Celebrating
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: South Africa
Posts: 168
Celebrating
So I was happily going about my new sober life... and then.. my exam results came... I passed 
Great news right??? Then why is the only way I can think of celebrating a glass of wine?? Scary business especially it being the weekend.
Any advice on how to celebrate any positive moment?
Great news right??? Then why is the only way I can think of celebrating a glass of wine?? Scary business especially it being the weekend.
Any advice on how to celebrate any positive moment?
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 10,912
Hi Zeekie, congrats on passing the exam 
You think about drinking because that's what you are used to. But we can create new habits.
I like to treat myself to little things to celebrate something: good food in a nice restaurant (maybe at home eating out might make you want to drink), buying something that I fancy but might not get just any day, going to an event I'm interested in eg. theater or a concert, spa treatments, or just anything healthy I have wanted to do for a while but have not explored yet. If you are going to do something with other people, I would probably choose non-drinkers or people who are willing to do something without alcohol involved.
You think about drinking because that's what you are used to. But we can create new habits.
I like to treat myself to little things to celebrate something: good food in a nice restaurant (maybe at home eating out might make you want to drink), buying something that I fancy but might not get just any day, going to an event I'm interested in eg. theater or a concert, spa treatments, or just anything healthy I have wanted to do for a while but have not explored yet. If you are going to do something with other people, I would probably choose non-drinkers or people who are willing to do something without alcohol involved.
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: PA
Posts: 1,053
Hi Zeekie,
I know how you feel - I seem to have cravings when I'm happy as well as stressed but when I have them when I'm happy they seems less threatening. Like - "hey this is a great day wish I had some wine" feels like it might be ok to have one because I'm not running or trying to escape. I think you have to remember that no matter why or what was the motivation when you start drinking the result is going to be the same. And there's a reason you're on this site and not drinking now.
When I have those thoughts I think of the little bottles of vodka I used to buy and consume because wine just wasn't enough anymore...
Congratulations on your exams - maybe you did so well because you're not drinking anymore - good reason to stay quit.
I know how you feel - I seem to have cravings when I'm happy as well as stressed but when I have them when I'm happy they seems less threatening. Like - "hey this is a great day wish I had some wine" feels like it might be ok to have one because I'm not running or trying to escape. I think you have to remember that no matter why or what was the motivation when you start drinking the result is going to be the same. And there's a reason you're on this site and not drinking now.
When I have those thoughts I think of the little bottles of vodka I used to buy and consume because wine just wasn't enough anymore...
Congratulations on your exams - maybe you did so well because you're not drinking anymore - good reason to stay quit.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: South Africa
Posts: 168
Thank you guys and gals. I went to the store and bought some ingredients for a Indian Cuisine meal we love. I am going to make that tonight.
Mind you, when I walked pass the wine isle (yeah our local grocer sells wine next to the vegetables )... I passed right on by... When I was faced with the choice, amazingly enough I did not want to... even though I did driving there. God is good.
Mind you, when I walked pass the wine isle (yeah our local grocer sells wine next to the vegetables )... I passed right on by... When I was faced with the choice, amazingly enough I did not want to... even though I did driving there. God is good.
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: South Africa
Posts: 168
Originally Posted by Ruby2 
All great suggestions. Congratulations on passing both your exam and this test.
My grocery has the wine by the yogurt and cheese. I've learned to make it a blank zone in my head when I go there.
My grocery has the wine by the yogurt and cheese. I've learned to make it a blank zone in my head when I go there.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 770
The celebratory craving! So devious isnt it??
They still pop up for me at 4 years , but they always pass. I'm able to laugh at them now.
Congrats on passing your exams by the way! Celebratory dinner? Fancy new shirt? Is there a new movie you'd like to see Treat yourself! The money I spend on eating out or seeing a movie never even comes close to the ammount I would have spent on the liquor aisle
They still pop up for me at 4 years , but they always pass. I'm able to laugh at them now.
Congrats on passing your exams by the way! Celebratory dinner? Fancy new shirt? Is there a new movie you'd like to see Treat yourself! The money I spend on eating out or seeing a movie never even comes close to the ammount I would have spent on the liquor aisle
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 196
Congratulations on the pass, I used to think the same way but now I embrace some of the suggestions made above. I find other ways to celebrate my triumphs different but all better. Treat yourself.
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: South Africa
Posts: 168
Thank you all. It's late evening here and the meal turned out great. I did have a toast with some pomegranate juice!!! Now we put our gas heater on and we're about to watch a late movie. If it wasn't for these replies... it could've been different so I'm grateful for this community tonight. Thank you!
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: MN
Posts: 8,704
First, congrats on passing the exams. Secondly, learning how to celebrate such event without alcohol is part of the transformation correct? A good meal would always be my go to, love to eat. Congratulations on all the tests you passed today.
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