The yets... - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

TimOFromChicago · 12-26-2005, 10:17 AM

Hi Everyone, Haven't posted in a looooong time but I've been lurking!

Anyways, we often hear of the yets, loss of job, divorce or breakup of a family, financial distress, jails, institutions, and death, etc. It never occurred to me that these yets can come WITHOUT a drink! Boy was I wrong...

I got everything but the death part (thank God) in the last 18 months and thought, "What have I been doing wrong? The first 2 years went along so swimmingly and now all this?"

It started with my walking in on my now ex-wife and her swain, fell into a pretty severe depression which led to seeking some help outside of AA (institution), didn't keep up with my financial responsibilites which resulted in my vehicle being repossesed (financial distress), found out my job (which I loved) was going away, my landlord filed bankrupcy and the house which I was renting went into foreclosure, got the divorce, had to move back with the folks, was in a serious car accident with my sponsor (close to death), the job did go away, and I got arrested (jail) while driving on a (unknown to me - apparently ALL of the traffic laws of the State of Illinois apply to me, emissions testing included!

) suspended drivers license.

Why did this all happen to me?? Didn't life know I was sober now and these things weren't supposed to happen?

Well.... some of the things were my own doing (or lack of doing) and some things were more illustrations of my powerlessness over most things. Life was still on life's terms but I didn't like those terms nor was I about to accept them! Yes, defiance was(is) on my 4th step inventory...

It was really, really bad. The hopelessness and loneliness in sobriety was probably as bad as the hopelessness and loneliness that brought me through the doors in the first place.

But despite MY plans, there's this fellowship to which I belong where I met a wonderful group of people, some of whom have become very close friends. Even though I was always there for them, I felt I had to get through all of this on my own. I was going to fix everything and then the world would be right and I would be happy. Yep, I'm still a sick alcoholic! I had forgetten how MY best thinking only led me farther down the path of despair. My prayers changed from, "What would you have me do today?" to "Just get me through all this poop" Only I didn't say poop....

Well, my prayers were answered exactly as I asked, I did not pick up a drink. But it was hell...

That's where those friends came in (and you guys are part of that as well). The phone calls never stopped, this board didn't go away, the meetings didn't fold because I wasn't there and for that I am very grateful.

Even though I made myself feel alone through my self imposed isolation (an alcoholic running away? go figure!), you guys reached out to me still. The phone messages from people letting me know that they still cared, all of your posts here carrying the message I so deperately needed, the random visits from other sober people saying, "Hey Tim we miss you and we're here for you" really did make a difference.

I owe a debt of gratitude to all of you, you guys didn't let me give up and I didn't have to reset the counter and start over.

The 12th step says in part ... and to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers... 12th step work doesn't just mean those late night calls to get someone into rehab or their first meeting, it's also carrying our experience, strength, and hope to those that need it.

I was that alcoholic who was still suffering and I thank God you were all here doing what you were doing.

Tim

P.S. Things actually have worked out well, the divorce was much needed... afterall I marrried another alcoholic while drunk in Las Vegas! Because I stayed sober, I have custody of our son, so he now has the stable loving home he deserves; moving back with the folks has kept a roof over my head while job hunting, I healed up from the auto accident (as did my sponsor) with no lasting effects, cleared the suspension on my license and I'm not dead yet... That's a yet that I no longer I desire!

Music · 12-26-2005, 11:33 AM

Lessons learned! Good to see you back Tim. I live up the road a piece in Zion. Good AA up here too!

Dan · 12-26-2005, 11:36 AM

Those freakin' emissions testing people...
Inspiring post, Tim

**Phinneas** · 12-26-2005, 11:48 AM

I send prayer out to ALL who still suffer. The sober and not alcoholic-addict and those who love us.

Great post, Tim.

**CarolD** · 12-26-2005, 11:59 AM

Glad to see you made it sober thru your adversities.

Chy · 12-26-2005, 12:44 PM

Good to see you Tim...good to see you sober. *hugs* Thanks for that post.

michski · 12-26-2005, 03:54 PM

Great post.. thanks for 12 steppin me tonight.

12-26-2005, 06:54 PM

Tim its real good to see you back here, believe it or not I was wondering about about a week or so ago. I'm glad you stopped by, and I'm glad you didn't get back to drinking.

TimOFromChicago · 12-27-2005, 10:16 AM

Thanks for all the kind words everybody. It just goes to show how our adversity can help someone else (although I wasn't looking at it that way at the time!).

Doug - I think our last conversations were right at the beginning of this stretch as I was getting a website up and running for the Alano club of which I'm a member. The site was up for a while but has since gone bye bye, look for a new one sometime in June!

Music - after reading some of your other posts, I'd say that you guys serve up a dish of AA pretty close to the one served to me around here...

Michski - I think we have the same sober birthday!

I did miss you guys quite a bit and it's good to be back.

Thanks again,
Tim

P.S. Has ayone heard from Moot lately? With everything that's gone on in my life, I've lost contact with her and can't find any of her addresses or numbers. Hope she's doing well...

Dan · 12-27-2005, 11:00 AM

Moot's been offline for a while now, Tim.
Last I heard, through the grapevine, she was happy and sober.

Sheryl85 · 12-28-2005, 11:37 PM

Tim,
Evidently I came onboard SR during your “adventures,” but Wow! (I’ll just keep it to myself from now on if I go to thinking I’ve had a bad day!) I’m so glad you made it through all that... and sober too. Good luck in the future… (By the way, did you get another job?) Let us know how it’s going.

Justme57 · 12-28-2005, 11:56 PM

Wow Tim what a powerful post !

It is good to be reminded that LIFE goes on, despite us !

For myself, i have found that trials I have faced while sober, have been a point of growth for me

So glad you made it thru unscathed, and that you had the fellowship behind you , Awesome isnt it ?

HUGX
Lee

ps I am glad to hear that mooty is ok

12-26-2005, 10:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
TimOFromChicago Subtle yet overstated.... Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: So Chi Hts, IL Posts: 49	The yets... Hi Everyone, Haven't posted in a looooong time but I've been lurking! Anyways, we often hear of the yets, loss of job, divorce or breakup of a family, financial distress, jails, institutions, and death, etc. It never occurred to me that these yets can come WITHOUT a drink! Boy was I wrong... I got everything but the death part (thank God) in the last 18 months and thought, "What have I been doing wrong? The first 2 years went along so swimmingly and now all this?" It started with my walking in on my now ex-wife and her swain, fell into a pretty severe depression which led to seeking some help outside of AA (institution), didn't keep up with my financial responsibilites which resulted in my vehicle being repossesed (financial distress), found out my job (which I loved) was going away, my landlord filed bankrupcy and the house which I was renting went into foreclosure, got the divorce, had to move back with the folks, was in a serious car accident with my sponsor (close to death), the job did go away, and I got arrested (jail) while driving on a (unknown to me - apparently ALL of the traffic laws of the State of Illinois apply to me, emissions testing included! ) suspended drivers license. Why did this all happen to me?? Didn't life know I was sober now and these things weren't supposed to happen? Well.... some of the things were my own doing (or lack of doing) and some things were more illustrations of my powerlessness over most things. Life was still on life's terms but I didn't like those terms nor was I about to accept them! Yes, defiance was(is) on my 4th step inventory... It was really, really bad. The hopelessness and loneliness in sobriety was probably as bad as the hopelessness and loneliness that brought me through the doors in the first place. But despite MY plans, there's this fellowship to which I belong where I met a wonderful group of people, some of whom have become very close friends. Even though I was always there for them, I felt I had to get through all of this on my own. I was going to fix everything and then the world would be right and I would be happy. Yep, I'm still a sick alcoholic! I had forgetten how MY best thinking only led me farther down the path of despair. My prayers changed from, "What would you have me do today?" to "Just get me through all this poop" Only I didn't say poop.... Well, my prayers were answered exactly as I asked, I did not pick up a drink. But it was hell... That's where those friends came in (and you guys are part of that as well). The phone calls never stopped, this board didn't go away, the meetings didn't fold because I wasn't there and for that I am very grateful. Even though I made myself feel alone through my self imposed isolation (an alcoholic running away? go figure!), you guys reached out to me still. The phone messages from people letting me know that they still cared, all of your posts here carrying the message I so deperately needed, the random visits from other sober people saying, "Hey Tim we miss you and we're here for you" really did make a difference. I owe a debt of gratitude to all of you, you guys didn't let me give up and I didn't have to reset the counter and start over. The 12th step says in part ... and to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers... 12th step work doesn't just mean those late night calls to get someone into rehab or their first meeting, it's also carrying our experience, strength, and hope to those that need it. I was that alcoholic who was still suffering and I thank God you were all here doing what you were doing. Tim P.S. Things actually have worked out well, the divorce was much needed... afterall I marrried another alcoholic while drunk in Las Vegas! Because I stayed sober, I have custody of our son, so he now has the stable loving home he deserves; moving back with the folks has kept a roof over my head while job hunting, I healed up from the auto accident (as did my sponsor) with no lasting effects, cleared the suspension on my license and I'm not dead yet... That's a yet that I no longer I desire! __________________ 'You'd better be prepared for the jump into hyperspace. It's unpleasently like being drunk.' `What's so unpleasent about being drunk?' `Ask a glass of water.' - Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent... 'or ask a Drunk' - TimO

12-26-2005, 11:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
Music Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Zion, Illinois Posts: 1,869	Lessons learned! Good to see you back Tim. I live up the road a piece in Zion. Good AA up here too! __________________

12-26-2005, 11:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
Phinneas Forum Leader Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: fumbling towards ecstasy Posts: 2,610	I send prayer out to ALL who still suffer. The sober and not alcoholic-addict and those who love us. Great post, Tim. __________________ If ten people tell you that you have a tail... you might want to turn around and look.

12-26-2005, 11:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
CarolD Forum Leader Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dallas, Ga. USA Posts: 21,889	Glad to see you made it sober thru your adversities. __________________ Each Day Sober Is A Victory!! Joy In AA Recovery! :

12-26-2005, 03:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
michski Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: California Posts: 977	Great post.. thanks for 12 steppin me tonight. __________________ Fake it til you make it!

12-26-2005, 11:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dan Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,723	Those freakin' emissions testing people... Inspiring post, Tim

12-26-2005, 12:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chy Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: El Paso, Tx Posts: 5,877	Good to see you Tim...good to see you sober. hugs Thanks for that post.

12-26-2005, 06:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
Doug Guest Posts: n/a	Tim its real good to see you back here, believe it or not I was wondering about about a week or so ago. I'm glad you stopped by, and I'm glad you didn't get back to drinking.

12-27-2005, 10:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
TimOFromChicago Subtle yet overstated.... Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: So Chi Hts, IL Posts: 49	Thanks for all the kind words everybody. It just goes to show how our adversity can help someone else (although I wasn't looking at it that way at the time!). Doug - I think our last conversations were right at the beginning of this stretch as I was getting a website up and running for the Alano club of which I'm a member. The site was up for a while but has since gone bye bye, look for a new one sometime in June! Music - after reading some of your other posts, I'd say that you guys serve up a dish of AA pretty close to the one served to me around here... Michski - I think we have the same sober birthday! I did miss you guys quite a bit and it's good to be back. Thanks again, Tim P.S. Has ayone heard from Moot lately? With everything that's gone on in my life, I've lost contact with her and can't find any of her addresses or numbers. Hope she's doing well... __________________ 'You'd better be prepared for the jump into hyperspace. It's unpleasently like being drunk.' `What's so unpleasent about being drunk?' `Ask a glass of water.' - Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent... 'or ask a Drunk' - TimO

12-27-2005, 11:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
Dan Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,723	Moot's been offline for a while now, Tim. Last I heard, through the grapevine, she was happy and sober.

12-28-2005, 11:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
Sheryl85 '55 Classic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 619	Tim, Evidently I came onboard SR during your “adventures,” but Wow! (I’ll just keep it to myself from now on if I go to thinking I’ve had a bad day!) I’m so glad you made it through all that... and sober too. Good luck in the future… (By the way, did you get another job?) Let us know how it’s going. __________________ "Temper is a quality that at a critical moment brings out the best in steel and worst in people." - William Grohse NOTE: All Big Book quotes are from the First Edition of the Big Book

12-28-2005, 11:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
Justme57 Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Melbourne victoria Posts: 1,980 Blog Entries: 7	Wow Tim what a powerful post ! It is good to be reminded that LIFE goes on, despite us ! For myself, i have found that trials I have faced while sober, have been a point of growth for me So glad you made it thru unscathed, and that you had the fellowship behind you , Awesome isnt it ? HUGX Lee ps I am glad to hear that mooty is ok

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