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Holiday Parties - Safety Nets - Are You Prepared?



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Holiday Parties - Safety Nets - Are You Prepared?

Old 11-24-2008, 08:13 PM
  # 1 (permalink)  
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Talking Holiday Parties - Safety Nets - Are You Prepared?

Now that we are getting into the holiday season I wanted to share some of my holiday tips for surviving office parties and friend's gatherings as well as any other gatherings that I go to. I welcome others to add their own tips so that all our newcomers will be able to have their own safety nets and not find themselves in a sticky situation with no way out. Here is my plan:

1) I assess my spiritual fitness - if I am not spiritually fit that day I do not go.
2) I pray before going in and if I get tempted then I pray again
3) Whenever possible I try to take another sober alcoholic with me (usually my husband or a friend from my group. If I can't do that then I take someone who knows I'm alcoholic and build my accountability in that way.
4) If I start to feel uncomfortable I leave. Period. Immediately.
5) I keep track of my glass at all times. I do NOT lay it down. If I must then I get a fresh one that I prepare myself.
6) If for some reason I do set my glass down I smell my glass BEFORE I take a drink. If in doubt I dump it out. People can sometimes accidentally pick up the wrong glass and leave the wrong glass.
7) Be aware of alcohol in food - it can show up in the strangest places. If in doubt smell it and/or ask the waiter or hostess. I got hold of a chocolate covered pecan that had been SOAKED in rum once - not fun at all!
8) Take your own transportation so you can leave as soon as You want to or NEED to.
9) Call your sponsor or another sober alcoholic before and after the event and even during if you need to.

This is all I can think of for the moment but keep them coming.

Take care,
Kellye
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Old 11-25-2008, 02:44 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
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Good idea....Thanks Kelley

Yes.....parties .. weddings ... social and business events
sometimes are part of our lives.

Here are some tips that have worked for me
and I have left sober each time....

Go late ...leave early
Take your own car..or taxi cash.

Ask a sober friend to go with you.
Take sober peoples phone numbers to call if you get antsy.

Turn your wine glass upside down at dinner
..denoting to the server you don't plan to drink
When toasts are made raise a glass of water

Get your own beverage from the bar. then
carry around a glass with something non alcoholic
(Club soda and Lime ..Coke with a cherry...Virgin Mary)

When asked "want a drink"?
you then say..."No thanks I have one"

When you leave your beverage ...smell before drinking.
It's easy to mix up the glasses.

Dance often and enjoy!
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Old 11-25-2008, 09:32 AM
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This is going to be my first sober Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, so thanks so much for the suggestions. Kellye must've been reading my mind because I was starting to get nervous as my family are all heavy drinkers. And I can't exactly skip all my family functions.
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Old 11-25-2008, 09:56 AM
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You can survive it if you have your plans in place first. Also, if you are going out of town it is ALWAYS a good idea to locate meetings in advance (location, times and most importantly the intergroup phone number as sometimes the locations change). This is, of course for those who do go to meetings. If not, try to find supportive and positive people to spend time with especially when/if things get crazy!

Glad this helped!
Kellye
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