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Hi MIP friends. I wanted to share an amusing (in hindsight) thing that happened to me.
A while back, I received a catalog in the mail. It was a catalog of cute gift items aimed at women, little things you might buy for a friend -- mugs, t-shirts, hats, costume jewelry, candles, etc.
As I paged through the catalog, I started noticing how many items had an alcohol theme ... women and drinking. They were plastered with slogans like "It's wine o'clock" and "Everyone believes in something, I believe I'll have another drink."
I'm sorry if this triggers anyone... it was triggering me, especially when I came across an item labeled "What do you mean you don't know what gift to buy me... you know where the liquor store is." Page by page, I was getting so angry, steam was coming out of my ears. How dare they promote drinking to women! Don't they know about the disease?
I was mentally writing a letter to that catalog company pointing out the error of their ways and demanding they take me off their mailing list. And they sure weren't going to get any of my money.
But then I came to a page that had coffee mugs with one of my favorite slogans: Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys. I remembered how that slogan made me laugh and gave me relief during my darkest days. I ordered two of the mugs and gave them as gifts to program friends who I knew would appreciate them.
I still get that catalog in the mail, and usually put it straight into the recycling bin. But I did get something good out of it after all.
Just couldn't have responded that way even after years in program and much involvement on other levels The memory of my former alcoholic/addict wife and my own suffering inside of this insidious disease depresses my spirit and makes me sad for each and every incident I come across. I take the program of recovery and leave the rest.
I like that. I too have found myself disturbed at how casually alcoholic excess is glorified in certain media. Good lesson on moving right past it to get something good.
I too smiled - inside and outside. Way to work it and boy...I can relate! (((Hugs)))
__________________
Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
Good Job my friend You were handed lemons and made lemonade 