AF daily - Friday April 10th

[Marshy]

Hello all,


Haven't had time to read yesterday's thread, hope everyone's well.

I'll be doing a 13-hour shift at work today, and 12 hours tomorrow. Yikes! But I've been given a big chocolate Easter egg, so I'm looking forward to cracking that open on Sunday. I'm going to need chocolate by then!

Have a good day everyone.

[Arial]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

Hi Marshy,

Sounds like a tough haul - and a well-earned chocolate fix! Enjoy!

Am off to the mountains tomorrow just for some rambling and eating with friends, so nice and relaxing. I went running yesterday for the first time as part of 'fun run' group and we ended in the bar. I actually found it pretty easy to stick to apple juice, and no questions were asked and no eyebrows raised - it's strange to consider now how much of my drinking was a misperceived expectation from others - in actual fact I haven't found many people who either notice or care whether I drink or not. However, in me there's still the association with activities, the image of relaxing with a drink afterwards, the earned 'reward', the social requirements, - it's all this that I have to train my mind to rethink.

Another revelation (well not so much revelation as accepting the truth) is the amount of time I lost when drinking, and the constant excuse that I didn't have time for anything. The number of times I would say or think, 'I'd love to, but I don't have time'. In actual fact the time was there but the drink-induced lack of energy, apathy, etc. meant I actually did very little apart from survive. What a waste - but as I have decided I can't look back with regret, it is now a chance to catch up and take every opportunity to get on with life. So lots to think about, some new attitudes to develop, and plans to make! Life is exciting when lived, rather than experienced from the bottom of a bottle!

Sorry this is a bit of a self-focused post, but I'll catch up with you all over the weekend and look forward to hearing how everyone's getting on. So Happy Easter weekend everyone - enjoy whatever chocolate feasts you have planned!

[speedster]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

Good morning!

Hi Marshy & Arial.

Marshy - hopefully work is really busy & the time flies! Enjoy that Easter egg. I bought some nice chocolates for when our friends arrive on Sunday. I look forward to the friends and chocolate.

Arial -- I like your comments about not enough time in the AL days. It's scary to think how the mind & body are weakened by constant AL.

I had my volunteer mtg last night. It was okay, low turnout due to it being the 1st local outdoor concert and a gorgeous evening. I rambled a bit and couldn't wait to get home. No AL thoughts after the meeting and managed to turn my brain off and go to sleep.

Today could be an okay day or a really intense day at work. Mostly on the shoulders of a fellow coworker to get some things done that have to be done today. He looks like he could use a AL, nicotine free life.

I need to catch up on yesterday's thread.

Everyone - have a Great AF Friday! Hugs to all.

[Sante]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

Good Morning Everyone and to those to come,
Had a good day yesterday. Motored from Marathon, FL, to Key West (no wind so we couldn't sail). Wind (of course) picked up late in the day after we had anchored and were on our way to shore. No thoughts of AL. Just calm, serene thoughts and amazement that this is Holy Week and I can live like this...
Today (Good Friday) we do the "tourist thing". Plan to visit the Hemingway House, the Audobon House, and the Little White House. Don't know if we can do all of that in one day -- especially with the crowds (which we didn't expect). Apparently, some schools in the south are closed this week for spring break. But we'll do what we can and accept the rest. My husband is great at that -- probably one reason why he is so sane and I'm not!
I'm thinking, too, because it is Good Friday, we may try to find a quiet place around mid-afternoon. We almost ducked into a little church for Maundy Evening communion, but we felt a little self-conscious wearing shorts and sandals and smelling like sweat and old suntan lotion!
Good Day to all of you. Be well and AF!
Sante

[charlee]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

Morning abbers
Just a quick note to wish everyone a Happy Easter!
Arial....Kudos to you for your not looking back on your wudda, shudda, cudda's.....When I think back I cringe at the excuses I made for what amounted to my "zombie like" state 24/7....That is not living.....Call it what you will, a revelation, new lease on life, opportunity.....we are fortunate to have this new beginning....Enjoy it!!

[retteacher]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

Yes, I too wasted loads of time w/drinking...planning, drinking, recovering. Awful. Now, I spend time w/recovery activities: meetings, readings, discussions, etc. I STILL have time leftover for chores, b-sitting, enjoyment. I'm planning a AF Easter celebration. We're going to SIL & BIL, who is an alcoholic, recently on the wagon. No booze, yay! Happy Easter & Passover everyone. Mary

[AAthlete]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

Good morning one and all!

I love days like today - woke up with a sense of peace and humility that I wish I could bottle. It is so easy to get caught up in our day to day lives that we take a lot of little things for granted (at least I do). This morning I am grateful for my sobriety, a wonderful family & friends, a good job, and the wonderful people here and in my home group.

Ariel, I liked the 'no time for anything when drinking' excuse. In my case, I was worried that if I went and committed to something, it might cut into my drinking time and I couldn't stand that. I couldn't tell you how many invitations I turned down so that I could be with me precious vodka... Thank God I am free from that....

[ready2change]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

Happy Friday All! Everyone sounds great this morning, and resolute.

I so agree that alcohol robs us of so much life. If were not drinking it and feeling like crap, were thinking about drinking it or suffering the consequences of drinking it. Uggh...what a waste of precious time. I am so envious of people like ThatGirl who is learning the evils of alcohol at such a tender young age. She is very wise for her years.

Everyone have a wonderful Easter weekend, time for reflection on what Easter is all about. And it certainly isn't about drowning ourselves in a bottle.

R2C

[LVT25]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

Good morning friends.

Yep. I can certainly relate to the amount of time wasted by drinking/being hungover. Like my hubby, I sometimes drank while doing things around the house and yard and garden--seemed to give me energy for awhile. But once I sat down--that was that--and the next day? Forget about it! Like AA-I don't have to think about committing to something because I might be too far into the cup or have plans to get that way.

I hate this, but sometimes living with someone that drinks almost every night just gets to me. I thought I was getting better at just ignoring the fact that hubby has been drinking, and have conversations with him like a "normal" couple. But, for whatever reason, he's not drinking around me, so when he's not home after work, or is busy on a project outside I know it is because he is drinking and I resent that he doesn't want to spend time with us. I realized last night that one of the big reasons I drank the way I did, was so that I could be on the same level as hubby and it mellowed me out. I really wish I could just do my own thing and not give a shit what he's doing. It's not like he's at the bar or at friend's houses til all hours. I know sobriety is worth it, and I'm not going to leave him over it, so I should just quit whining--I know! So, why can't I?

[dill]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

I know sobriety is worth it, and I'm not going to leave him over it, so I should just quit whining--I know! So, why can't I?
__________________
LVT, There are probably many reasons why you can't, but I am guessing #1 is because you love him and want what is good for him. It must be painful to watch him, knowing what you know about the value of sobriety. I feel for you. I wish I could help.

The theme of having more time now than while drinking is really resonating with me. The comments about all the missed opportunities because it would cut into drinking time: Oh yeah, I really get that! I'm glad to be able to look at that from a distance now and really see it. So, I guess I am feeling grateful right now. AA's statement sums it up:
I am grateful for my sobriety, a wonderful family & friends, a good job, and the wonderful people here and in my home group.

Good Friday is one of my favorite religious days. I enjoy the reflection on the value of sacrifice and the courage it takes.

I am missing WIP. Has anyone heard from her? I so miss her knowledge and insights.

[Barola]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

Hi Everyone
Day 24 AF and feeling better and better, my head is clearer and my body stronger.
Tonight will be a challenge tho as it's my partners going away party at a local bar ..... not going to be easy. My biggest fear is that once my partner goes away next week (1 year job in NZ) 17 hours time difference - it's going to get much tougher for me during the evenings. After 19 years together I'm home alone and left to my own devices ...... not good. I'm trying to make plans of ways to spend my time more productively. My list of 100 things to do instead of drink/miss my partner is coming along, but to be honest I'm pretty scared.

[Arial]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

Hi LVT - is he staying away because 'he doesn't want to be with you', or because now you're not drinking he feels uncomfortable, or maybe it's out of respect for you and your decision to not drink?? Maybe it's worth sitting down and talking it through with him - if you're OK with him drinking in front of you then tell him, if not, then maybe his working in the yard is something you should respect? Not knowing the situation it's difficult to judge, but I have to say that to stop drinking while living with a regular drinker is amazing - many kudos for that - you must have amazing will power!

The atmosphere's great here today - it is definitely a day to be grateful and reflective, so that's how I'll continue. Unfortunately I have to get in a bit of housework too, but even in that at the moment there's a sense of clearing out the old and regaining a sense of order - maybe it's spring fever as well! :l to all

[Accountable for Me]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

Good morning!

I drank yesterday....... very naughty. I am not going to beat myself with a stick tho... I know what to do.

I hope everyone has a fantastic day! The 4 day weekend is here. No rain yet, so must take advantage of that!

[ThatGirl]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

Hey everybody, it is 10 past 11 here in cloudy kent, and my mother has just decided to go for a walk - she's been up since 4am, rearranged the kitchen, done the gardening, got the shopping, walked the dog a couple of times and numerous other activities. To anybody who doens't know, my mother has bipolar, and this is her being manic. When she's like this it can be like having a child in the house, except a child who can tell you what to do, and doens't have to listen to you. What can I say? it will be a fun couple of days waiting for her to calm down... Yet I still wouldn't change her for the world

-TG

[Accountable for Me]

AF daily - Friday April 10th

ThatGirl;590412 wrote: Hey everybody, it is 10 past 11 here in cloudy kent, and my mother has just decided to go for a walk - she's been up since 4am, rearranged the kitchen, done the gardening, got the shopping, walked the dog a couple of times and numerous other activities. To anybody who doens't know, my mother has bipolar, and this is her being manic. When she's like this it can be like having a child in the house, except a child who can tell you what to do, and doens't have to listen to you. What can I say? it will be a fun couple of days waiting for her to calm down... Yet I still wouldn't change her for the world

-TG

I have BP and I personally loved the 'high's' part of it. Man, did shit ever get done around here!

ps. is she on medication? Ever since I started meds I don't get the highs and lows anymore. Just plain ol normal now. Just wondering....