Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

[narilly]

Good job not looking at the sun Lil B

It's Friday tomorrow, yay! Looking forward to the weekend. It will be a busy day at work but that's ok.
My friend is sick right now with kidney problems. She had some kind of infection and is actually peeing blood. She is being treated by the kidney specialist. This just reminds me of how important it is to stay healthy and to take care of my innards! As I have said before, my worst fear is ruining my kidneys. Anyway, I am sure my friend will get better, it is worrisome though.

Have a great sleep tonight Gloamers.
Cowboy, if you are lurking at all, here is a big hug.

[Pavati]

Hi, Gloamers (where is that Cowboy? And G?)

Nar - I love your cheery posts. But not saccharine - just an honest love for life comes through. So sorry about your friend, and yes, HEALTH is an important reason for staying sober.

Yea, J-Vo - that's great that your son spoke up for himself. Glad you're feeling better.

I WAY overbooked myself this weekend. Good thing it is a three day weekend here. I am out Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun nights. Not good for me at all, even though it is all fun.

I'm toddling off to bed. Happy SOBER weekend, all.

xo
Pav

[little beagle]

I have been doing a lot of thinking this week. I am proud of all of us here. So many people do not make it, do not find a way to help themselves out of this thing called addiction. I have to get ready for work, but I'm going to post more later.

[scottish lass]

I have been doing a lot of thinking this week. I am proud of all of us here. So many people do not make it, do not find a way to help themselves out of this thing called addiction. I have to get ready for work, but I'm going to post more later.

LB - this thread has such huge success - it is pretty special to belong to this group. As Narilly has said sometimes I have regretted it as it would be so hard to post a day 1, but people are able to come back and keep trying - we have so much success in so many ways - those who are well over a year, and those who keep working to make it....

[narilly]

Ya, its pretty cool the success we have had. Today I was thinking about the fact that I consider myself a non-drinker. I really feel that way now. "I don't drink" in the famous words of Pav.
Right now I feel so strong in my quit and am so accepting and grateful that I am getting through this and my whole perception of AL is changing.
It is freakin Awesome! Like you gals (SL, LilB) said, we are lucky and huge success we are having are amazing.

We have to keep coming back and not become complacent. I think that would be pretty easy to do.

Love you Gloamers

[NoSugar]

I have been doing a lot of thinking this week. I am proud of all of us here. So many people do not make it, do not find a way to help themselves out of this thing called addiction.

LB - this thread has such huge success - it is pretty special to belong to this group. As Narilly has said sometimes I have regretted it as it would be so hard to post a day 1, but people are able to come back and keep trying - we have so much success in so many ways - those who are well over a year, and those who keep working to make it....

It seems to me that when you're trying to make a difficult change, it is really important to interact with people who share your goals and values. That isn't to say that there isn't another viable path to take but once you've decided which one you want to be on, you need to receive a consistent message that helps you take consistent action leading to that goal.

Soon after I joined MWO, I came across the mods threads. I quickly realized I had to stop reading there because at that point in time, my brain was not rewired to be that of a nondrinker. I just didn't need to be offering myself alternative options. I can read there now and not be tempted to try moderation. Early on, I also started a novel about a woman who had quit drinking but was in the midst of a relapse. I had to quit reading that, too, because her sneaking out to the trunk of her car for some hidden wine started sounding pretty appealing. I still haven't finished the book but I think I probably could now without any problem.

The NN and other abstinence-based threads receive some criticism for being too dogmatic and AA-like. I understand the sentiment (as there indeed are other paths to take) but I think they serve an important purpose as each of us does the work to rewire our brains and change our perspective on alcohol. It probably is a form of brain-washing but for me at least, that's what was needed.

The other thing is, there is obviously no requirement that only people who are succeeding should post here, like SL said. In fact, I wish that more people whose goal is to be AF but who are struggling with getting it done would post here - I'd like to think we could offer some support. I know that what a struggling but determined person writes helps strengthen my commitment.

This would be a horrible place if a person who drank was demeaned or ostracized. I've never seen that happen. But I've also not seen excuses offered or the consequences of the choice minimized. Some see that as a "my way or the highway" approach. I see it as tough love, offered to people who have signed up for it.

As you can see, this has been on my mind a lot in light of recent posts. I have been questioning whether we (read: I) should be more open-minded and tolerant of alternate approaches. I finally decided that I am open to those as options for anyone who chooses them but believe there are good reasons for providing a consistent message of abstinence to people who have chosen to receive that message. So if anyone reading wants to be on an AF mission, please join us!

[scottish lass]

The other thing is, there is obviously no requirement that only people who are succeeding should post here, like SL said.

Good words NS., I do believe that "falling" and coming back is succeeding - it is the never giving up that worked for me....one day it will click...that is the succeeding to me, not the making it to 100 days, 1 year etc - it is the keep on trying and making whatever gains can be made...

[narilly]

I agree with you gals. We just keep trying and then one day it works. I relapsed so many times, it's crazy. Just keep coming back and one day something will click and being sober will become your new lifestyle.

Hey, I am really tired and just want to sleep.

Goodnight xo

[patrice]

Guess you are all in Snoozeville.. Except Ava going to txt you later
The posts today are very apt for us all and today for me especially.
I had a bootle of wine late yesterday afternoon after school. I'd had a great week and was really happy.. The only things was I was tired and hungry.. Hunger is big thing for me and plays a massive part in reducing the need or want to have a drink. It wasn't a good choice, didn't enhance my evening at all, nothing bad happened but nothing good. It's like I added an unnecessary ingredient th the end of the week that wasn't neccessary.

I woke this morning feeling ok, not as good as yesterday but not grim. What first hit me though was Fear. A Sinking Feeling of ' oh no, this is my weekend now, a bottle today, maybe another bottle tomorrow..'
Really happy to say I turned that around real quick... No ,the weekend does not have to be that way.. I can change that default position, because that's another big thing for me.

I hope anyone reading this can be encouraged and feel positive that to keep trying and keep trying and keep adding , adding, adding different tool that work. This week I've really ramped up the meditation and started listening to Biaural Beats which I'm really enjoying, auditory media really resonates with me ( I'm discovering!!) and I want o keep on discovering new things.. Drinking is certainly incompatible with these new things I'm finding are calming and relaxing me so well at the moment. And strengthen get my mind.

So ladies and gents, my resolve is strong, my goal still to be abstinent and I'm never going to stop trying. Rectified the mistake of yesterday and going to eat some delicious salmon and salad.. Got lovely AF drinks around, done all the shopping. X trainer later ... I'm going to elimate that default position of as of now
Will be extra vigilante and be back on here later..
Next Friday- will make sure I have Food Ready to Eat when I get home.

Again ,I hope anyone else at the same stage as me, or any stage to be mindful and any bumps , it's possible and much better to hit the ground running. And I hope my experience is helpful.

Thanks for the posts SL, Nar,NS, and all others who posted on this topic, I guess my experience ties in.
Bad choice yesterday, Good choice today.!
Take care all
Xx

I

[patrice]

A few punctuation mistakes, sorry ipad

[patrice]

Just one last thought .
' Why won't I give up trying'?
Because I feel so good mentally and physically when I don't drink , it just feels better. On many different levels.
Mmm,, That's why

[Pavati]

Lovely posts tonight. Yes, awesome that we're all still here and honored to be on this thread and on MWO with such lovely people.

Glad you're back so quickly, Pat.

Haven't heard from Ava for a while. Hope all is ok.

Xo

[jane27]

Hi Gloamers,
Abc had a rough fall off the wagon but is back in the saddle and posting. Pat, I'm glad to see that you are back too. There's a Babe Ruth quote that says something along the line of, 'it's pretty hard to beat someone that never gives up.' We've all seen that proven in line at the grocery store (by the coupon clutcher). If quitting AL is your squeaky wheel, it's going to get fixed. Wishing you strength and so glad you're back posting.

Several times in recent days I've been awash with the feeling of relief that I escaped, and escaped is exactly the right word. It was like being held captive in a dungeon. Getting out is hard, but one day at a time is the easiest way to manage it. It eventually adds up, you get stronger and the memories of being stuck in that damn dungeon make it far less tempting to take any chances.

[patrice]

Hi Gloamers,
Abc had a rough fall off the wagon but is back in the saddle and posting. Pat, I'm glad to see that you are back too. There's a Babe Ruth quote that says something along the line of, 'it's pretty hard to beat someone that never gives up.' We've all seen that proven in line at the grocery store (by the coupon clutcher). If quitting AL is your squeaky wheel, it's going to get fixed. Wishing you strength and so glad you're back posting.

Several times in recent days I've been awash with the feeling of relief that I escaped, and escaped is exactly the right word. It was like being held captive in a dungeon. Getting out is hard, but one day at a time is the easiest way to manage it. It eventually adds up, you get stronger and the memories of being stuck in that damn dungeon make it far less tempting to take any chances.

I really like that quote and the escape analogy .. Thanks for that Jane !

[treetops]

Great post Pat but you don't have to drink a bottle of wine to write this again! Hope your weekend goes well and you eat well. The tapes sound good for you. Hi there to everyone else