Walk

For those who have quit, can you provide me a few things to look forward to should I be successful as well?

slacker

Here's a similar thread I started when I first came here:

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-sobriety.html

best

I am no longer limited in what I do because of what alcohol did to me.
I think clearer.
No hangovers.
No missed work because of hangovers.
No missed memories or empty spots in my life after stopping.
Better relationships with other people.
Much better attitude about life.
Better attitude = more joy in my life.

They say that buying is better then renting when talking about houses. Well never found a way to buy and own alcohol. It always seemed to own me.
I could purchase the alcohol but what I found is it was just a rental experience and I stopped renting. Became tired of being the delivery man between the store and the bathroom *LOL*

came2believe

I am no longer beholden to alcohol.

I have the ability to truly form relationships with others.

I can love people. I didn't think I knew how.

I can love and respect myself.

Oh, and physically--
My mind works better
I can work at 100% energy all the time
I had nearly lost my career. It is now back and I am making twice as much as before.
No waking up in the night in a cold sweat
No hating myself in morning
No horrible, stomach sloshing feeling in the morning
No cravings
Except for chocolate
But I can live with that...

Go for it! You too can have these gifts!

CarolD

All hese have come rue in my life...

The Promises of f AA


If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be
amazed before we are half way through

We are going to know a new
freedom and a new happiness.

We will not regret the past nor wish to
shut the door on it.

We will comprehend the word serenity and we will
know peace.

No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will
see how our experience can benefit others.

That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.

We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows

Self-seeking will slip away.

Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.

Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us

We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.

We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could no do for ourselves.


Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled
aong us -- sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always
materialize if we work for them.

Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 83-84

Astro

Yes, the Promises do materialize if we work for them.

I see posts similar to this quite often, and my reply is always pretty much the same. What isn't a positive of being clean & sober? If I'd made a list a year ago of where I thought I'd be today in recovery I'd have seriously shortchanged myself. 28 months sober, I'm still adding to my list of positives every day, may it never end.

GrouchoTheCat

You got that right!

Less fear. I was controlled by fear. Now I do get a little fearful every once in a while, but I nolonger live a fear based existance.

No more, "what did I do last night?" (and you really don't want to know)

I wake up in the morning (accomplishment in itself) and I look forward to the day.

Thanks for starting the thread Walk,

Ted

Chy

You learn to love yourself and accept yourself for who you are with all the little flaws each of us have.

You no longer carry the guilt and shame of being a drunk.

If you are a parent you can parent and finally be emotionally available.

If you are a spouse you can finally BE in the relationship full heartedly with your soul mate.

If you are unemployed, you will gain employment.

If you are employed you'll find a greater appreciation for your job or find the confidence to get the one you truly desire.

It's not always easy as it shouldn't be, as nothing in life worth obtaining is ever easy. Accomplishment and gratification and self pride comes from the hard work it takes in getting to where you want to go.

We all have the power within us to do this, find the courage, squash the fear and just do it. Your life will truly become worth living. Good luck.

Grizzled

Let's put it this way: there aint a lot of people lined up at the liquor store after they have successfully gotten sober.

My biggest gifts are peace of mind, serenity, and self esteem.

GlassPrisoner

Carol, 'ya beat me to it ! The promises do some true, I've experienced most of them.

Anyway,

No longer retching every morning until I get a couple of shots in me.

My poops are solid.

I enjoy eating.

My bed is no longer a place of torture.

Less fear.

Less anxiety.

Less depression.

A sense of being a part of.

Serenity.

Peace.

karrotop

good morning all....thanks for the thread...i have to keep remembering why i stopped drinking too.....
it's been 51 days for me,and i find that now,i can really start working on all the reasons I drank in excess to begin with.
I am finding new ways of making myself happy,new ways of dealing with the occasional bouts of depression and anxiety.....
But, most of all,i don't carry around the shame and self-loathing that i felt every day....And i am able to be ME,for whatever that's worth...i was living a double life for many years......being a,"goody two shoes" to all that,"knew"me......and then coming home at the end of the day,and drinking until i passed out....noone knew...i was a fake...
now,when i talk to people,i can look them in the eye,and not hang my head in shame or guilt......it's so much easier just being ME,and not hiding behind my,"mask".i have alot of work to do,but i am hopeful that things will get better,as long as i keep a clear head,and an open mind.....KT

barb dwyer

you won't wind up like the guy living below me ... see my thread

parentrecovers

i love the promises. k

GlassPrisoner

Fixed it for 'ya !