Burning Bridges
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Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 307
Burning Bridges
An old saying goes: “Don’t burn your bridges - you might need them going back.”
Us alcoholics, unfortunately, burn a lot of our bridges. We burn them while we are drunk. Some of them, we burn so badly, we can never go back; divorces, things we have said that can never be taken back, things we have done that can never be un-done, things we have lost – and I’m not just talking material stuff. Alcohol is a great fire-starter, is it not?
Fortunately, once we have chosen the sober route, although the damage has already been done, a lot of it can be repaired. People forgive, and life goes on. And every sober day – at least for me – brings with it new hope. That I can start over, and that I can succeed.
Day 19… Sober and feeling good…
Us alcoholics, unfortunately, burn a lot of our bridges. We burn them while we are drunk. Some of them, we burn so badly, we can never go back; divorces, things we have said that can never be taken back, things we have done that can never be un-done, things we have lost – and I’m not just talking material stuff. Alcohol is a great fire-starter, is it not?
Fortunately, once we have chosen the sober route, although the damage has already been done, a lot of it can be repaired. People forgive, and life goes on. And every sober day – at least for me – brings with it new hope. That I can start over, and that I can succeed.
Day 19… Sober and feeling good…
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: east coast
Posts: 1,332
Well done on 19 days. Yes alcoholism can burn a lot of bridges. But, for me I try to live " where there is life there is hope". As long as you continue to live a sober life there remains the hope things can get better. And it does. And it will. And sometimes you will discover you have carpenter skills and can rebuild some of those bridges
sober style
Join Date: May 2016
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 2,388
There's a great song called It Ain't Easy Being Me by the brilliant country singer-songwriter Chris Knight that touches on this iconic metaphor:
There ought to be a bridge somewhere they could dedicate to me
I'd probably come to the ceremony with a can of gasoline
Walk on over to the other side
Where I'd light a match
Sit and stare through the smoke and flames and wonder how I'm gonna get back
Why do I do the things I do?
Was I born this way or am I self made fool?
I shoot the lights and I curse the dark...
There ought to be a bridge somewhere they could dedicate to me
I'd probably come to the ceremony with a can of gasoline
Walk on over to the other side
Where I'd light a match
Sit and stare through the smoke and flames and wonder how I'm gonna get back
Why do I do the things I do?
Was I born this way or am I self made fool?
I shoot the lights and I curse the dark...
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 307
In 2020 I hope to build some new bridges. They won't take me back to the people and other things I have lost, but maybe they will take me to new people and places and other things - hopefully better things...
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Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 14,937
People forgive, and life goes on
I've been sober for years, and I've discovered something else interesting.
Not only do people forgive, they also forget. They will forget a whole bunch of stuff related to your drinking. And with each additional sober day (week, month and year) you achieve, it makes the ancient past even more ancient.
I've been sober for years, and I've discovered something else interesting.
Not only do people forgive, they also forget. They will forget a whole bunch of stuff related to your drinking. And with each additional sober day (week, month and year) you achieve, it makes the ancient past even more ancient.
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,775
Originally Posted by Rockbottom1964 
An old saying goes: “Don’t burn your bridges - you might need them going back.”
Us alcoholics, unfortunately, burn a lot of our bridges. We burn them while we are drunk. Some of them, we burn so badly, we can never go back; divorces, things we have said that can never be taken back, things we have done that can never be un-done, things we have lost – and I’m not just talking material stuff. Alcohol is a great fire-starter, is it not?
Fortunately, once we have chosen the sober route, although the damage has already been done, a lot of it can be repaired. People forgive, and life goes on. And every sober day – at least for me – brings with it new hope. That I can start over, and that I can succeed.
Day 19… Sober and feeling good…
Us alcoholics, unfortunately, burn a lot of our bridges. We burn them while we are drunk. Some of them, we burn so badly, we can never go back; divorces, things we have said that can never be taken back, things we have done that can never be un-done, things we have lost – and I’m not just talking material stuff. Alcohol is a great fire-starter, is it not?
Fortunately, once we have chosen the sober route, although the damage has already been done, a lot of it can be repaired. People forgive, and life goes on. And every sober day – at least for me – brings with it new hope. That I can start over, and that I can succeed.
Day 19… Sober and feeling good…
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