Reading Longterm Success Stories
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: UK
Posts: 431
Reading Longterm Success Stories
I love reading the long term success stories 5 years 10 years plus. Reading these I imagine if only I could turn the clock back and start my AF journey when they did? How better my life would be now.
I stopped smoking 5 years ago. Now when see people smoking I think about the damage they are doing and am truly thankful I stopped 5 years earlier. No more worries about killing myself from smoking.
I also have some friends who just don't drink at parties. It just doesn't matter to them, I would love to be in that position. We can all work on our AF journey and mind set to get there.
I stopped smoking 5 years ago. Now when see people smoking I think about the damage they are doing and am truly thankful I stopped 5 years earlier. No more worries about killing myself from smoking.
I also have some friends who just don't drink at parties. It just doesn't matter to them, I would love to be in that position. We can all work on our AF journey and mind set to get there.
ours de petit cerveau
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1,630
Originally Posted by Gerard52 
I love reading the long term success stories 5 years 10 years plus. Reading these I imagine if only I could turn the clock back and start my AF journey when they did? How better my life would be now.
The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago.
The second best time is now.
we can't go back in time & change the past, but we can change the future, starting now. I guarantee it won't take five years for your life to be better The second best time is now.
12 Step Recovered Alcoholic
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 6,613
Originally Posted by Gerard52
I also have some friends who just don't drink at parties. It just doesn't matter to them, I would love to be in that position. We can all work on our AF journey and mind set to get there.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,234
When I entered recovery 27yrs ago, I had
to be taught about addiction and substance
abuse whether it be alcohol, drugs, prescription,
or whatever is out there.
I had no idea the extent of what alcohol
was doing to my mind, body and soul. No
idea.
You could tell me or talk to me about the
dangers of it, but while in my own fog, addiction,
it didn't register clearly.
Once the fog cleared and I allowed folks
knowledgeable in the field of addiction
teach me all about it, break it down for
me, I began to accept that fact that addiction
had taken control of me from head to toe
and wouldn't let me go until I removed
alcohol from my life completely.
COMPLETE ABSTINENCE. Not for a day.
Not for a month, yrs or whatever. But for
long term.
I had to learn that alcohol was putting me
in an early grave, slowly but surely. Robbing
me of a sober life I have acquired today by
incorporating a continuous program of
recovery on a daily bases as a guideline to
live by.
When I sat in meetings in the beginning,
I opened my ears and listened intentively
to many folks who found success in living
a recovery life and wanted so desperately
what they had. But I wanted it immediately.
They shared that they too felt the same
way when they began their journey and
listened to those before them share the
success of their own journey with them.
We live within the day doing whatever
it takes, applying all that has been taught
to us to remain sober, rinse and repeat the
next day.
And that has been what I have been
doing and still continue doing today
because I know that addiction is still
just as serious today as it was many yrs.
ago.
It hasn't slacked off or hasn't gotten better
because I continue to read about so many
wonderful folks from all walks of life get
strickened down with this bear of addiction
and taken out day after day.
Some die, some entered recovery and
some end up in jail or mental hospitals.
I too almost died and did end up in a
mental ward for a day and night before
being evaluated and explained that I
had an addiction to alcohol. I actually
was in prison or jail within my addiction.
Im not gonna tell you that recovery
is simple because its not. It takes willingness,
openmindedness, honesty, responsibility,
admitting, accepting, believing, continuous
program of recovery each day to achieve
health, happiness and freedom from the
bondage of addiction.
Even if it mean entering a rehab program
like many have done, including me, to get
you going, or grab a hand or coattail
of a member who has found success
in their own recovery life, hold on tight
and allow them to guide you with them
sharing their own ESH experiences,
strengths and hopes of what life was
and is like before, during and after addiction
to achieve the rewards and promises
granted to us and them to enjoy, appreciate
and be grateful for.
Remember you never have to go thru
this process alone or by yourself. The
fellowship and unity within recovery
is stronger than you can imagine.
to be taught about addiction and substance
abuse whether it be alcohol, drugs, prescription,
or whatever is out there.
I had no idea the extent of what alcohol
was doing to my mind, body and soul. No
idea.
You could tell me or talk to me about the
dangers of it, but while in my own fog, addiction,
it didn't register clearly.
Once the fog cleared and I allowed folks
knowledgeable in the field of addiction
teach me all about it, break it down for
me, I began to accept that fact that addiction
had taken control of me from head to toe
and wouldn't let me go until I removed
alcohol from my life completely.
COMPLETE ABSTINENCE. Not for a day.
Not for a month, yrs or whatever. But for
long term.
I had to learn that alcohol was putting me
in an early grave, slowly but surely. Robbing
me of a sober life I have acquired today by
incorporating a continuous program of
recovery on a daily bases as a guideline to
live by.
When I sat in meetings in the beginning,
I opened my ears and listened intentively
to many folks who found success in living
a recovery life and wanted so desperately
what they had. But I wanted it immediately.
They shared that they too felt the same
way when they began their journey and
listened to those before them share the
success of their own journey with them.
We live within the day doing whatever
it takes, applying all that has been taught
to us to remain sober, rinse and repeat the
next day.
And that has been what I have been
doing and still continue doing today
because I know that addiction is still
just as serious today as it was many yrs.
ago.
It hasn't slacked off or hasn't gotten better
because I continue to read about so many
wonderful folks from all walks of life get
strickened down with this bear of addiction
and taken out day after day.
Some die, some entered recovery and
some end up in jail or mental hospitals.
I too almost died and did end up in a
mental ward for a day and night before
being evaluated and explained that I
had an addiction to alcohol. I actually
was in prison or jail within my addiction.
Im not gonna tell you that recovery
is simple because its not. It takes willingness,
openmindedness, honesty, responsibility,
admitting, accepting, believing, continuous
program of recovery each day to achieve
health, happiness and freedom from the
bondage of addiction.
Even if it mean entering a rehab program
like many have done, including me, to get
you going, or grab a hand or coattail
of a member who has found success
in their own recovery life, hold on tight
and allow them to guide you with them
sharing their own ESH experiences,
strengths and hopes of what life was
and is like before, during and after addiction
to achieve the rewards and promises
granted to us and them to enjoy, appreciate
and be grateful for.
Remember you never have to go thru
this process alone or by yourself. The
fellowship and unity within recovery
is stronger than you can imagine.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: northern michigan. not the U.P.
Posts: 15,281
Originally Posted by Gerard52
Reading these I imagine if only I could turn the clock back and start my AF journey when they did? How better my life would be now.
the thing about that is:
i had it all figured out how my life would have been, but that isnt necessarily how it would have been. my life could have been pretty bad even without alcohol.
today my past is a very valuable posession. i had to go through everything i had to go through to get to where i am today, which this early morning finds me enjoying the sound of an early morning rain, my dog layin next to me, makin plans for the day, and quite content with who i am.
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