July AA Thread

[retteacher]

July AA Thread

Absolutely! It's so much the better life sober. That momentary buzz is not worth all the misery that goes with it. M

[Stargazerlily]

July AA Thread

Mary, you explained (beautifully) that life on life's terms means acceptance and working through whatever the situation may be. Without a crutch, whether it be alcohol, food, etc. Having a program and turning to that higher power plus having support is the way to a better life. You have been wonderful to share your journey with all of us. Have a great day.

[retteacher]

July AA Thread

SGL: Thank you so much for the lovely feedback! I enjoy coming here & interacting w/everyone, whether AA members or not. My active alcoholism thrived on isolation, & MWO is one way to break that. M

[witts end]

July AA Thread

I just hope I don't loose the will power to say no or go and have that first drink for I know I wont stop at 1

I'm very pleased to say I now have 7 weeks up my sleeve and feel great ... evrythings great

[retteacher]

July AA Thread

WE: Yes, that one drink is what separates me from a normal drinker. I also cannot stop w/one. I've seen my husb, a normie, drink just one...I think: "Why bother?" Normal drinkers do not think that way. So, I don't take that one drink. It would set me off on a real run. The obsession would take hold, & I'd be off & running. 7 weeks is a wonderful accomplishment. Pat yourself on the back.

One of the things I do when I get tempted is to remember the bad old days. I don't romanticize my drinking. I try to remember:
-the blackouts.
-the vomiting.
-the passing out.
-the hangovers.
-the shame/remorse.
-the lying/betrayal.
-etc.

When I start thinking a sparkling cool glass of white wine would be great, I recall the above. It would be inevitable, because I do not stop w/one. That's a fact.

M

[witts end]

July AA Thread

have to admit was tempted last night but thankfully it passed

[retteacher]

July AA Thread

WE: There's a toolbox of strategies on this forum to help in times of temptation. Good for you for overcoming. M

[witts end]

July AA Thread

I have survived another night

[retteacher]

July AA Thread

WE: We are all in the same boat as you are. I'm taking my sobriety one day at a time. I try not to look ahead too far. I too survived last night, though it was easy. We had another AA couple for dinner & served water & selzer. It was a fun evening wo/any wine/beer/spirits. The evening ended before 10 which was fine w/all of us...we're older folks. Anyhow, keep going. Use any strategies that work for you.

I have my regular BB meeting tonight. I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends. That's what keeps me sober one day at a time.

M

[witts end]

July AA Thread

way to go retteacher 1 day at a time
surprising how we can enjoy a night even now you we are af and can remember it the next morning

[retteacher]

July AA Thread

I love our sober fun. We have dinner parties, pot lucks, picnics, etc. I don't miss the drinking at all. It's different, as nobody gets even a little bit sloppy & repetitive. We don't draw the evening out in order to keep drinking. I still go to dinners w/non-AA, normal drinking friends. It's not the same as completely alcohol-free. Even after 1 or 2 drinks, people change. Sometimes it's a little difficult being the ONLY totally non-drinking person in the room. I don't go to real bashes w/lots of out-of-control drinking. Weddings w/open bars can be difficult. Usually we leave before the real drinking starts. I'm usually the designated driver. My husb is a very moderate drinker...I've only seen him drunk once after the birth of our daughter 40 years ago. That makes not drinking much easier for me.

We're going away for a couple of days. Stay well & cool everyone. Mary

[Cinders]

July AA Thread

Hi Mary and all other AAers,

I haven't been to an AA meeting in over a week. I am feeling very bad about it but ended up sick at the end of the week and unable to even make it to my all "girls" AA meeting. The one event every week I look forward to.

The other meetings are good but they are at a time inconvenient for my husband. I am going to figure out which meetings I want to go to on a weekly basis and just schedule them so he knows when I will be home in the evenings and when I will be gone.

The meetings help keep me grounded and serene. I am at risk when I don't get to them regularly.

Speaking of "one is not enough," once when I was in Florida at my folks, I helped them move into a new condo. Someone had put all their liquor into a big box and it ended up in the bedroom I was staying in. Incredibly, when I opened that box, I started drinking and did not get out of that binge until all the bottles were empty. We are talking enough alcohol to stock a small bar!! It only took me two or three days to get through them all.

Boy, I never ever want to get back to that kind of non-existence again!!

I'll take life on life's terms over that any day.

Love,
Cindi

[witts end]

July AA Thread

hello everyone another day sober .....yipee

[Determinator]

July AA Thread

good job Witts End!

well, what a meeting today. literally last minute they elected me to be the speaker and share my story. wow! talk about being on the spot. went really well though and my story flowed out. my young formative years as a yank in Australia, and my misguided teenage spiral into full blown alcoholism and all the trials, tribulation since. the group really connected with my story which was so nice.
my topic was serenity. Cindi, I'm also more serene when I attend regularly. a great reminder in so many ways and a great fellowship.

Mary, enjoy your away time

Betty, what you up to?

be well loves

[retteacher]

July AA Thread

I cannot stay away from meetings. I actually try to get to a meeting per day, buy I usually end up w/about 5/6 meetings per week. The meetings remind me about the principles of the program & keep me in touch w/my friends in the fellowship. I'm lucky because my husband goes w/me to some of the open meetings & attends alanon. He understands how important meetings are for my sobriety.

Deter: Telling our stories is so important to us & to the rest of the fellowship...especially newcomers. Good for you for doing it! I'm very proud of you for doing it. I'm sure you helped someone in the group.

Good luck everyone. Mary