Thoughts on long-term sobriety

[Freedom1990]

I've often heard it said 'please don't leave 5 minutes before the miracle happens', and I completely agree with that.

I remember my last days of drinking, when the alcohol no longer did for me what it did do for so long, and yet I clung to my alcoholism like a tattered pair of favorite slippers that I couldn't live without.

Yes, recovery is hard. No doubt about it, but the willingness and effort are so worth it in the end. So many have asked when does it get better? I can't give you a time frame because we are all individuals, finding our own paths.

This much I do know. The more you put into your recovery, the better you will get in your healing process.

That first year was a doozy for me. I white knuckled it many a night, in spite of attending AA meetings several times a week.

My recovery taught me to do things that were contradictory to a drinking alcoholic's nature, and so I struggled, but I kept doing what people suggested to me in spite of the alcoholic inside who wanted that easier, softer way.

Somewhere along the way, my life began to change, and change for the better.

I still take it a day at a time, but the thoughts of drinking have long since left my mind. Today, I find that recovery is second nature for me, and it has become that tattered pair of bedroom slippers that I love so dearly.

There are 12 promises in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, and one of those promises is 'we will intuitively know how to handle situations that used to baffle us'.

That has been one of the most incredible gifts that sticking it out in recovery has brought to me.

Yes, I've had some pretty tough hurdles in my recovery, but my mind didn't race to thoughts of dealing with it by chemically altering my brain. When crisis came, I either hit a meeting, called my sponsor, or reached out to others in recovery.

No matter how much sobriety I have under my belt, I must, absolutely must remain active in my recovery today. That means I cannot sit at home and isolate and try to think myself well.

I still attend 2-3 meetings a week, I now have two sponsees, which is a huge bonus, and we are getting ready to resurrect Alanon in our tiny town. There are three of us making a commitment to that particular meeting. We need to be there for the loved ones. I have experience with my own recovery, I was married to an active alcoholic/addict, and have two daughters now who are alcoholic.

I am grateful today that I am no longer stuck in my head, but rather keep putting one foot in front of the other and remain active in recovery. These sources of support on the internet are great, but they are supplements to my recovery, and not the end-all to my recovery.

Getting out of my computer chair and putting into action what I have learned and must pass on in order to maintain my recovery is essential for me.

Recovery is an action word for me!

[nandm]

Thank you for the encouraging and truthful words of wisdom!

[itisatruth]

Originally Posted by Freedom1990

No matter how much sobriety I have under my belt, I must, absolutely must remain active in my recovery today. That means I cannot sit at home and isolate and try to think myself well..........

Recovery is an action word for me!

Hope its ok to "pop" over to this forum. I usually post on Family & Friends. But I saw this and just had to say thank you. Your recovery sounds awesome and I admire you for that.

When I met my AH, about 10 years ago, he was soooo fun to be around and happy with his life and himself. He went to meetings regularly. Had many close friends in the program. Volunteered on hot-lines and visited jails to tell his story/give his message.

I became familiar with the program and even went to open meetings and conventions with him. There was always such a powerful vibe going on in those rooms.

Somewhere along the line he slacked off. He said he wanted to spend more time with me and the kids, wanted to play softball, had other things to do, etc.

He has been relapsing and on and off for years now. I miss that man I fell in love with so much it brings tears to my eyes to think about it. I have been trying to get him back to meetings forever, but I know he has to want it. I just don't understand why he doesn't. (sorry, not trying to be negative, jsut trying to agree that recovery needs to be worked at)

What is it they say......

IT WORKS IF YOU WORK IT.


Thanks again Freedom1990

[CarolD]

Powerful share of truth for me too Freedom!

[Tazman53]

Fantastic share Freedom, this is the type of share that folks like me benefit from greatly, I am doing very well right now, and being reminded that I should not and can not rest on my laurels is an excellent thing!!!

Thank you Freedom, Experience is so powerful, I simply have opinions on long term sobriety so except to thank those with experience and letting them know how much them sharing thier experience with us means I keep my mouth shut!

[beingjenagain]

Freedom...Thanks so much for all you said. Somedays i find myself losing hours just reading all these wonderful posts. Time and time again I come back to familiar names with excellent messages!

[KaiK]

At only 37 days, (again!) I am already realizing the 1st promise: "We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness." But I'm also realizing just how fragile sobriety really is, and just how important it is to put that 1st before everything else in my life, because without it, nothing else exists in this world for me. Thank you for that share... it really means a lot!

Kai

[Tazman53]

You know I just reread the title to this thread and decided I would share my thoughts on long term sobriety........................... I look forward to it!

[NoelleR]

Originally Posted by Tazman53

You know I just reread the title to this thread and decided I would share my thoughts on long term sobriety........................... I look forward to it!

Well, you know what they say.....you can work the steps, work the program, go to meetings do servicework....etc., etc., etc., or NOT, BUT......there are only two things that will guarantee long-term sobriety.........:

1) Don't pick up; and
2) Don't die.


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NoelleR