MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

[dill]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

Weeding the Garden:
By the time I had reached Step Three I had been freed
of my dependence on alcohol, but bitter experience has
shown me that continuous sobriety requires continuous
effort. Every now and then I pause to take a good look
at my progress. More and more of my garden is weeded
each time I look, but each time I also find new weeds
sprouting where I thought I had made my final pass with
the blade. As I head back to get the newly sprouted
weed (it's easier when they are young), I take a moment
to admire how lush the growing vegetables and flowers
are, and my labors are rewarded. My sobriety grows and
bears fruit. -Daily Recovery Readings

This passage brought LBH with all her various gardening tools to mind and seemed appropriate in light of all this blossom and bird talk in anticipation of Spring!

Red, I have more stress than anxiety and mine is mostly work related. I don't take anything for it, but I do try to give myself small breaks throughout the day where I just breath or just find a quiet place to sit a moment and close my eyes and try to get centered.

Sped, Congrats on 7 months! I completely understand your feelings about Spring and Summer. The days are longer and there is more time to fill, so it takes extra effort. I like the winter for its short days, but not the cold! Summer is coming, ready or not! Let's be grateful for a sober summer.

Hello Rusty, Sheepish, Mario, IAD, Sooty, Lav, Lil, Grunch, Raven, Chill, Overit, Cyn, Spuddle, Lode?, Sky?, Mandalay?, Keep on marching!

[dill]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

OMG~ I just looked outside and saw the moon! I saw the moon because the sky is clear! We're going to have sunshine today! It's been forever!

[Lavande]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

Good morning March friends,

That's right Dill - the sun is shining Thank God, what a wonderful sight!

Greetings Rustop & Mario! Mario, stick with this very supportive group. We do a little whining & complaining from time to time but for the most part I think we're pretty positive & moving forward

Sooty, now that we've taught you all about humpday.......... There are lots of Americanisms we can teach you

Red, turning 50? You mean 29, right???

I really believe getting your anxiety under control is a must!! I wouldn't be here, nearly 1 year AF if I hadn't taken care of my anxiety/depression problem. Rx AD's didn't work for me, they don't work for a lot of people. I put myself on an herbal product called Amoryn & it did the trick. Once I had the anxiety beaten way down I was able to quit drinking without a big problem. Once I quit drinking the rest of my anxiety disappeared. Do whatever you have to do but getting rid of the anxiety is key to your success

Wishing everyone a terrific AF Thursday!
I'll be back later.

Lav

[Raven.joy]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

hey lav, if you are ever in uk email me. Hope springs eternal. come over do. I saw daffodil shoots today.

[Chillgirl]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

Greeting Mad Marchers :H

Lil - So pleased to hear about your NF sucess, its a tough one.

Sped - Since living in Portugal for 8 years my summers have been associated with much drinking. Long hot nights in beach bars drinking copious bottles of chilled rose wine. Drifting from one party to the next... I am SO looking forward to my 1st sober summer here, i feel like im experiencing everything for the 1st time and its so exciting.....

Lav - Glad you are at last seeing signs of spring. We still have it unseasonally cool and wet.
How was that spicy bean soup?

Sooty - Your house must be sparkling by now!

Dill - Loved your daily reading on weeding the garden! A great reminder that we need to tend our lives and not let them overgrow or we have a bigger job on our hands...

Me - I have this saying when im happy that "im smiling on the inside" as well as the outside. This pretty much sums up how im feeling right now I read a post about the difference between abstainence and sobriety. Abstaining gives the feeling that you are having to do without something where sobriety has a joyous conotation. I for one am thoroughly enjoying my sobriety

[ladybirdheart]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

Skipped out on the usual and went out for a yummy breakfast in nearby downtown and a walk in our lovely community botanic gardens. I love that place, sap was on the move as the were sandhill cranes in a vivid blue sky. Red, anxiety has been a huge part of my life since I was a little kid, at its best it has been a motivator or sorts and at its worst it has been so unsettling that it has limited my very self awareness and ability to act adaptively. Drinking seemed to genuinely help me enjoy life for many years until I started getting rebound anxiety during the night and following day which led me here, and while not drinking has not cured me, it does, like hopefulness, allow the ability to act in ways that help a lot. I still clench up but it doesn?t last as long. New skills, new thoughts. I sure like your avatar Raven. Smile on Chill. Love, Ladybird.

[overittoday]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

Hi everyone,
Happy AF Friday....
Dill i love the 'weeding the garden' - daily recovery reading. It reminded me to stop and smile at my achievements. We arn't real good at that are we? and it is a real important step to do so. Thanks for the reminder.

I just finished a five day insentive course which i am really proud of and couldn't have done if i was still drinking - I am proud of that.
I have lost about 5 kilos in one month i am really happy about that.
I wake up without anxiety - that feels wonderful.
I feel more and more comfortable each that - i am greatful for that

These are my instant sobrity rewards and i believe they will just keep on getting better.
Have a great weekend.
Look forward to sharing week 2 of Magical March with you all.:l

[Chillgirl]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

Hey Overit - roud:

one month AF.... wooo wooo! keep on marching it gets better and better....

[mario]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

hi march marchers great to read all the positive posts, well done everybody

[lilmea]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

Hi Everyone,

Dill-You were right it was a lovely, sunny day here. It was so nice I actually managed to get outside and take a walk.

LHB-Your trip to the botanic gardens sound so relaxing and peaceful. Just a great way to spend an afternoon.

Red-I've had terrible anxiety most of my life. When I first stopped drinking, it seemed unbearable for a while. I did take SamE for several months. The more af time I get, the more I am able to live today and not project and worry about the future which in turns helps me to feel less anxious.

Abstaining gives the feeling that you are having to do without something where sobriety has a joyous conotation. I for one am thoroughly enjoying my sobriety

Chilli-I am also enjoying my sobriety!!!

Overit-I love your gratitude list. Just keep adding to it. It really does get better.

Mario-did you manage to get your bicycle ride in?

Hello to Sheepish, IAD, Sooty, Sped, Lav, Grunch, Raven, Cyn and everyone else who follows.

Wishing everyone a peaceful, af evening.

[IAD]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

Have a nice day Marchers ! ( More animals Chill....Ha! ) IAD

[sooty]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

Lovely picture IAD - thanks. My cats do exactly as they please so I really understand the quote
A good day has been completed I'm glad to say. The weather is cold, sunny and crisp and more dry weather is forecast for the next few days.
I hope the snow is going/gone and spring is with us all
love Sooty

[Lavande]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

Evening March friends,

Raven - I wish I could visit the UK! There are so many places I would like to see.......one of these days!

Chill - the Cajun 15 Bean soup was very good! It's one of the featured recipes this week on fatfreevegan.com

LBH, do you ever wonder if some of us are just born with the tendency to develop excessive anxiety? Or does anxiety develop as a result of dealing 'life'???? I'm happy that I beat mine back with the herbs

overit - hope you treated yourself to something nice to celebrate your 1 month AF!

Greetings Mario & IAD. Keep the jokes & funny pics coming - they're very entertaining!!

Lil, Sooty, hope you are both doing well. Bring on Spring

Wishing everyone a cozy night!
Lav

[redhibiscus]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

Good morning to all 3M's.

Thanks to dill, lbh, lil, lav, and all who responded to my thoughts about anxiety. It appears that worrying is a sport for some of us. Yesterday I was extremely anxious, but as the day rolled on, it left me. Sometimes I wonder if the caffeine in the morning sets me off.

I have two upcoming "going out to dinners" and I am going AF (of course). One is with other couples, and one is just with females. So, I will have water with lemon and if someone is so rude as to question my choice of drink, I will say, I just don't want alchohol tonight, or I have my reasons, or I gave it up for Lent. What would be best? And do I care? Really, you would think at my age, people would just mind their own business, and sometimes they do. Other times people are so into your business. I am starting to get an attitude, and I think that is good. I never question others on their food, drink, clothing choices. It is not my business.

Dill, I loved the reading about weeds in our gardens. It is such a good meditation, to consider the things we allow in our lives that we should immediately take care of. Thoughts come immediately to mind. Here I am trying to eat healthy and I allow negative thoughts into my mind, something that drags me down. So today, I will start focusing on positive things. :thanks:

Lav, how long did you take the Amoryn and where is the best price? I am really considering ordering some as I am tired of the extreme feelings I have been having lately.

LBH, it was wonderful hearing about your afternoon in a botanic garden. We have one in our neck of the woods, and I may go there once spring comes, in about two months.:H

I am extremely grateful that it is Friday. I commit to an AF weekend. Sending everyone peace and harmony.:h

[Grunchbug]

MAGICAL MARCH MARCH - WEEK ONE

Well, made it through almost 1 week w/o out too much problem. Now the weekend is ahead of me - its my usual escape from it all so making it AF will be interesting. I will need to keep myself occupied. Oh Boy here we go.:dancingskel: