January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

[redhibiscus]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Dill, sorry about your SIL, cancer is so scarey. Loved the quote you chose today...we are on this AF journey on faith that we can change our lives, on faith in these forums, and for us faith on this particular thread. I cannot tell you how much this thread has meant to me this fall and now winter. Thanks all for being there for my journey and sharing your AF journeys with me.

I am tired today, usually feel this way after Wednesday, the days build up. But it is a good tired. I am beginning to feel anxious about the weekend. I want to stay AF. Today was a piece of cake, though, and in the past Wednedays were always a good day to drink. No more drinking on Wednesdays, ever.

Have a serene evening, AF.

[Lavande]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Evening all,

Hey Lil - if you need a little Lavan-itude just help yourself - it's free & it always works great

I really don't ask for a whole lot but a little sunshine would really, really go a long way right about now!! I don't mind the cold so much when you can see the sun & feel a it's warmth thru a window - boo hoo!!

Finding - you mentioned identifying triggers......so important to our lasting success! We need to change our thinking & behavior patterns so we don't keep making the same mistakes over & over. We do need to have faith in our ability to live AF

Think I'm going to vegetate for a while.......with my decaf green tea!
Wishing everyone a comfy, cozy AF evening!

Lav

[dill]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Greetings!

Red, You can stay AF for the weekend, I just know it! I made it through today, and "humpday" is one of my hardest days of the week! You are so right about this thread. It's been a lifeboat for me. I have been hoping some commitment would rub off on me and it has. I will keep nurturing it though. One must be forever vigilant!

Lil, I am sorry you are feeling low. Here is something that might cheer you up, and it's guaranteed to leave your computer moniter sparkling clean:

http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf

MM, If drinking, I still would've answered that call because I knew it was important, given the time of night and caller ID showing my brother's name. I knew it was probably bad news or some sort. I would've answered and talked and worried about "sounding OK", scratched out a couple of key words from the call on a pad of paper so I could remind myself what the call was about the next morning. Then I would have proceeded to feel like a jerk and worry about what I said, etc. etc....What a nightmare I was living!!!

LBH, I like that quote about insufficient information to make all decisions. It's so true! We had insufficient info as to what being AF would be like for us, but it has actually turned out to be a pretty good decision in the long run. It didn't feel like such a good decision right at the beginning though, did it? I had the 'vague longing' today, but not so much a craving. It's like the big dark cloud that used to follow us around has become a medum fog.

it makes me realize how selfish I am when I’m drinking, and how giving to others is a much better gift to myself than a drink. Some days I feel like I’m just learning to walk!Very well put, Finding. I continue to see things through new eyes with more AF time behind me.

SD, I wanted to start watching biggest loser, but I am too hooked on Idol. Looks like I'm just going to stick with Idol for now. I am so jealous of you and your date with Bret Favre! I'll be thinking of you that day for sure! Of course, that's easy to say, because I think of you all on here EVERYDAY!

To me our philosophy, summed up so very nicely by B. Russell, is one of faith. Faith that if you hang in there, hang on, things do pass and sometimes they even get better than you ever thought they could be.

Sped, I think you nailed it. For so long, I let fear of being AF paralize me and keep me enslaved to my addiction.

Hi Lav! I hope you did not work too hard today. I hear you about waking up in the dark. It's something I have to do, so I try not to think about it! Best I can say is, the days are getting longer!

Sooty, I finally got to try the soup! OMG, it was delicious! Mr. Dill loved it too. I have never tasted parsnips before, so I ate a piece raw while chopping. I like it. I wonder how I got to be 57 years old and never tasted one before!

I wish everyone a peaceful evening.

[openheart]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Hi everyone--
Had lots of reading to do to catch up on the last two days--have had some internal dialogues going on--my husband will be out of town next week, so the alc brain has been working overtime--"You've done so well....what's it going to hurt if I pick up a bottle of wine to have while he's away? He won't be here to be disappointed in me, so no worries there..." etc... but of course I know the bottle will become two....
Then I counted the days af, and I won't have 30 days until after he's back. So I've decided I want the 30 days under my belt more than I want the alc. It's like I've been so afraid to decide to shut the door on alc, but finally did--and now just opening it a crack was like opening the flood gates.
The little nuggets of truth and inspiration that I find here in your posts are immeasurable. Sped, your quote by Russell esp spoke to me today. Thank you.
And now I'm going to go click on the link Dill gave to Lil--can always use a pick me up.

Wishing everyone warmth and strength from my heart.
Open

[cyntree]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Lil - big hugs to you, it's hard to remember that this cloud will pass, but I guess we're all seeing that eventually it does. I'm sending you healing vibes in the meantime.

Open - hooray for you for picking the 30 days! I think you dodged a bullet there...speaking from personal experience, it is NEVER worth it to go the 'what's it going to hurt' route - it turns out to hurt plenty.
Sped - love the thought of faith...I'm sure Jane Austen's Balls were quite different than this one that I'm trying to fashion. BTW, I met a woman recently who was reading a book about all the places in England that Jane Austen wrote about - looked great, I'll try to find the title.
Dill - congrats on beating the humpday trigger!
SD - counting the days with you
REd - happy days are here again
Sooty - more soup please
LBH - more quotes, please
Finding - thank goodness I lived through the moving of the wine collection - can't believe you remember that!
To whomever asked about the presentation - promise you won't think I'm geeky, but it was about an opera: love, death, and the loss of youthful illusions in 1840s Paris. Wish I'd read the B Russell quote earlier today, it would have fit in perfectly.
Sorry if I missed anyone -
Sweet dreams - hopefully I'll check in earlier tomorrow -

[dill]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

You cannot think your way into sober living. You live your way into sober thinking. - from the Daily Recovery Readings

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening JJDI's! Just a quick check in to get my mindset going!
Mandalay, I've been curious how you ended up down under? Is that your native land or did you move there?
Cyntree, as busy as you are, I am always happy when you check in. Are you still being "Switzerland" or have things gotten a bit better. Are you going to be able to put us on the invitations list? I think we all would like to attend a Ball, and I'm pretty sure I have a pumpkin we can turn into a carriage. Ms. Sooty can drive a team of horses, to be sure, and we can all be there!

I'll make today AF. Peace and strength to all.

[Lavande]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Good morning all,

Dill, I AM living my way into sober thinking - it's so true & practice makes it easier

Happy to report the sun is out this morning - Yay! I heard the temp is going all the way up to 43 degrees today Gotta love the January thaw!

Another busy work day for me but that's OK......keeps me out of trouble
I know a few days of this 'warmer' weather will have me thinking about gardening, etc. Ah, we can always dream...........

Wishing everyone a terrific AF Thursday - I'll be back.
Lav

[sdlovespackers]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Good Morning!!

Cyn- your presentation doesn't sound geely at all....in fact it sounds very interesting...I love opera though! For my HS graduation my mom took me to New York to see some shows on Broadway!! I've been back there another time or two since and just love it!!

OH-I can totally relate to the self talk and telling yourself you "deserve" that drink for 'doing so well'. Isn't it funny that we would consider that our reward?? How about treating yourself to a massage or new outfit or pair of shoes...why don't we ever say that?:H Great job on getting to your 30 days...I know you'll do it!!

Lil--BIG :l!! Chin up!! We love you!!

Lav--gardening? I can't even begin to imagine life without snow...I have a feeling it could be awhile before I see green again!! Yes, one can wish....

Dill--Been there, done that with the late night phone calls when drinking...never thought of writing notes down to myself though...probably couldn't have read them the next day anyway...yuck....SO glad those days are OVER!!!!

Red--you can get through this weekend!! I know you can do it!!:l

MM-I heard that after this season of Idol Simon was leaving too?? I like him and his tell it like it is mouth!! :H

I know I didn't get to everyone but my principal justed stopped in....yikes!!! So I better get to seeing some students....we had a suicide over at the HS yesterday so I spent a lot of time over there and missed a bunch of my own students! Sad deal! BUT then I came back and had to deal with a 1st grade boy that decided to bring mom one of mom's "battery operated toys" to school and show kids....that was one parent phone call I was SOOOOOOOO glad I didn't have to make!! Oh my job is never dull!!!
Have a great Thursday everyone!!!
SD

[sooty]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Hi everyone, lovely to see you and to be here with you.
Lil I'm feeling a bit down too - think its the time of year, gloomy days and several bereavement anniversaries around now for me ... its 5 years today since my beloved father died.
But we gotta keep going gang, things will pick up, the sun will come out again and this blasted cold weather will disappear!
Hope Thursday goes well for us all, see you later
love Sooty

[ladybirdheart]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

I am with you, Open, in that I took Lord Bird Heart to a plane this morning, and while he has always been neutral with regard to my drinking, I preferred to drink when I was alone and would look forward to these little drinking parties with myself. My brain has been kicking out intrusive thoughts about this without mercy lately and while just living with them can be a rather gloomy state, my efforts at distraction or sublimation are only moderately effective. So for those of you on the blue bus today, make room, I don?t think it travels too far and we can be in companionable silence (or Cyn can pipe in some exquisite Puccini for a proper sobbing mass bawl...the bawl ball). Sadness too shall fade. To everybody having a good day, go forth and bloom! Love Ladybird.

[lilmea]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Just checking in for the day. Thank you all so much for your encouragement. What a journey this is for us all isn't it?

LHB & Open-Remember when your hubbies are out of town, you are not alone. We are all here for you. Even if the bus is alittle blue right know, it's still chugging right alone.

Finding-I am so glad to see your little rainbow back on the thread.

Soots-Sad annaversaries are difficult especially this time of year. But your right, things will pick up. On word and up word!

had to deal with a 1st grade boy that decided to bring mom one of mom's "battery operated toys" to school and show kids....

SD-:H: :H: I'm just not sure what to say to that. I would like to see the look on the mom's face when she got that call!

Dill-Thank for for the quote and the link. I sent the link on to my daughter and SIL. They have a pug.

Hello to Lav, Mm, Red, Mandaley,Cyn, I hope I didn't forget anyone.

[Lavande]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Good evening friends!

Wondering if we should schedule another chat time for ourselves.......I think we all ended up giggling after the first one. This could be just the thing needed to chase away the January blues :yougo::yougo::yougo:

I focused on work today, got a lot done but still have a lot more to do. Well, there's always tomorrow, right???

Well, I'm tired at this point so I'm just gonna call it a day!
:l to everyone & a big dose of Lavan-itude too!
We will not let these winter blues steer us off track - right????

Have a good night everyone!
Lav

[spedteach]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Okay LBH, Lil, Sooty, I'm on that blue/ blues bus too. Thinking about this year as my first year of sobriety. A year ago I was just beginning a frightening downward spiral that lasted for months, with only some brief periods of respite. January in particular was bad. Hard not to think about it. The people I hurt last January are letting me know they haven't forgotten about it. Sometimes it feels like it will take forever for anyone to ever trust me again. More importantly, for me to ever trust myself. Oh yeah, that blues bus is a comin"

OH, LBH..my husband went out of town last August, my last binge.

And oh Dill, I can so relate to the phone call thing. Taking notes, always wondering if I had a little slur going on in my voice. Hey, did you ever read the notes the next day and not quite be able to figure them out?

Whew, my cure for blues bus, maybe it should be the blues train, is sleep.
Tomorrow, come what may, is still another day.
Good night to all.
Shelley

[lodestar]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Present and accounted for, friends. Too tired to read. Peaceful af sleep & wake to all.

[sooty]

January:Just Do It~AF~Week 2

Morning gang, just a quickie cos I've got things to do today and might not get on till late this afternoon.
I hope everyone who is/was feeling blue is a bit brighter today and that a sleep has helped.
Its helped me and I'm so pleased that i got thru without a drink!
Lav another chat would be a splendid idea - how does saturday or sunday afternoon suit folks - about 4pm ish your time would be 9pm ish my time ....I'm available. Or in fact any other evening in the week is fine with me at about that time I was just thinking that for those who work the weekend is probably easier - anyway its a lovely idea, hope we get to do it.
Ok I'm going to face the day now (9.30a.m ish here) have been up for a couple of hours but not actually done much! Retirement rocks!!!
Hope I didn't depress anyone, its so good to know you're all out there.
The blues bus is going back into the garage - the happy sleigh is back out again albeit a bit shaky! Hang on everyone, we're storming into Friday :goodjob:
See you later
love Sooty