Good Morning Undies,
Welcome Mags1
This is a great group of people with an abundance of love, wisdom and support.
Welcome Rick! Congratulations on 50 days of sobriety
I think it was a very wise decision to forego Vegas. I can only imagine what kind of trigger that would be. Protect your hard-earned sobriety at all costs.
((MB)) - We all care about you and wish you the best. I think the suggestion to do some boxing is a great idea to relieve stress, frustration and improve mood. Hopefully, today is a better day for you.
Toots - Your New Year's Day plans sound like great fun. I hope you and your grandson have a great time watching the celtic. I too would really use the excuse of New Year's Eve to really drink as much as I could. Last year on New Year's Day was a beautiful day around 70 degrees. It was wonderful waking up hangover free and walking all my dogs. I did notice that no one was around in the neighborhood. I concluded they were all still in bed nursing their hangovers. What a sheer sense of relief and gratitude I had that day!
((Boozefree)) - I am so proud of your candor in admitting your slip. That takes an incredible amount of courage. All I can offer is my experience. Having a sober network in the real world was essential to me (AA) and recognizing that I will have cravings and learning to deal with them. It certainly wasn't easy because I simply wasn't accustomed to fighting off cravings. What worked for me was thinking the drink through to the ugly conclusion and attending AA meetings. My prison pen pal sent me some exercises that she had completed in her cognitive behavior training and some literature on the disease of alcoholism. The literature really hit home. It states "I am your disease. Hello, Just in case you forgot me -- I hate meetings, I hate higher powers, I hate your program. To all who come in contact with me, I wish you suffering and I wish you death. Allow me to introduce myself; I am the disease of addiction. I am cunning, baffling, powerful and patient. That's me. I have killed millions and I am pleased. I love to catch you with the element of surprise. I love pretending I am your friend and lover. I have given you comfort, haven't I? Wasn't I there when you were lonely? When you wanted to die, didn't you call on me? I was there. I love to make you hurt. I love to make you cry. Better yet, I love to make you so numb, that you can neither hurt or cry. When you can't feel anything at all, that's my true gratification. And all I ask from you is long term suffering. I have been there for you always. When things were going right in your life, you invited me. You said you didn't deserve these good things and I was the only one who would agree with you. Together we were able to destroy all the good things in your life. People don't take me seriously. Fools. Without my help these things would not be possible. I am such a hated disease and yet I do not come uninvited. You choose to have me. So many have chosen me over reality and peace. More than you hate me I hate all of you who have a 12-step program. Your program, your meetings, your higher power - all of these things weaken me and I can't function in the manner that I am accustomed to. Now I must lie here quietly, you don't see me, you don't think of me, but I never go away; I am growing bigger than ever. When you "only exist" I can live. When "you live" I can only exist. But I am here. Waiting. And until we meet again - I wish you suffering and death. I am your disease and I will wait for you. Forever. You can count on me."
((FeelingGood)) - I hope you are taking care of yourself and start feeling better soon.
Leading my sunday night AA meeting I had three beginner's attend. One spoke of her sponsor going out after 28 years of sobriety. Relapse might be a good topic for next week's meeting.
My plans for New Year's Eve entail attending my regular 5:30 meeting and thoroughly enjoying a sober New Year's watching movies and being utterly grateful for my sobriety.
Wishing all Undies a wonderful New Year's Eve.