I decided that this week I would take some steps to detach when AH calls me during the day to rant and rave about anything and everything. The way I have handled it in the past was to try to counsel him, try to help him strategize ways to deal with problems, or issues at work, I would try whatever I could to try to cheer him up, hoping to keep him from drinking after work (NONE OF THOSE THINGS EVER WORKED!)  I am tired of feeling deflated and defeated when I hang up the phone and having my afternoon ruined.

It didn't take long for me to get an opportunity to practice this!  I received one of those calls from him today with the same BS. It's amazing how I could almost step back from it and hear it for what it is....BS. I let him talk for a minute, careful not to be rude or cut him off. My responses were brief and I offered no suggestions or advice at all and then the most important part....I ended the call. I was able to say goodbye and hang up feeling just like I did before he called, whatever mood I was in, I am still in it! His bad day didn't affect mine and it feels powerful. Just wanted to celebrate that.