My NEW Story Starts Here...

[BPleasant]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

Amazing!!

Impressive and inspirational! How have the people in your life reacted to the changes in you?

[Doggygirl]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

BPleasant;801174 wrote: Impressive and inspirational! How have the people in your life reacted to the changes in you?

I don't know who is more grateful - the people close to me, or me. I was miserable inside and out as a drunk - especially in the later years.

As far as the weight loss, people ask how I did it and when I mention that I follow a pretty strict diet and work out A LOT, they usually say "oh" and walk the other way. :H We are all looking for a magical solution to life's problems I guess. (and I sure did plenty of that over the years!)

DG

[Doggygirl]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

I'm bumping this up so I can find it again!!! Tomorrow is 2 amazing years sober. It was interesting to go back through the ups and downs of getting to this point. I will ramble more soon!

DG

[4MyHealth]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

Wow DG!! Always inspired by your wise posts....now inspired by your physical transformation! You look about 20 years younger than you did at your start! Good for you! Thanks!

[spuddleduck]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

what can i say. fantastic... a true inspiration. thanks DG

[papmom3]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

Holy Crap DG!! We are the same age so if you can do it, so can I!!! You look so totally amazing. Wow Wow Wow!! Congrats again on your 2 year soberversery.:goodjob:

[Doggygirl]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

2 Years Sober Ramble...

Well, yesterday was my 2 year sober anniversary. I was on what became an abbreviated camping trip that had some highs and lows (camping with 5 dogs is a LOW for sure! :H). The HIGH was great though! Some long hiking on hilly terain, and feeling very physcially fit for it. No hangover. No heavy breathing. Barely broke a sweat. There is just NO WAY that would have happened had my drinking continued. Heck, I'm not sure I would still be here had my drinking continued.

I am grateful to be sober.

I just read back most of what I've written in this journal. A couple things really leaped out at me. BOY was I anti AA in the beginning!! That is so comical since I never had even darkened the doorstep of an AA meeting to even know what it was about, much less give it a chance. I really think my "issue" all along was a secret desire to "fix" my drinking rather than become abstinent. That, and my perception that alcoholics were "low lifes" and that wasn't inclusive of "me."

I am an alcoholic. I am a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous. My Way Out helped me get started on the road to sobriety and connect with other alcohol addicts. AA has helped me develop some peace of mind and has given me a start on a look into my spiritual self. It has also helped me see that alcoholism can touch ANYONE. Nobody is immune. Money doesn't matter. Family doesn't matter. Profession doesn't matter. Race, creed, sex doesn't matter. Connecting with other alcoholics face to face has been so healing for me. I am grateful to both MWO and AA for helping me find my way to a sober way of living. And I do mean LIVING. Not just "not drinking."

I'm glad I'm not living in isolation and lonliness any more. It's sort of funny - there was very little cell service where we camped for that one night. When I TRIED to use my phone - nothing. But one text message came through - it was from an AA girlfriend. Coincidence? Who knows! Cool though. I find so much comfort in sharing time with others who are just like me - who battle the same addiction that I do. AND so many of them who have risen above it, and are living a quality AF life despite their addiction. That gives me hope, and gives me a path to follow. If they can do it, maybe I can do it too.

There has been such a HUGE sense of relief for me in being honest about my alcoholism. That doesn't mean I tell everyone I meet that I'm an alcoholic. Like anything else in life that is personal, the amount of personal information I divulge varies by who I'm talking with and how close I am to that person. But all of the people who are close to me (family and close personal friends) know. When I'm offered a drink in a social situation, I say "no thanks I don't drink." I don't have to say anything more. But I also don't make up stuff either like "I'm on medication...." or "I'm on a diet...." or crap like that. I don't drink. That's the truth.

Living more honestly has contributed to my peace of mind. In a very big way. My drinking life was characterized by dishonesty. I didn't really THINK I was a liar, but there was really very little truth in what I did. My main priority each day revolved around drinking. Recovering from drinking, planning to drink, drinking. And all around me I worked hard to hide that fact. THAT was the dishonesty that was rotting my soul.

I have a long way to go. I still get uncomfortable dealing with "life" sometimes. When shit happens. When things don't go my way. I still get those feelings inside of anger, of "poor me." But today, I don't drink over it and that's a miracle. And I'm working hard on the tools taught in AA that help me to feel less anger inside, and less self pity. More compassion for others, and more gratitude for how good my life really is.

The other thing that stood out for me when reading back my journal was the struggle between my relapse on 9/9/07 and finally getting sober again on 5/22/08. What little I wrote during that time jogged my memory about how horrible every drinking day was. Back to that desparation mode of swearing I wouldn't drink today, then drinking nearly every time. I don't ever want to go through that again - ever. It's a viscious treadmill that keeps me "stuck" in such a bad place. I will NEVER be fixed. I can NEVER drink safely. One day at a time, I will choose not to drink. If I don't drink today, I have a shot at tomorrow.

I am truly blessed and I am working hard to remember that at all times.

I love being sober. Never lose hope. If I can do it, so can you.

DG
Day 1 of Year 3 sober

[Rusty]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

Dear I Am PAn,

Where are YOUR brains?? Well, probably pickled right now. When you sober up, then post again because people here are ready to help...but when you're drinking and if you're going to be an *sshole, then don't start.

[boozy baroness]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

My Story

:new:

I am a habitual evening drinker. I rarely drink before 6 pm unless at a weekend barbeque. Dinner without a drink is difficult. I tend to start with one while preparing dinner then one with dinner then one to wash up the dishes then after my shower one to watch a TV show and then the bottle is empty! I'm sick of it and wish I could just drink socially or stop at 2.

I woke up this morning and the tip of my nose was looking funny , I massaged it to get the blood circulating and the tip is now bright red! Its a sign!

I am determined to stay sober . I am using the Secret to help me. I am going on the premise that I must not think about it, and concentrate on other things. I am busy in Real Estate so there is no spare time to dwell on it, but I keep thinking about it and have to
' thought stop' to get off that channel.
today is June 27th.

[boozy baroness]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

boozy baroness;896758 wrote: :new:

I am a habitual evening drinker. I rarely drink before 6 pm unless at a weekend barbeque. Dinner without a drink is difficult. I tend to start with one while preparing dinner then one with dinner then one to wash up the dishes then after my shower one to watch a TV show and then the bottle is empty! I'm sick of it and wish I could just drink socially or stop at 2.

I woke up this morning and the tip of my nose was looking funny , I massaged it to get the blood circulating and the tip is now bright red! Its a sign!

I am determined to stay sober . I am using the Secret to help me. I am going on the premise that I must not think about it, and concentrate on other things. I am busy in Real Estate so there is no spare time to dwell on it, but I keep thinking about it and have to
' thought stop' to get off that channel.
today is June 27th.

Happiness does not depend so much on curcumstances as on one's inner self. Lady Randolph Churchill

[Doggygirl]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

Hi Boozy and :welcome: What is the Secret? I'm not familiar with that. Do whatever works for you to stay sober. I hope you will read here and post and get to know people. Welcome!

DG

[greeneyes]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

Hi bb and :welcome: Congratulations on making efforts to change your drinking. I'm a little familiar with The Secret and I know some people here are very tuned in to it. I'd like to suggest the MWO book by Robera Jewell. You can download it from the health store at the top of this (or any) page. Also, you might take a look around in the "Just Starting Out" section where there are several threads of people in initial stages of sobriety and some with much more time behind them for support. If you have questions, just ask away. You'll find many people here to relate to.

[techie]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

Doggygirl;896767 wrote: Hi Boozy and :welcome: What is the Secret? I'm not familiar with that. Do whatever works for you to stay sober. I hope you will read here and post and get to know people. Welcome!

DG

Hi Boozy welcome. Here is a link about the Secret DG!

The Secret :: Official Web Site of The Secret Movie :: Law of Attraction

[Doggygirl]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

techie, thanks much for the link! Looks like an interesting movie. I just Netflixed it!

Well, since I'm here I might as well update!!! I am still so happy and grateful to be sober. What a difference sobriety makes in just the small things of my life. I get along so much better with Mr. Doggy. I didn't think I was a mean drunk. LOL, I just thought everyone else was an asshat making me mean. If it weren't for what other people were doing, I would be very very nice! :H At any rate, we don't fight and bicker over little inconsequential crap these days. (and since he is not smoking weed he is not prone to paranoia and the other negative effects that little hobby had on him) Win win.

I am continuing to enjoy making new friends in AA. I realized I got in a bit of a rut going to the same meetings all the time. So I've been branching out a bit and that has been good. New groups, new people to meet. A couple of women's meetings that have been very good for me.

I'm finally taking some action to maybe do some volunteer work. I have a meeting with an outfit on Monday. They have a family center which mainly takes in women and their children. Many are on the run from abusive husbands / boyfriends. The organization offers them shelter and support and "life skills" type classes and mentoring. The goal is to get them independent and self sufficient and out into their own apartments eventually. I'm looking forward to finding out more details of the program and see if there is a fit for volunteer work of some sort.

I have no time to get in trouble at this time of year as the garden is running my life! So that's about it for the DG report.

One thing is for sure, there will be no drinking for this girl today.

DG

[auntiegriselda]

My NEW Story Starts Here...

Hi Doggy Girl and Boozy Baroness. I'm returning to MWO because I just can't control my drinking. Have one drink-have the whole bottle! BB your story sounds just like mine. I rarely ever drink before 5 or 5:30 in the evening but after that I normally have a bottle of wine. I also have elevated liver enzymes and have to go back to the GI doc soon for a recheck. He told me "I think you're an alcoholic" very bluntly which made me angry and I've put off going back. I keep thinking I can do it on my own but only manage a day off here and there. I have always avoided the thought of AA like you did DG. I have been afraid of standing up and admitting my problem, afraid I might know someone there, not comfortable with the religious aspects of it, and on and on. But lately I've really wondered if maybe I should try it. I'm so tired of feeling like a loser. I see a therapist who specializes in addictions and she has suggested I try AA. Your encouraging words, DG, make me really want to do it. Can you share a little of what a meeting is like?
Thanks for listening
AuntieG.