The start of summer
A simple guy making his way
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Maine
Posts: 7,867
The start of summer
The coming warm weather measures time once again. As I was setting up the front porch flowers... Putting the finishing touches where I spend a lot of time in the summer... I wondered what has changed for me?
Everything and yet nothing.
The chirping birds... The sunshine... The bushes that grew a foot since last spring are indifferent. They know nothing of the events in December that changed my perceptions of life and what my future holds. My personal bottom... They know nothing of the many attempts to stop drinking. Stop using cocaine. Stop hurting my body and mind... But I do. You do.
I am ready. Ready for a different kind of summer. More exploration than when I was a younger man. More hope than when I was a child. More wisdom than I expected to ever have.
So... I am ready. The unofficial start of summer. My sobriety and clarity has been best felt in stretches of time. Now that the warmth is here to remind me of how far I have come I should take the time to enjoy it.
I hope you do too!
Everything and yet nothing.
The chirping birds... The sunshine... The bushes that grew a foot since last spring are indifferent. They know nothing of the events in December that changed my perceptions of life and what my future holds. My personal bottom... They know nothing of the many attempts to stop drinking. Stop using cocaine. Stop hurting my body and mind... But I do. You do.
I am ready. Ready for a different kind of summer. More exploration than when I was a younger man. More hope than when I was a child. More wisdom than I expected to ever have.
So... I am ready. The unofficial start of summer. My sobriety and clarity has been best felt in stretches of time. Now that the warmth is here to remind me of how far I have come I should take the time to enjoy it.
I hope you do too!
That bell or bike person
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: london
Posts: 4,978
Without winter would summer seem so verdant ?
without dark would the light seem so radiant ?
without my alcoholism would my sober life feel so glorious ?
Seems to me it's all in ones perspective . Cherish all of your life and all it's up's and down's, it makes you , you
Bestwishes, M
without dark would the light seem so radiant ?
without my alcoholism would my sober life feel so glorious ?
Seems to me it's all in ones perspective . Cherish all of your life and all it's up's and down's, it makes you , you
Bestwishes, M
Sober since October
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: In the world in my eyes...Somewhere I've never been before...
Posts: 7,355
Thank you for this beautiful post, Ken.
I just needed something so soothing and bringing some odor of flowers in my life.
I am surely ready for sober summer)
Take care.
I just needed something so soothing and bringing some odor of flowers in my life.
I am surely ready for sober summer)
Take care.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,238
My son's name is Ken, well Kenneth, but
we call him Ken. I find it nice to have
you here in SR, where I stay connected
and close to my own recovery. Anyway,
since I don't see him or speak to him too
often, seeing your name Ken, keeps him
fresh in my mind. So thank you for being
here.
It's those little things in life we may have
taken for granted or maybe over looked
that seem to bring lots of joy to our sobriety.
I never thought Id come to enjoy gardening
like I have today. We take weekly trips to
Walmart and Lowes to the garden center to
find plants and flowers to brighten up our
backyard.
I also have hanging baskets filled and hanging
out on poles around the pool. Then we have
a tall bird pole with hanging feeders that attract
Doves, Cardinals, Sparrows, Finches, Bluebirds
and other varieties. Red nectar filled feeders for
the cute little Hummingbirds that will come later.
When I go outside early in the morning, I welcome
all the different chirps and songs the birds sing as
I look to the trees to spot them.
Since red is my favorite color, most everything
around my yard is red. All to compliment each
other. So when the beautiful RED Cardinals come
in for a visit, I smile with delight and welcome
them with a pan filled with sunflower seeds.
Yes Summer is here and for me is another sober
one. Same for you. Each day that passes and each
season that comes and goes, there will be new
experience you will add on to your own recovery
life.
Embrace it. Love it. Appreciate it. Grow from it.
we call him Ken.
I find it nice to have you here in SR, where I stay connected
and close to my own recovery. Anyway,
since I don't see him or speak to him too
often, seeing your name Ken, keeps him
fresh in my mind. So thank you for being
here.
It's those little things in life we may have
taken for granted or maybe over looked
that seem to bring lots of joy to our sobriety.
I never thought Id come to enjoy gardening
like I have today. We take weekly trips to
Walmart and Lowes to the garden center to
find plants and flowers to brighten up our
backyard.
I also have hanging baskets filled and hanging
out on poles around the pool. Then we have
a tall bird pole with hanging feeders that attract
Doves, Cardinals, Sparrows, Finches, Bluebirds
and other varieties. Red nectar filled feeders for
the cute little Hummingbirds that will come later.
When I go outside early in the morning, I welcome
all the different chirps and songs the birds sing as
I look to the trees to spot them.
Since red is my favorite color, most everything
around my yard is red. All to compliment each
other. So when the beautiful RED Cardinals come
in for a visit, I smile with delight and welcome
them with a pan filled with sunflower seeds.
Yes Summer is here and for me is another sober
one. Same for you.
Each day that passes and eachseason that comes and goes, there will be new
experience you will add on to your own recovery
life.
Embrace it. Love it. Appreciate it. Grow from it.
A simple guy making his way
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Maine
Posts: 7,867
Sharon... That is so sweet! Thank you!
I am a Kenneth as well. I rather like the name. It means handsome. Lol go figure.
Ken is ok... My mother sometimes called me Kenneth when she was saying something meaningful to me. Kenny was a no no. Never say Kenny. Lol
Glad you are here as well. You add a lot to the community and I enjoy your posts!
Happy sober Monday!
Ken
I am a Kenneth as well. I rather like the name. It means handsome. Lol go figure.
Ken is ok... My mother sometimes called me Kenneth when she was saying something meaningful to me. Kenny was a no no. Never say Kenny. Lol
Glad you are here as well. You add a lot to the community and I enjoy your posts!
Happy sober Monday!
Ken
Re-Tread
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Meditation
Posts: 1,300
Great post Ken. The changing of the seasons became important to me as a drunk and user. Light beers and white wine in the summer. Sitting on the patio at restaurants with cocktails and cigarettes. Drinking beers and mowing the lawn went hand in hand for me.
In the winter it was dark beers and red wine. And shots of whiskey to 'warm me up'. Hot toddies and Baileys in my coffee. It was 'okay' for me to drink a little more at the pubs because I was less likely to be pulled over for swerving in the cold and snow.
The seasons do not know I have changed. Life goes on. I spent the beginning of winter drunk and high. I spent the second half of winter drinking coffee and attending AA meetings. Growing and learning. Eating pie at the diner after the meetings. Teaching myself how to live the life I desire and be who I expected to be.
Spring really never arrived this year. My favorite time of year is spring. It snowed off and on until May. My beautiful trees never blossomed, they went straight to leaves. I have to accept it.
Summer is here! It is over 90 degrees outside. Now when I mow the lawn I drink lemonade or iced tea. I get more chores done afterwards because I am not drunk. I put the flowers on my porch last week. I will not be partying on the patio in the evenings and blacking out the nights.
We can brave this summer sober and clear and having fun.
I'm off to the pool for a swim
In the winter it was dark beers and red wine. And shots of whiskey to 'warm me up'. Hot toddies and Baileys in my coffee. It was 'okay' for me to drink a little more at the pubs because I was less likely to be pulled over for swerving in the cold and snow.
The seasons do not know I have changed. Life goes on. I spent the beginning of winter drunk and high. I spent the second half of winter drinking coffee and attending AA meetings. Growing and learning. Eating pie at the diner after the meetings. Teaching myself how to live the life I desire and be who I expected to be.
Spring really never arrived this year. My favorite time of year is spring. It snowed off and on until May. My beautiful trees never blossomed, they went straight to leaves. I have to accept it.
Summer is here! It is over 90 degrees outside. Now when I mow the lawn I drink lemonade or iced tea. I get more chores done afterwards because I am not drunk. I put the flowers on my porch last week. I will not be partying on the patio in the evenings and blacking out the nights.
We can brave this summer sober and clear and having fun.
I'm off to the pool for a swim
A simple guy making his way
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Maine
Posts: 7,867
Thanks fallow! You sound really good.
I just finished some more planting and am really enjoying relaxing with a tea. Watching people walk by. I do love spring the most.
When I was living in Maine the fall was my favorite.
Ken
I just finished some more planting and am really enjoying relaxing with a tea. Watching people walk by. I do love spring the most.
When I was living in Maine the fall was my favorite.
Ken
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