I realized that the stuff I posted yesterday was incredibly banal. As Dee said, the destructive impulsiveness is the most basic feature of addiction... and I write about it as if it's some great insight
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DriGuy - I think a happy medium is pretty easy to come up with. Remember and use what can be learned from the past (without dwelling on it too much and letting it cause any more damage), enjoy the sober days and fill them with healthy and meaningful activities, and realize whatever dreams and goals we have in the remainder of our lives. Specifics to be filled in individually. I think aging also helps to find a better balance in these things, for me at least, although if course it keeps cutting the future part. The AV will likely always be part of all this but if it stays exclusively mental in the present and future domains, can do no more harm.