January Generosity - week 1

[Chillgirl]

HAPPY NEW YEAR WONDERFUL PEOPLE!

I hope as you are all awaking across the world you are feeling good and ready to take on the challenges the year ahead will no doubt bring us. We are a bunch of peaceful warriors and between us there isnt much we cant solve or deal with and together we are quite a force to be reckoned with. I know my 2013 will be better for having you all in it.

Last night Catbuddy resloved to be kinder to herself and it got me thinking about the importance of kindness and generosity. So I hope you like our new title but I cant think of a better way to start a New Year than by being generous to ourselves and to others.

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness ~ Dalai Lama

Many of you will know that today is extra special to me, I celebrate 3 wonderful glorious years of sobriety. I could not have achieved it without being kind to myself.

[rustop59]

January Generosity - week 1

[COLOR=Magenta]HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE
[COLOR=rgb(160, 82, 45)][COLOR=Black]

Thanks for starting us off Chill and no better person to do it. Enjoy your special day. Big hello to everyone else.

Rustop

[Guitarista]

January Generosity - week 1

Hi Chilli, Rustop and alll Generosity generators!

It's a great title, and for those reasons mentioned. Being kind to ourselves is a habit/routine most of us, well, i for one have to remember to work on daily. I've been more accustomed to self abuse through booze. Being kind and respecting oneself is a great starting point to build a strong foundation for growth.

Congratulations again on 3 yrs Chilli! Bravo mate!

[dill]

January Generosity - week 1

Happy New Year!!

Chill, thanks for getting us started and for the name. I think the name is perfect! It's a daily reminder for us as we log in to be generous and kind to ourselves and others. Love it! And a huge Congratulations! on 3 years!!!!!

Hello Rustop and G!

Lav, I loved the poster. I am "meant to be" here with all of you and I am grateful for you being here.

You all know how I love quotes, but I don't have any need to look for one today. I am simply going to pull the perfect quote from Papmom yesterday:

May we be kind to ourselves first and foremost, love our fellow persons, think twice before making judgments, and celebrate this amazing thing called life.

So well said! Let's all live it! Attached files [img]/converted_files/2017959=7286-attachment.jpg[/img] [img]/converted_files/2017959=7287-attachment.gif[/img]

[dill]

January Generosity - week 1

Happy New Year!!

Chill, thanks for getting us started and for the name. I think the name is perfect! It's a daily reminder for us as we log in to be generous and kind to ourselves and others. Love it! And a huge Congratulations! on 3 years!!!!!

Hello Rustop and G!

Lav, I loved the poster. I am "meant to be" here with all of you and I am grateful for you being here.

You all know how I love quotes, but I don't have any need to look for one today. I am simply going to pull the perfect quote from Papmom yesterday:

May we be kind to ourselves first and foremost, love our fellow persons, think twice before making judgments, and celebrate this amazing thing called life.

So well said. Let's all live it.:h

[ThreeDogNight]

January Generosity - week 1

Good morning, everyone and Happy New Year!

Congratulations, Chill! Posted on the other thread, too. Three years. Wonderful! And I LOVE the title! And Pap's quote and Lav's poster! Am sure going to try to live by those words.

I am so grateful to be starting 2013 on day 40 AF. Not going to focus so much on counting the days, but being mindful of each new day. I am also grateful for each of you.:thanks:

I am going to brave the winds and get out for a two mile walk in a while. It is about 25 right now--"warmer" than yesterday, but getting colder as the day goes on, and into the single digits tonight and the next couple of nights. BRRR!!!

Am going to see if I can get Girl Interrupted on Netflix today, as it was recommended on another Thread. Would like to go to a movie theater to see Flight, but not sure where it is playing, and the closest cinema is 45 minutes away. And I want to stay close to our old doggy. He is up and moving and ate his breakfast with gusto, so hope he will be around for a bit longer!

Going to PM Rusty with more of my story

Wishing you all a great AF start to 2013!

:lTDN

[Stargazerlily]

January Generosity - week 1

Happy New Year!!!!

Good morning and what a busy new thread. It took me a while to catch up with yesterday's posts.
I had a really busy New Year's Eve, running around visiting a few old friends an hour away, then coming home, cleaning and getting ready for a movie and later hanging out and eating our snacks. It was so much fun, and even better to be AF and waking up feeling like a million bucks.

Chill, loved your year's reflection, it will be interesting to see what you decide for 2013. You have come so far from a year ago, when you lived in a place you hated and had a job that was not for you. It takes so much courage to make changes, sometimes easier to just stay in a rut. Coffee and carrot cake were delicious I bet. Being good to yourself is the first step, for we have to love and take care of ourselves if we are to be loving to others. Thanks for reminding me. Also, congrats on three total years AF.

Lav, always think NYE is overrated. Wish you could have gone out for dinner. Hope the Cymbalta works for YB, but talk therapy with meds has the best outcome. Maybe with less fear, he'll be open to work on things. Hope your day is peaceful and filled with whatever you wish.

Rusty, it is not a big deal to not drink when others are. I think it can sometimes be blown up in our own heads. Last night our friends brought over drinks, and we had mixed nonalcoholic drinks. Just, "what are you drinking?" and that was that. They had two drinks in three hours, hardly a drunken binge. So lovely you met with your friend the next day and had such a great time. I too met with my friend from the past and had breakfast, it was so great to talk and catch up. It is hard sometimes to not worry about the future, I have an issue with working myself up, and have come up with this method. I purposefully will recognize my thoughts, feelings, and then put my attention on new positive thoughts, happy times in my life, etc. It helps me to calm down. Have a happy day.

Dill, one more semester of work and you are done, how lovely. Thanks for all your quotes and posts.

Hello to Catbuddy, TDN, Cyn, Pap, Rustop, Guitarista, and all. Happy New Year!!!!!

[Chillgirl]

January Generosity - week 1

dill;1435969 wrote:
I am simply going to pull the perfect quote from Papmom yesterday:

May we be kind to ourselves first and foremost, love our fellow persons, think twice before making judgments, and celebrate this amazing thing called life.

Dill thank you for bringing these beautiful words by Papmom to our attention and how absolutely perfect they are.

I dont know how to copy Lav's notice but it also deserves to be reposted:-

Whatever happened over this past year,
be thankful for where it brought you,
where you are is where you're meant to be!

[Lavande]

January Generosity - week 1

HAPPY 2013 EVERYONE!!!!!

Chill, CONGRAT & many hugs to you today on your 3 year AF anni
Wishing you all the best!

New Year greetings to Rustop & Mr G!

Dill, my virtual twin sister, I wish you continued mind peace in this new & exciting year of your retirement

TDN, awesome on your 40 days! Just stick close to us, we will do this together.
Glad your doggie had a good morning.

Catbuddy mentioned the predominance of females on the MWO forum. Yes, we have noticed this before. I still think it's because it's more natural for women to reach out to one another for comfort, support & advice. Afterall, we do love to talk, don't we? :H

It seems I am starting my new year in the kindness mode.
YB is here, sick as a dog with some respiratory funk. He always seems to migrate here when he's sick, doesn't he? I am in nurse Lav mode ~ once again.

Wishiing everyone a great aF start to 2013!
Lav

[Rusty]

January Generosity - week 1

Happy New Year, Friends!

Chill-CONGRATULATIONS ON 3 YEARS AF!!!:yay::happy::wd: What an achievement. You and Lav have the most sober time on our thread. What an inspiration to us all. Thank you for starting us off with January Generosity. I think the people on this thread typify the word generosity...absolutely. Thank you for starting us off in January with positive words.

TDN-Congratulations on your 40 days!!:goodjob: I am glad you had a nice time with your friends, but so sorry about your elderly dog's sickness.

Pap-I hope you are feeling better and I just loved your reflection. May we be kind to ourselves first and foremost, love our fellow persons, think twice before making judgments, and celebrate this amazing thing called life.
I need to keep those words as my mantra in the New Year.

Mr.G-Great to see you....it is almost January 2 where you are, I believe. I loved your mission statement: Being kind and respecting oneself is a great starting point to build a strong foundation for growth.

Dill-I, too, am "meant to be here," and I am grateful for your friendship.

Lav-once a caregiver, always a caregiver, right? I hope you have a peaceful day and YB is taking his meds. My mom was a nurse and she nursed more people when she got out of nursing than she did when she was a nurse. EVERYONE ran to her when they were sick, or thinking they were getting sick, just like you (HUGS) We all appreciate you here.

Star-no, it really is not a big deal to have a party and be AF. Fortunately, my friends don't mind bringing their own booze as I provide a hearty meal and the house is all decorated, with a fire going strong and a festive mood in the room. I'm glad you hooked up with a friend, too.

Catbuddy-thanks for letting us know where you live. I love California!

Yesterday, I did absolutely nothing physical but sent TDN a long PM that I had to edit 4 times because it was too long, and there is a character limit on PMs. I also wrote thank you notes for the lovely Christmas gifts I received. Then, I spent the better part of the day on the phone, talking to people who had received my letters, asking for their forgiveness (SNIFF). I didn't know people cared for me so much. When I told my mom I had written letters to people, she said, "YOU'RE NOT IN AA!!!!" :H My mom wants me to move on with my life as my drinking days of yore have been forgotten by her and my family, it seems. Well, that's a good thing, right?

Ok, no more talking about working out....I truly am going to go today. Not like yesterday! HAHAHAHA!

Happy New Year to Rustop, LBH, Cyn, Kaslo, and anyone I may have missed...may you enjoy this first day of 2013 AF!

[Lavande]

January Generosity - week 1

Happy New Year to you Star & Chill

Does everyone know that Hippyman has 99 AF days today? :yay:

[Catbuddy]

January Generosity - week 1

Happy New Year, my friends.

Lav, I think you're right. Women do naturally reach out for support. I asked in part as my sober sister is married to a man who drinks too much, and she wanted to know if MWO may be helpful to him. That was an unexpected twist!

Chill, huge congratulations and thanks for being a part of our abbers thread. Three years is huge.

Hippyman, 99 days - fabulous! Ready for the big 3 digits?

Okay, going out to enjoy a beautiful day soon. Finally, it's not freezing here.

Cat

[Lavande]

January Generosity - week 1

Hey Cat,
There are plenty of men around MWO. Sometimes I think we accidently scare them a little :H
Now G is a good example of a guy who does not scare off easily
Maybe if your BIL just takes a look around the website.......
Of course I do believe people need to want to quit, pushing does not work!
Enjoy your day outside. It's cloudy here on the east coast but it's 41 degrees & the snow is melting!!!

[dill]

January Generosity - week 1

I have a theory about why so many women are on MWO and that is this: Women are less ?out there? in their behaviors. Many of the women on here have recognized they have a problem but it hasn?t become public or obvious to others because they have kept it secret. Therefore they seek help on this anonymous forum, not having had to confront the issue publicly in their virtual worlds. I?m sure there are other reasons why it?s mostly women as well. The afore mentioned reason is why I chose MWO.

Catbuddy, I?d say MWO would help anyone, male or female, IF they want to make the change. There is so much information and support.

Hippyman, well done on 99!!

Rusty, that is an interesting comment from your mom. You must be doing so well that she has decided those days are water under the bridge. I wonder if she appreciates the depth of struggle you went through to get where you are, and the effort that goes into maintaining sobriety. What do you think?

[Rusty]

January Generosity - week 1

Hippy-CONGRATULATIONS ON 99 DAYS AF!!!:yay::thumbs:

Dill-I agree with your opinion about why there are so many women on MWO and how they prefer an anonymous forum. I am one of those women. Regarding my mom's comment, the reason she feels the way she does is because for her, the decision to drink or not to drink is simply mind over matter. Does she really know the depth of my struggle? Absolutely not. I want it that way. I caused her enough pain when my drinking became dangerous, and I never ever want to worry her again. When I am struggling, I come here.