Celebrating my 5 months by NOT going to Vegas ;)
Celebrating my 5 months by NOT going to Vegas ;)
Hi SR peeps. Today I have five months of sobriety! I am so thankful to have made it so far.
A friend of mine is in Vegas for work and kept asking me to come meet her, with my boyfriend and his brother, because she has extra room for all of us. I was really torn about what to do because I wanted to go to Vegas and hang out with her. My mind kept going back and forth, thinking, well I'll have fun hanging out with her, she's not much of a drinker... she drinks a drink or two max all night... but my boyfriend and his brother are big drinkers and I don't want to tempt myself with all that alcohol around, and I also don't want to hang out alllllll night with drunk people, it just doesn't sound fun to me... but I want to lay out at the pool, and go shopping, and see a show... but I have so many things to do at work, and a lot of things to get done personally as well, and don't have extra money right now...
I went on and on in my head like this and talked to my sister and also my sponsor about it. My sponsor said this could be a good time to ask my higher power for guidance, and to go with what felt right to me. I realized that if I was unsure whether I could maintain my sobriety in Vegas, I shouldn't go. Also part of my higher concept right now is responsibility... I know that sounds weird, but I think of it as like, if I feel anxious or otherwise want to drink, instead of turning towards alcohol, I will turn towards my responsibilities. Because my higher power right now is Good Orderly Direction... doing the next right thing and making a conscious effort to live the kind of life I want to live rather than just giving into my own impulses and living mindlessly. I have been trying hard to work out, eat well, keep my apartment clean, go to meetings, work hard at work... basically be responsible in my life and take care of myself. Driving to Vegas on a whim for a whirlwind trip is the opposite of what I've been trying to accomplish... it's what the old Pigtails would have done in a heartbeat, but I'm the new Pigtails.
I've also realized lately that I'm terribly co-dependent, and I had to examine my motivations for even wanting to go... really I just felt bad that my friend was "stuck" in Vegas with co-workers she wasn't close with, pretty much on her own, and I wanted her to have company and didn't want to let her down. I need to put my own priorities first and not worry about disappointing other people. So I ended up telling her it just isn't working out because I don't have the time or money right now, which is the essential truth.
Part of me feels rather old, boring and fuddy-duddy, but a bigger part of me feels confident that I did the best thing for myself and made the right decision. A perfect way to celebrate my five months of sobriety.
Thanks everyone. Have a great day!
A friend of mine is in Vegas for work and kept asking me to come meet her, with my boyfriend and his brother, because she has extra room for all of us. I was really torn about what to do because I wanted to go to Vegas and hang out with her. My mind kept going back and forth, thinking, well I'll have fun hanging out with her, she's not much of a drinker... she drinks a drink or two max all night... but my boyfriend and his brother are big drinkers and I don't want to tempt myself with all that alcohol around, and I also don't want to hang out alllllll night with drunk people, it just doesn't sound fun to me... but I want to lay out at the pool, and go shopping, and see a show... but I have so many things to do at work, and a lot of things to get done personally as well, and don't have extra money right now...
I went on and on in my head like this and talked to my sister and also my sponsor about it. My sponsor said this could be a good time to ask my higher power for guidance, and to go with what felt right to me. I realized that if I was unsure whether I could maintain my sobriety in Vegas, I shouldn't go. Also part of my higher concept right now is responsibility... I know that sounds weird, but I think of it as like, if I feel anxious or otherwise want to drink, instead of turning towards alcohol, I will turn towards my responsibilities. Because my higher power right now is Good Orderly Direction... doing the next right thing and making a conscious effort to live the kind of life I want to live rather than just giving into my own impulses and living mindlessly. I have been trying hard to work out, eat well, keep my apartment clean, go to meetings, work hard at work... basically be responsible in my life and take care of myself. Driving to Vegas on a whim for a whirlwind trip is the opposite of what I've been trying to accomplish... it's what the old Pigtails would have done in a heartbeat, but I'm the new Pigtails.
I've also realized lately that I'm terribly co-dependent, and I had to examine my motivations for even wanting to go... really I just felt bad that my friend was "stuck" in Vegas with co-workers she wasn't close with, pretty much on her own, and I wanted her to have company and didn't want to let her down. I need to put my own priorities first and not worry about disappointing other people. So I ended up telling her it just isn't working out because I don't have the time or money right now, which is the essential truth.
Part of me feels rather old, boring and fuddy-duddy, but a bigger part of me feels confident that I did the best thing for myself and made the right decision. A perfect way to celebrate my five months of sobriety.
Thanks everyone. Have a great day!
Hi Pigtails! Congratulations on your five months - that's fabulous. You did the right thing for sure - now there'll be no chance of risking your hard-earned sobriety. You're making great progress - very proud of you!
Five months, whoo-hoo!
I like the way you reasoned through this and came to a decision you are confident was right. I try to do it just that way, when I'm befuddled by something that might cause me problems. Way to go.
I like the way you reasoned through this and came to a decision you are confident was right. I try to do it just that way, when I'm befuddled by something that might cause me problems. Way to go.
Congratulations on resisting your temptations. I'm sure you made the right decision for yourself. I wouldn't want to be around all that alcohol either. In fact, since I've stopped I don't even have an interest in 'going out.' It was always so boring in the first place; the alcohol just kept me from realizing it. I'd rather do some outdoors stuff.
Keep up the good work. It sounds like you have your head on straight.
Keep up the good work. It sounds like you have your head on straight.
Congratulations on resisting your temptations. I'm sure you made the right decision for yourself. I wouldn't want to be around all that alcohol either. In fact, since I've stopped I don't even have an interest in 'going out.' It was always so boring in the first place; the alcohol just kept me from realizing it. I'd rather do some outdoors stuff.
Keep up the good work. It sounds like you have your head on straight.
Keep up the good work. It sounds like you have your head on straight.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 16
Wow Pigtails I am so proud of you! That is such great news! I admire your willpower and your courage! Keep it up. I am on Day 5 and working my way through my new life. I hope to learn alot from this new website and plan to attend meetings soon. I am looking forward to my sobriety and this new journey.....I am taking it one day at a time. I had to stop drinking because it was controlling my life! You are definitely an inspiration!
Wow Pigtails I am so proud of you! That is such great news! I admire your willpower and your courage! Keep it up. I am on Day 5 and working my way through my new life. I hope to learn alot from this new website and plan to attend meetings soon. I am looking forward to my sobriety and this new journey.....I am taking it one day at a time. I had to stop drinking because it was controlling my life! You are definitely an inspiration!
Pigtains, congratulations on your 5 months and you should be very proud of all that you've accomplished.
It sounds like you're making great strides on your recovery journey and I think that you made a wise decision to not go to Vegas.
After I stopped drinking and some months had gone by, I realized that a lot of my issues stemmed from co-dependence issues. I routinely put my husband and children first ALL the time. I would never inconvenience any of them because I wanted to do something that was important to me. And, like you, I began to slowly try to change that, and the journey has been amazing.
It sounds like you're making great strides on your recovery journey and I think that you made a wise decision to not go to Vegas.
After I stopped drinking and some months had gone by, I realized that a lot of my issues stemmed from co-dependence issues. I routinely put my husband and children first ALL the time. I would never inconvenience any of them because I wanted to do something that was important to me. And, like you, I began to slowly try to change that, and the journey has been amazing.
5 months is impressive and I love all the insights you're having! It's great that you're thinking about what you need/want for a change! I've always tried to make sure that everyone else was happy, too..... talk about taking on an impossible job!! I found this quote shortly after getting sober and I still love it:
You're doing great, Pigtails -
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.* ~e.e. cummings
I know that sounds weird, but I think of it as like, if I feel anxious or otherwise want to drink, instead of turning towards alcohol, I will turn towards my responsibilities. Because my higher power right now is Good Orderly Direction... doing the next right thing and making a conscious effort to live the kind of life I want to live rather than just giving into my own impulses and living mindlessly....... I need to put my own priorities first and not worry about disappointing other people.
Oh ... and most importantly: Congratulations on your 5 months sober!!!!!
Last edited by Emily2002; 04-04-2012 at 06:59 PM. Reason: Wanted to add something.
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