.

Mo3

[Cinders]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

Mom,

I got back on forth on that whole thing myself.

I do know that it is one day at a time, no matter which way you look at it.

But, the thought that, hmmm, perhaps someday...

So, like you, I keep examining the concept.

I didn't really like Rational Recovery, perhaps because the author is so vituperous about AA. I understand the absolute need for alternative programs and help but there is no need for the kind of anger he has against AA.

Although, I guess it is very much because AA does seem to hold such sway with the medical community, which bothers me because it means very little research has gone into addiction therapy.

I go back and forth on that one, too. :H

I agree. This is a great thread with wonderful people. Thank God you are all here. :l

Love,
Cindi

[retteacher]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

I love these types of discussions about committment...whether daily or forever. I also have no problem admitting I'm an alcoholic. No normal drinker I know drinks the way I once did:
-whole bottles of wine at a time.
-drinking at all different times of the day - even in the AM.
-drinking alone & in secret.

I write these things to remind myself of the type of drinker I once was. I know you've read all this before, but I need a reminder of the reality of my situation before I came to MWO...no more deluding myself.

Mary

[Cinders]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

Mary,

I had to go through the entire thing yesterday with my new doctor. It was amazing to listen to myself telling her about my drinking and how far it has gone. Geez.

I, too, have no problem calling myself an alcoholic because it doesn't matter what you call "it," it is a behavior that is self-destructive and deadly.

She wants me to consider a long term residential rehab. 3-6 months. A scary thought but if I find I cannot get through this month sober, I am going to do it. Whatever it takes.

I think I am going to try to get to an AA meeting today before my doctor's appt. I need a little bit of face-to-face today.

My resolve is pretty strong since I truly do not want to have to go to long term rehab. The thought scares me to death.

Love,
Cindi

[momof3]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

Reteach, Oh, I so need the reminders too. I'm not proud of my addictive personality, but there it is. I can't even be around a bottle of pain killers, because if it alters my state of mind, I will take it. Cough syrup with codeine for a bad cough...I'd be all over that too.

Cindi, I go back and forth on these issues too. Heck, I'm a Gemini. Yes, I agree the venom around AA that Trimpley spews is a bit distracting, but I get it. It does make the book distracting though and it would be more powerful if he didn't rant. It sounds like you had a great visit with your MD. How was it for you to go through your history with this doctor? Relieving? Depressing? Liberating? All of the above? I do hope that you find a way to be a peace with this beast called alcohol.

[AAthlete]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

I often heard it said in my meetings that the only step in AA that requires you to work it 100% perfectly is Step 1 (I admitted that I was powerless over alcohol...).

Forever sounds like a long time, but that was what I had to commit myself to in order to achieve my sobriety. There will always be that voice in the back of my head that wants to tell me that one drink won't kill me. I have to remember that is most likely exactly what it will do, because I have proven to myself over and over again that one is never enough...

Cindi, hang in there darling - your a strong person who will make it through this and happy Friday to everyone else.

[kaponium]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

aLOHA ALL - A glorious morning down here....

I'm with AAth on the ODAT theme. Each morning, the very first thing I do is ask A power great than myself for a day free of drugs and alcohol, and to direct my thoughts in a positive and sober way....
Today is all we have, and it keeps it simple for me
Am off shortly to begin a new job, cheffing at a local wee (unlicenced!!) cafe in town...A bit nervous, but positive and grateful
Blessings one and all - shall check in again tonight

X K

[momof3]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

AA, I have not "worked" the 12 steps, so I am not fully familiar with the deeper meaning behind them. Does the first step, "admitting you are powerless over alcohol..." include a commitment to being alcohol free forever? Also, how does it relate to the AA slogan, "One Day at a Time" which I have found very helpful but feel that I may be misinterpreting to mean that you live your AF life one day at a time, but don't assume you will be alcohol free forever? I think many of us could be misintreting this slogan/tenant and your thoughts on this could help.

[Determinator]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

Yaba-Daba-Doooooo ABerooooos!

yeah! I just found out i don't have to spend mon-wed in a filthy casino. whew! I'm staying home until wed when I drive to our annual work meeting.

Cymru, Namaste and Universal congrats on the days! they are flying by eh?

Caysea, ditto you post man.

personally I no longer reference time as a component in the way I view my preferred AF lifestyle. I simply prefer the way I feel when I don't have al in my system. very simple. nothing to do with time, or calendars or anyone else and their plans. But do what works for YOU. results baby!

Cindi, be sure to eat something will all those meds. some garlic scrambled eggs on toast? hmmmm...

back to work for garlic breath,

be well friends!

[retteacher]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

I love this thread!

[AAthlete]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

momof3;487150 wrote: AA, I have not "worked" the 12 steps, so I am not fully familiar with the deeper meaning behind them. Does the first step, "admitting you are powerless over alcohol..." include a commitment to being alcohol free forever? Also, how does it relate to the AA slogan, "One Day at a Time" which I have found very helpful but feel that I may be misinterpreting to mean that you live your AF life one day at a time, but don't assume you will be alcohol free forever? I think many of us could be misintreting this slogan/tenant and your thoughts on this could help.

Mom, not so much a commitment to being alcohol free as admitting to ourselves that we have a problem with alcohol, can't control it, and need some help. The step sounds easy enough, but how many of us have fought that notion tooth and nail (my hand is up)?

To truly accept and embrace it opens you to to the other steps in where you commit to your sobriety one step at a time. ODAT, at least to me, refers to simply living in the here and now. So often we drink because we want to forget things in our past, or are worried about something in our future. Simply living for today acknowledges that we can't change the past or control the future, so we might as well just worry about today.

I love the fact that here I can combine AA and MWO into a program that works for me - so I'm with everyone else - I love this thread!

[brittzak]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

I love this thread too......I have absolutely NO PROBLEM admitting I am an alcoholic. I actually find myself admitting it to people I would have NEVER admitted it to 6 months ago....it frees me in some ways. Putting out decorations....be well.

[cymru]

AF Daily, Friday, Dec. 5

Me too britt. I know i am an alcoholic through my actions and the fact that when i start i cant stop. But tdy is coming to the end of day 5 and im actually really enjoying it. Must not forget how i felt last time when it was all over. NEVER want to go back there.