What keeps you sober?
What keeps you sober? 
Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Here, Now
Posts: 4,268
A vision of myself as a functioning human becoming. I'm 64 years old. In my wake are 3 failed marraiges and all they entail. As Pema Chodron says "when the bottom falls out and we can't find anything to grasp, it hurts a lot...When we are nailed with the truth, we suffer." I spent 45 years medicating myself to ease the pain I caused myself through the medication. Even an old drunk fool such as I can wake up to this truth. I could wake up and face the pain of my own creation or remain asleep, tossing and turning in my dis-ease. I choose to get out of the bed of my making and live with all that entails, grief, joy, pain, relief. Every day of my sobriety I say to myself "May my heart be filled with loving kindness. May I be healthy in body, mind, heart and spirit. May I live in joy and peace." So far its working. I can't go back I can only move forward.
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 392
Highs is life:
-After 108 days sober and 25 year drinking career, I have been able to save money and pay things off that I could have never done without drinking
-Love going to bed thinking about what tomorrow will bring
-Clarity of thought ALL day
-Love smiling and looking at my child
-Love just thinking that I am lengthening my life
-After 108 days sober and 25 year drinking career, I have been able to save money and pay things off that I could have never done without drinking
-Love going to bed thinking about what tomorrow will bring
-Clarity of thought ALL day
-Love smiling and looking at my child
-Love just thinking that I am lengthening my life
Guest
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: The Deep South
Posts: 14,636
Hi Kailae, I'm new in sobriety... but what really motivates me and keeps me pushing forward (aside from my permanent personal commitment to abstinence... no matter what) is this: The hope that I can have a real life again. Drinking stalled me in my early 20's. It just sort of stopped my emotional growth. I had every opportunity in the world... good education, intelligence, etc.
I want to pick right back up where I left off and have a WONDERFUL LIFE. And I know it's possible. It's my hope to do a lot more in life than I've done.
I want to travel & write a book that sells. I also want to do photography. And start a successful small business. These are some of the specific things I'm going to be focusing on and visualizing myself doing in the near future...
I want to pick right back up where I left off and have a WONDERFUL LIFE. And I know it's possible. It's my hope to do a lot more in life than I've done.
I want to travel & write a book that sells. I also want to do photography. And start a successful small business. These are some of the specific things I'm going to be focusing on and visualizing myself doing in the near future...
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: California
Posts: 382
The hopes to be able to do simple things like driving a car and sitting in a movie without shacking and feeling anxious. The hopes to get a good job and have a nice life for my wife and I. I'm 33 days sober from alcohol, and taking one day at a time.
Eternally Grateful 4/25/08
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 212
Oh wow so many things!
Planning vacations for the summer....when I spent 8+ years never getting out of my nightgown much less going on vacation.
Laughing so hard you're crying.
Being trusted and respected again.
My husband not being a nervous wreck all the time, worrying himself sick.
My family being able to depend on me again.
Not worrying about being caught in a lie (cause all I did was lie).
The list goes on and on!
Planning vacations for the summer....when I spent 8+ years never getting out of my nightgown much less going on vacation.
Laughing so hard you're crying.
Being trusted and respected again.
My husband not being a nervous wreck all the time, worrying himself sick.
My family being able to depend on me again.
Not worrying about being caught in a lie (cause all I did was lie).
The list goes on and on!
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,760
My three dogs are my biggest joy and responsibility, one I didn't do very well while drinking. Missed or late meals, missed walks, not alert to their condition, and either too drunk or too sick to take them to the vet if they needed to go.
Two of my dogs are special needs: the very elderly beagirl and the diabetic dog. All the more reason to be sober and alert to watch for any changes in their health, especially diabetic boy. But now that I'm "all here" I don't have to worry that I'll do them wrong.
Just watching them napping on the rug makes me feel good. WAking up in the mornings and seeing them all around me on the bed makes me feel great first thing in the morning.
Money can't buy that feeling but sobriety can.
Two of my dogs are special needs: the very elderly beagirl and the diabetic dog. All the more reason to be sober and alert to watch for any changes in their health, especially diabetic boy. But now that I'm "all here" I don't have to worry that I'll do them wrong.
Just watching them napping on the rug makes me feel good. WAking up in the mornings and seeing them all around me on the bed makes me feel great first thing in the morning.
Money can't buy that feeling but sobriety can. Last edited by least; 07-17-2011 at 04:06 PM. Reason: because I can ;-)
Today's Muse
Join Date: May 2007
Location: West end
Posts: 1,081
Knowing what I know now, I could never go back to drinking. My life is drama free. I've made great gains from the hole I dug. I didn't think I'd ever regain the trust I lost by lying about my drinking. I like being reliable, sensible and responsible. Most importantly, I don't think I have the strength to go back to drinking. I thought it was hard trying to quit drinking. Thinking back, drinking, the way I did, was the hardest think I ever had to keep up. It was sickeningly, exhausting.
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