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.
Sitting at this lap-top that I am not used to is irritating me to no end! I am having a hard time typing--shoot!
Anyhow, I am getting bored of going to the library these days. Not a whole lot is going on Facebook or my emails. I guess most people might be out enjoying the summer weather instead of staying in messing w/ their computers. I know that some people have handy gadgets that they carry w/ them at all times. I am not ready to let technology control my life! So, now I have to figure what to do w/ myself. I have started to get into unhealthy eating--I snack too much. But that is another issue unrelated to alcoholism. I need to find a way to get over whatever it is I am going through.
For me I have to be around people. I never knew that about me, always thought I preferred to be alone. I joined a meetup group for single parents - but there are zillions of meetup groups over pets, activities, sports, you name it. The first time is hard but after that it's great. I've made some incredible friends that way and get to go do fun stuff.
I like going to nature and taking photographs. Walking around a park or nature preserve is good for the soul, and can help with those extra calories!
Or I just enjoy sitting at a coffee shop and people watching.
If I'm really bored, I will go to a craft store like Michael's and something will inevitably find its way into my basket.
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Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us. -from Pema Chödron's When Things Fall Apart
I can relate to the snacking. For me the call of chores is always something that keeps me home a lot. I had two years of working 7 days a week so the chores didn't get done with ease. I was always under a time gun.
What do you like to do? Don't know? Start asking yourself "what do I like to do?"
It took me a while to remember some of the things I enjoyed doing after I had set them all aside in my personal sickness in living with an alcoholic. I became like a chameleon, decided I had to like and love the things HE did and put my own personal interests aside because I wanted to do whatever it took to make him happy and keep him in my life.
Before our divorce, I started to remember the things I liked to do and started taking care of myself. I remembered what movies I liked and would watch them, I remembered what activities I enjoyed doing and would do them.
Like astrongerme, I also discovered, through Al-Anon, that I actually liked being around people. I also thought I was an introvert who preferred to be alone, but now, not so much. I like being around friends, sharing laughs and hugs.
Some exercises I did to remember what I liked to do was to think back to my childhood and think of the things I enjoyed doing then. For me, those things included stuff like creative work - drawing, crafting, etc. In recent years I've discovered how much I like to dance, so if I get a chance to dance, I'll do it.
Im trying a new recipe tonight. Ive been water colors, doing yoga, watching long sprees of my favorite show, listening to music I like really loud while I clean, taking long baths, going to the thrift store....and walking around the house in my jammmmiiieesssss. Id like to start bellydancing again, but right now classes interfere with mtgs. Its so ancient and empowering...its like in my dna. I also bought a houseplant. Oh and I play my ukulele a lot too.
My elder sponsor recently past worked on this with me well...When I didn't know what to do I was usually doing out of reaction and of course would be in trouble...trouble...trouble so he taught me a simple solution...just for me. "When in Doubt DON'T" (do anything)!! Just stop, look, listen and enjoy. His name was DonT. The lesson was easy to remember. I don't NEED to always be doing something. I can learn to relax and let go and let God. ((((hugs))))
