October AA Thread

[retteacher]

Hi Everyone:

It's a beautiful autumn here in New England, & I can actually enjoy it as a sober person. I think the one thing I love most about being sober is that my mind is clear of guilt, remorse, & shame. The worst part of the drinking life for me was all the hiding & deception. Of course, the hangovers were absolutely killer, but the lying & betrayal was just killing me spiritually & emotionally.

My husband's Alanon group had its anniversary party last night, & I went w/him. I met his friends in the program & had a nice time. I had been to that meeting before this, as our son had a problem w/alcohol when he was younger. It's a good program, but AA is for me right now.

I can't express my gratitude to AA & MWO enough for helping get/stay sober. I take great pride in my sobriety. This is something I never want to let go of. I've been thinking about it a lot, as I'm getting ready to celebrate one year.

Have a wonderful day. And again, you don't have to be a member of AA to share here. Any kind of encouragement or thoughts are welcome. Also, if there is a problem simmering in your life, it's probably a good idea to unburden yourself of it.

Mary

[NoSugar]

October AA Thread

Hi, Mary

I like reading this thread especially because those of you who post here regularly are so kind to one another. You all seem very at peace with the new lives you're making for yourselves.

Congratulations on achieving a year of AF living in a couple of days. It seems like you are so aware of what you gave up last time, you'll not make that mistake again. I so appreciate people sharing stories such as yours and allowing others the opportunity to learn from you.

I watched Robin Williams on The Daily Show last week and he described how after being sober for 20 years, one day a little bottle of Jack Daniels on a shelf in a gas station looked like a good thing to drink and he was immediately back to where he had been 2 decades before. The segment is of course funny but for those of us here, quite a cautionary tale!

Take care, NS

retteacher;1563189 wrote: Hi Everyone:

It's a beautiful autumn here in New England, & I can actually enjoy it as a sober person. I think the one thing I love most about being sober is that my mind is clear of guilt, remorse, & shame. The worst part of the drinking life for me was all the hiding & deception. Of course, the hangovers were absolutely killer, but the lying & betrayal was just killing me spiritually & emotionally.

My husband's Alanon group had its anniversary party last night, & I went w/him. I met his friends in the program & had a nice time. I had been to that meeting before this, as our son had a problem w/alcohol when he was younger. It's a good program, but AA is for me right now.

I can't express my gratitude to AA & MWO enough for helping get/stay sober. I take great pride in my sobriety. This is something I never want to let go of. I've been thinking about it a lot, as I'm getting ready to celebrate one year.

Have a wonderful day. And again, you don't have to be a member of AA to share here. Any kind of encouragement or thoughts are welcome. Also, if there is a problem simmering in your life, it's probably a good idea to unburden yourself of it.

Mary

[caysea]

October AA Thread

Hi All
This tread is a daily read for me even though I don't post. Sugar I saw Robin Williams and even though he could make fun of himself he realized in a heart beat he was back to where he had left off. This is what would happen to me and any other alkie that thinks they can start a new relationship with al. At this time in my recovery I don't have cravings that stopped years ago. I do at times recognize situations I would have been drinking in the past to numb out emotions but al has been removed from my life as an option for this. Boredom or many other aspects of life can be the reason to just have one. Staying in touch with a program be it AA. MWO or any other always keeps al in its place for me.
It is from the many experiences of members here that has enabled me to live a sober life. We learn from each other and above all support each other because we understand. My wife was watching the show Robin was on but she couldn't understand the having one drink leading back to relapse. I certainly could!!!
Thank you all for your honesty on this tread. It is the foundation for our recovery.

Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
AF. 5-16-08

[bettygirl]

October AA Thread

yes, one drink only makes me mad, it has to be 6 or more to get me where I want to be, and I just can't do that anymore. anyone who is honest with themselves about their alcoholism will admit that they can not have one...it took me years of wishing and hoping I could just have a few, or drink like a "normie", or just drink at a party, to realize I CAN'T!!! :H I am now good with that and I fully understand and accept that if I ever have one drink, I will be off and running and right back to where I was when I got to "the rooms". it's a good realization...and inever want to forget it, so thank you for reminding me everyday, and thank you for sharing! it's great to have new voices mixed in with Mary's hope and strength.

I am going out to lunch with my sponsor and her sponsor to celebrate a year of sobriety tomorrow...I quit drinking a few weeks before I started AA on oct 6th, so we figured we're ok celebrating tomorrow (the only day we can all get together!).


have a great day all...:h

[retteacher]

October AA Thread

Everyone: First, I'm going to look for the Robin Williams interview on demand. I hope I can find it. I totally understand the insanity of the first drink. When I relapsed, I told myself that it would only be a sip in order to fall asleep. Well, that sip triggered the alcoholic allergy & the obsession to have more set in immediately. I am so grateful to be sober, but I can never get complacent. I cannot think that maybe I might not be an alcoholic just because I didn't fall to the depths some people did. That would have been in my future had I continued. Thank you all for sharing. Mary

PS: Thank you for complimenting this thread Sugar. We do try for support rather than any kind of tough love approach. We've all been down low & nobody is an expert. We're all in the same boat.

[caysea]

October AA Thread

Hi all
Congrats Mary on your 1 year anniversary. I am sure it was special for you at your meeting.
Will be looking forward to hearing about it. Although 1 year the way you view it I see you as a person who has been sober and living a sober lifestyle for a long time.

Stay Healthy and Keep Fighting
AF 5-16-08

[corgipups]

October AA Thread

bettygirl;1563244 wrote: yes, one drink only makes me mad, it has to be 6 or more to get me where I want to be, and I just can't do that anymore. anyone who is honest with themselves about their alcoholism will admit that they can not have one...it took me years of wishing and hoping I could just have a few, or drink like a "normie", or just drink at a party, to realize I CAN'T!!! :H I am now good with that and I fully understand and accept that if I ever have one drink, I will be off and running and right back to where I was when I got to "the rooms". it's a good realization...and inever want to forget it, so thank you for reminding me everyday, and thank you for sharing! it's great to have new voices mixed in with Mary's hope and strength.

I am going out to lunch with my sponsor and her sponsor to celebrate a year of sobriety tomorrow...I quit drinking a few weeks before I started AA on oct 6th, so we figured we're ok celebrating tomorrow (the only day we can all get together!).


have a great day all...:h

i totally agree 1 drink is one 2 many and yes it is great to be sober and free of guilt
regardless as to what everyone thinks af is th only way to be

[retteacher]

October AA Thread

caysea: I feel great today. I'm going to receive my one year medallion at my Sat. meeting...my friend will give it to me. I didn't relapse for a long time, but it was very important to me that I reset my sobriety date. Dishonesty is such a huge part of alcoholism for me. I must to be rigorously honest now in sobriety. It's so lovely to know that this thread is appreciated by some of you that don't go to AA. It's not necessary to be in the fellowship to get sober & be happy. Keep coming & don't feel shy about sharing.

Mary

[blondie]

October AA Thread

Mary
congratulations on your one year AF and for your words of wisdom on this thread - I like to read it often.

[bettygirl]

October AA Thread

happiest of birthdays, mary! :goodjob:

thanks for sharing your story freely and honestly. you are a good example of what to do if you relapse, and that is get back up and start again, be honest and get support!

have a great day all!

[retteacher]

October AA Thread

Thank you for the congrats. I feel good about the one year, but I KNOW I must not get complacent. I must keep identifying (rather than comparing). I must keep my sobriety first. I must be of service. Otherwise I go back to a lifestyle that was a slow death. In my case, at my advanced age, the death might not be so slow. I'm looking forward to tomorrow night. I hope I can be of help to someone who might be struggling. One of the things I've heard around the rooms: It's easier to stay sober than to get sober...especially the second time around. I can attest to that. It wasn't easy to come back. I almost didn't.

Mary

[retteacher]

October AA Thread

I did get my one year coin. It felt quite emotional, because I remember sitting in that same room last year w/tears of disappointment in my eyes. I feel I've crossed a threshold again. One day at a time.

[Determinator]

October AA Thread

Mary! xxxxxxoooooo how wonderful. just so happy to hear of your year.

Betty, hope you enjoy this video as much as i did:

A Scientific Description of God | StormCloudsGathering.com

also check out 'the universe explained in 3 minutes' both very thought provoking and fun.

[retteacher]

October AA Thread

Hi Everyone:

I just got back from an AM meeting. I'm not a morning person, so it's an effort for me to get up so early. However, I'm always glad when I do. Today, I heard a speaker whom I've heard before. He's great! He came from pretty far down to become one of the most respected AA members in our area.

I'm still enjoying the satisfaction of accumulating a year of unbroken sobriety after the relapse I had. Every day I must remind myself that my sanity, spirituality & physical health depend upon staying sober. I know that helping others & constant monitoring of my own behavior (i.e. character defects & shortcomings) is a daily process.

Mary

[bettygirl]

October AA Thread

awesome mary! im not a morning person either...

det, ill check the links out when I get a moment, thanks!

well, I made it a year too...whew! I will get my coin this Thursday at my homegroup from my sponsor. I was at a meeting last night and got lots of hugs and good vibes for my actual birthday...good stuff!

have a great one all!

:h