Originally Posted by
August252015 
Good job.....but strongly agree with Scott here.
You seem to be getting a whole lot from Annie Grace which is awesome. I'm going to be redundant again (ha) that adding more tools and making choices that take you further from a drink , rather than closer to one, is critical right now. Real friends will wait.
What have you planned out for today? I needed very simple plans at first (like 1 make the bed 2 eat twice and 3 shower, for a couple weeks - and a meeting every day) and that gradually expanded to the very awesomely, ridiculously full HDP (Holy Day Planner, as my husband and I call it) I keep now. I just started my 4th one in sobriety and I've kept them all - plus the tiny notebook I first used that had such basic daily to dos and victories.
Additions of exercise, things we enjoy (golf) and participating in good things with supportive people and surroundings....they come if we stay sober.
Hi August, I knew I would get a note of caution from you guys!! But you are right. I had some meet up planned for tomorrow night which I cancelled and today it's work then long walk home listening to Annie. Not sure a second read as a priority over moving to Allen Carr was necessary but there we are. May as well finish it now and move on with the message reinforced. The good thing is that even when I'm not listening to the books or podcasts, I'm constantly scanning for those unconscious messages telling me that drinking is a "good idea". There were well over a dozen alone today - two colleagues telling tales of their weekends or "legendary" nights out in days gone by. Maybe they were (they probably weren't!), but could they ever be for me? 100% not. Instagram is also chock full of them.
I'm mainly focused on trying to avoid stressful situations at the mo. I have a wedding in a fortnight which will be fine (but far from ideal) as they all know I'm not drinking and this has been firmly established and after that my only commitment is a golf trip with my two cousins - one of whom recommended Annie and will also be sober. In a way those trips allow me to practice being sober doing fun things. Last time we did a trip in February to Spain I felt deprived. This is the attitude I want to get away from this time and I look forward to chatting that aspect through with my cousin when there. Besides that, it's just work and casual golf games on the weekends. Thankfully golf isn't really alcohol oriented in the UK the way it can be in the States. And it's an excuse to get fresh air and not isolate. The isolating tends to get me intro trouble. So healthy socialising. Funny that although the topic of drinking and its positive associations comes up frequently day to day, it happens FAR less when I am not the one leading it, cementing this own obsession in my own head. I think that's one of the really key mistakes I've been making for years. Wow, I really sound like a disciple with the zeal of the reformed here. But so be it!