My 10th day scorecard...

[UncleEarl]

This list is far from exhaustive, but ten of the more salient features of my last ten days of sobriety -in no particular order- are:


A) 1. I sleep like a baby! And I have dreams that I remember (i.e. REM sleep)
2. I FINISH things at work rather than say, "it can wait until tomorrow."
3. I look better. The ruddiness and blemishes are gone from my skin.
4. I smell better. Alcohol isn't oozing from my pores and my mouth doesn't taste like a mouldy bottle of Jack.
5. I've saved at least $350-$400 (Canadian, eh) that would have gone to booze.
6. I remember phone calls and conversations from the night before.
7. I've started cleaning my apartment and do my laundry on time.
8. I can concentrate. I can actually read for more than 10 minutes and retain what I've read.
9. I eat better. In fact, I eat! No more liquid-only diet.
10. I feel better both physically and emotionally. No more lying about drinking, no hangovers, no shakes, no fear that if I eat something my bowels may not cooperate.

B) What I miss most about drinking: being drunk.

C) What I miss LEAST about drinking: being drunk.

Since B) and C) cancel each other out, it looks like it's 10 for sobriety and ZERO for drinking.

It hasn't been easy. I have my share of white-knuckle moments and times when I just want to throw up my hands and say, "screw this, gimme a drink!" However difficult it's been, it MUST be easier than the hell I was living while drinking every day.

Thanks to all the SR participants. Your posts continue to be inspirational and informative and I pray that I reach a level and length of sobriety that I can meaningfully give back to the group.

[CarolD]

Way to go Earl!

[GlassPrisoner]

Wow, great gratitude list you have there ! I can identify with all but #2 (I don't have a job yet).

I'll add to the list

11. I can drive without fear of being pulled over
12. No more "empties" all over the house and in the car to worry about throwing out.
13. I actually get out of the house, and interact with other people daily
14. My car is clean and maintained

[UncleEarl]

Your #11 slipped my mind, but that's a big one for me too.

[findingout]

Thanks for sharing the math (and your recovery) with us Earl! Sober is better, it just adds up that way - always.

[Mongo]

Way to go Earl!!

Ron

[brians]

Way to go Earl. Have you tried AA meetings? Posting here and going to meetings makes it so much easlier.

http://www.aacanada.com/cdnmeetings.html

[chip]

Great stuff, UncleEarl!

Life is so much better on the "other side".

I was trapped inside a bottle for many years. It's like having an awakening to be free from it.
chip

[came2believe]

Hooray!!!! You made my day Uncle Earl!

[UncleEarl]

Thanks for the support, everyone.

And, came2believe...it's support like this that makes my day as well! I'm glad I could make you smile.

[223]

Originally Posted by GlassPrisoner

...
12. No more "empties" all over the house and in the car to worry about throwing out.
...

I remember that one. Now I have stuff in my recycle bin that I can be proud of!

and if I can add a few myself

15. No more "rotating" liquor stores so as not to be seen in any particular one too frequently.

16. No more Zantac.

17. Watching an entire game or movie.

[GlassPrisoner]

15. No more "rotating" liquor stores so as not to be seen in any particular one too frequently.

But still, my 3 shots of Vodka & a pack of cigs would be on the counter as I walked in (At 7:00 AM)

[findingout]

Originally Posted by 223

15. No more "rotating" liquor stores so as not to be seen in any particular one too frequently.

Been there. Last thing I wanted was for the party store owners to think I was an alcoholic. Not sure why though... maybe I thought they would stop selling to me?

[came2believe]

LOL--Because "everyone is as obsessed with my drinking as I am, right?" hehehehe How about

18) No More Waking Up at 3 AM panicked, ashamed, with a dry throat and craving a drink???

[GlassPrisoner]

Thanks C2B. I used to HATE that ! Only a good hard belt of the bottle under the pillow would get me back to "sleep". If I was out of booze, I'd be laying there until 6:30 so I could drive to the liquor store at 7:00......A looonnnnnggg 3 hours.

[Tazman53]

Earl glad to hear you are still sober, congrats. You mentioned prayer, your Higher Power can be the ticket to long term HAPPY sobriety, I am in AA and I am happier then I have been in 30+ years thanks to AA, my Higher Power, and following directions.

I love going to meetings, here I am sitting in a room full of sober alcoholics that know exactly how I feel and how I think. The most important thing they know though is not just how to stay sober, but how to be happy being sober and they are willing to share it with me for free!!!!