7/12/04

[bubblze30]

Today's thought is:

Inches make champions.
-- Vince Lombardi

What's the difference between success and failure? Ideal conditions? Half again as much effort? Twice the talent? Ten times "the breaks"? Or is it simply that some people have what it takes and some people don't?

Vince Lombardi, the football coach who brought the Green Bay Packers from fifteen losing seasons to successive world championships, thought success was a matter of inches. A bit more concentration, one extra push in practice, a consistent second effort for a tiny additional gain. He didn't ask his players to be something other than they were - he asked them to improve their best an inch at a time. He knew inches add up, in life as in sports.

In life as in football, it is often the little things that count: going to meetings when we feel like staying home, or speaking our minds, no matter how insignificant our opinion may seem. When we feel like simply hiding -- inches make the difference.

Today, I will be aware that I am a champion in the making. I may not make a complete turnaround today, but I will make progress.

[bubblze30]

My councelor always says "slower gets you there quicker". She always took her time with me(still does) baby steps. I believe this helped me to stay focused and is still helping me to recover. I always laid it all out and tried to fix everything at once. Now I know if I just work on one thing at a time it will get finshed and I can move on. Not only will it get finished but it will be completed with better thought and work. As with the past trying to fix everthing at once only caused more problems needing to be fixed. So I do believe going slow and being patient does work. No matter what the problem is we are facing.

[Suckerpunched]

Hi Bubblze, if slower works for you, do it!!! When you are ready to quit, you will! I've started over so many times, I can't begin to tell you! At first, stopping cold turkey completely overwhelemed me, just couldn't think about it or do it! I took baby steps, took a day off here and there from drinking, then a few more days, etc..... For me, it just didn't work! Though I didn't drink everyday, when I did drink I couldn't control the amount! Passing out always seemed to be the ultimate goal, I of course didn't think I'd get "that" drunk starting out but that's always what happened! I finally got tired of being sick and tired! I staged my own intervention, called family members and sat down with them and my husband and told them everything! I talk daily with them now about staying sober and they support me 100%! I was scared to death to finally admit the truth, thought they'd look down on me, beat me up verbally! NOT!!! They have provided more support then I could have ever hoped for! They just want me well! I also started attending AA meetings, big step for me! I read the "Big Book" daily! Not sure if I'm working the "steps" but just the encouragment and daily reading seems to be keeping me sober! Some days minute by minute, but hey, I've been sober 9 days now! Longest I've been in years!!!!!!!!

If you want to get sober, you will! You can do it, I know you can!!!

Good Luck and prayers to you! You can PM me if you'd like!!

[bubblze30]

I am sorry I think you misunderstood me. I meant in aspects of my recovery and daily life issues. Taking my time to view a situation and find out the best ways to work on them. Instead of getting all anxious and flipping out. As with my recovery to take things slow. To work on my recovery in a slow paced manner. When I come up with a problem in recovery I sit down and figure out what the best route to take and take it slow. Thank you for being there if I need someone. I need all the help I can get.

[bubblze30]

Way to go on your week.