steve-in-kville

I'll have two months sober tomorrow. I can't believe it. Its been a hard road, one filled with potholes, but here I am. The past few days I have spent a lot of time reflecting on relationships: both the good and the negative that had an impact on my sobriety. Some relationships I drew closer too, or became more meaningful to me. Others I held at arms length or cut ties with entirely.

So we're gonna play a game.

1) Name the person(s) that had the most positive impact on your sobriety.

2) Name the person(s) that had the most negative impact on your sobriety.

steve-in-kville

Me first:

1) My twin babies. They will be a year old in a few weeks. I kinda missed out with my oldest children due to my addiction. This feels like a do-over for me.

2) I had to cut ties with a church and its pastor. The whole relationship turned sour, if not toxic. I think they would sooner see my as a drunk than an addict in recovery!

Maudcat

Hey, Steve. The person who had the most positive impact on my sobriety is my husband, Myles. When I decided that I really needed to stop drinking, he stopped too. He was a "normal" drinker, unlike me. He just felt that I would have a greater chance of successful sobriety if he didn't drink as well. He was right.
There really isn't anyone who had a negative impact on my sobriety. Everyone I told was immensely kind and supportive of my decision.

BrendaChenowyth

<------------- That special snowflake over there. Everything is all her fault.

Gottalife

1)
A crazy woman my sponsor asked me to take to a meeting. She gave me the opportunity to feel what it was like to help someone without thought of reward for the first time in my life. She howed me the real magic of AA. Never saw her again.
and, The crazy woman that 13 stepped me and turned my life upsidedown, filled me with resentment and almost drove me from AA. She taught me about my part, my motives and more about feelings and motives than anyone I have met before or since. Also gave great lessons in inventory, amends, and prayer.

And, An employer who fired me when I was six weeks sober, having allowed all my stuff to be stolen from my locker, opened the door to a much better future, career wise.

and, A friend, the last one standing, who banned me from his house for threatening behaviour towards his next door neighbour. Forced me to look at myself and brought me to AA a few months later.

2) I can't think of anyone who has harmed my sobriety.

ScottFromWI

1 - The SR community

2 - Myself

Aellyce

1. My father, both before his death last year and his memory ever since. A few close friends and work colleagues. My husband. Some other recovered and recovering addicts, both online and offline.

2. Myself when I relapsed. Don't think anyone else could harm my sobriety.

tomsteve

1) Name the person(s) that had the most positive impact on your sobriety.
myself.
2) Name the person(s) that had the most negative impact on your sobriety.
myself.

LadyBlue0527

1) My daughter
2) Myself

Dee74

Congrats on too months Steve. SR - the community here - has been an abiding positive influence on my recovery.

I have no room in my head to think about negative influences anymore

D

beachedMermaid

1. My husband has had the best impact on my sobriety--we got sober together.

2. I suppose I was my own worst enemy since I chose to start drinking too much in the first place, thus creating the need to get sober last year.