The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Today is my 2 year anniversary of stopping drinking. To stop was like taking the bus to work., the job doesnt start till you get there. What would keep me stopped and avoid me being a dry drunk or changing addictions was my question.
Today I needed to better visualize why I have no interest in drinking at all anymore. I thought of what stands between me and any interest in drinking. The analogy came to me of a castle with a strong foundation, thick walls and a moat full of alligators for extra protection. But what walls protect me from a return to my old ways?
As an exercise to better understand I took a piece of paper and put drinking in a block at the top and me in a block at the bottom. Then I drew the walls in between and thought as I labeled them
God
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Helping others
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Fault removal
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Love of family
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Respect for self
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Retrained impulses
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AA
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Alanon
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Friends
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Responsibility
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Focus on what alcohol has done to me and others
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My example to others
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Loathing the very thought of alcohol for me
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Before you congratulate me please understand that I should have been living right all my life and to be such a late bloomer is not much of a statement. Thank you to all here and my HP. The rewards just keep coming and coming.
With all my best wishes for recovery for all youre As . I will continue to pray daily for all here and your families.
I'm just going to go ahead and congratulate you anyway. Congratulations on your wonderful 2-year anniversary. Keep up the good work! ((((((BIG HUG))))) JennyP
From a double to a double..."ISN'T IT GRAND?" Congradulations Bill!! and good architechnical (?...whaaaa) work on the castle. Alligators of course cause when you find yourself A&& deep in those you learn how not to fall off the draw bridge. LOL... I'll be that little lovely creature hanging around your neck has some thing to do with your motivation too... Doesn't look like she came from the moat. ((((hugs))))
PS...and let me tell you something I was told about when we "get it". We get it, when we get it and that is just at the right time to keep it and give it away so another can get it just at the right time so that they can keep it and give it away so another..... Remorse isn't a real tool.
-- Edited by Jerry F on Tuesday 13th of July 2010 02:47:24 PM
You wrote " I'll bet that little lovely creature hanging around your neck has some thing to do with your motivation too." That was very perceptive.
My princess is 21 now and one of the things I did in earlier recovery was to promise her she would never see her dad drink again. She belived me and so did I. What a wonderful motivation that is.
I am also a member of Alanon (12 years) and a sober member of AA (21 years). I prefer to think of myself as "double gifted". I haven't really won anything, not by my own abilities anyway. I just made the descision to show up and follow the steps to the best of my ability (which isn't very good, but has been good enough). I owe my sobriety and my life to AA, but - I don't feel that I really began to get some serenity and peace of mind, and just being happy in my own skin, until I began to work the Alanon program for myself.
Barisax
-- Edited by barisax on Tuesday 13th of July 2010 03:21:33 PM
Happy 2 year soberversary. Thank you for sharing your recovery and the tools that have kept you sober. I do believe they are the most important concepts that work for me as well
Bill, I am approaching my 3 year soberversary, which will be August 23rd. I can feel every drop of sentiment you express in your post & I, too, will go against your wishes and congratulate you. I don't congratulate you for getting sober. I congratulate you for staying sober and working the program. I know from personal experience what a tough road it can be...but how gorgeous the view is from that road! Though I don't know you personally I feel that we, like all recovering alcoholics, are kindred spirits. May your continued journey be one of peace, joy and lots of love. Best, Robin
Congratulations to everyone that maintains sobriety happlily and healthily, seems like they are some of the nicest people on this earth, corrrrrrrrrrr my family, my friends!
ALL? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! We will have to agree to disagree on your statement that your statement is not much of statement, JEEZ it is HUGE, hold this thought, for every life you touch in your sobriety you bring hope to them and their families, we could all say if I knew then what I know now, I know I needed to make this journey, it hasn't always been very nice but it's what I needed, we all have choices to take or not to take, the next drink, the wrong path, whatever, when we learn to own it, we bloom where we are planted, Your blooming just fine, x
I want to say what a wonderful and caring presence you are in chat and at meetings. You bring the other side of the disease to us with love, hope and kindness. Your words are always an inspiration to all who have been blessed to get to know you. May you continue to be happy, joyous and free, and never stop believeing in yourself. In reference to your thoughts on getting it late :)....well, its said, "that you can't teach an old dog new tricks" but that is a lie...I was an old lady when I started my journey and I still learn everyday. I learn from wonderful folks like you and so many others. May the love of your HP continue to comfort you and allow you many more years of sobrity. Happy Birthday ((Bill))) Grammie loves you dear friend :) Love in recovery
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Serenity isn't freedom from the storm.. It's the peace within the storm...
