SSIL75

I have 3 kids with no local family support. I have good friends though. And my husband is great. But obviously with 3 kids under the age of 5 things are busy and stressful.

When I was drinking I was very into my right to sit down and 'rest' (drink) and relax (drink). Then once a year I'd go to NY to see friends/family and that would be 3 days of resting/relaxing (bender).

So basically my life was a mix of stress and drinking.

But now when it's time to unwind I DO things. Last night I just went on a drive and wound up at Target for a wander. Came home late-ish, physically and mentally tired. I'm heading to NY soon and have breakfast plans, a market, a new restaurant, a part of the city I want to explore.

I never DID things to relax. I never knew the gym could be relaxing. Or a walk. Or some shopping.

Always just sitting still, drinking. Falling apart.

Now when I relax it's more like restoration

Anna

It's interesting, that when drinking is no longer an option, we manage to find other ways to cope with life.

Good for you!

MIBluebird

SSIL...that gave me the chills this morning because that was my life.

Here's to sobriety...who knew?

frances2011

Great post and insights, thank you. I relate to your "I was into my right" thought. I am learning how to unwind in healthy, restorative ways too.

mayson28

I was thinking about this last night. Something upset me big time last night and before, I'd head right to a drink (and many more to follow) but instead, I went for a drive with the radio loud(something I couldn't do because I would have been drinking) and then went and bought myself a skirt and a dress. I came back relaxed and happy. What a difference to before where instead I'd be drunk (nothing gained) and then miserable feeling the next day.

WritingFromLife

Great post, SSIL. And I love the parentheses....ahhh, honesty.

Kjell

Hi SSIL-

It's freedom.

We weren't free while drinking.

It's wonderful.

I can do and go anywhere I want at anytime. This simply, though I didn't realize it at the time, wasn't true before.

Just another benefit to being sober.

GREAT post!

Kjell~

LaFemme

Thanks for the great post.

erikm02

Thanks for sharing, it is nice to REALLY relax lol

Zebra1275

Thanks for the post. I'm glad that I no longer need a period to recover (hangover) after relaxing.

FNB3

So true...

Some good, some not so good.

I always felt that if I left a little, tiny crack of an option available to drink or drug open then the addict in me would surely find a way to make it happen.