tink360

This is the newcomers to recovery forum right? Well i thought it be a good idea to give the newcomers something to look forward to. By listing AT LEAST 5 positives changes since youve started your journey of recovery:

1. Ive regained my familys love and respect
2. Im alot healthier and i dont look dead anymore
3. I no longer have the fear of failing a **** test at work
4. I have more money in the bank and the digits dont begin with a negative sign
5. I have become a sotry of hope for others
6. I know i have a better chance of waking up in the morning
7. better yet i can sleep
8. Im not running from anyone or anything
9. Ive seen a sunset...sober...and loved it
10. People i call friends talk to me even when i have no money or dope
11. Im ALIVE

Phinneas

Great thread, Tink.

Top Five positive changes that have happened since I got clean and sober:

1. I can look myself and others in the eye again
2. I can laugh
3. My brain works again
4. I am a responsible, productive member of society
5. I know the love of one alcoholic or addict for another

hugs,

phinny

Time2Surrender

• 1) I can look at myself in the mirror every morning and like the person I see
• 2) I look and feel better
• 3) I actually have a life again
• 4) I have a drivers license and insurance
• 5) I actually pay my own bills
• 6)I am employable and can hold a job
• 7) I have real friends who care about me
• 8) I have money in my pocket
• 9) I have a good woman in my life
• 10) I am honestly happy with myself and my life.

Luckyv2

Well Tink babe I am a newcomer still so here I go

1. I am grateful to have my program that works for me
2. I am grateful to be atleast a little sane when it comes to NOT PICKING UP THE FIRST ONE
3. I am glad that we all have today....
4. Having some of my self-worth back
5. To know that I can be happy if I choose to be
6. To know that after everything that I have been through I am still clean.(read my threads that should say enough)
7....One part that I miss though is that I can not fit in a size 6 womens pants anymore LMMFAOH

Love Vic

2tough2die

That's number one on my list too

2. Enjoy waking up in the AM, rediscovered 'breakfast'.
3. $$$ in the bank, Yo!
4. Pride that I'm accomplishing something for a change
5. Can imagine a future with me in it
6. Some people wish they could be me. I hang out at bars and dont drink, openly sober. I think some on the fence find the possibility that people can be happy and social w/o booze encouraging... I know I did when I was on the fence and found them.

Nice thread!

CarolD

• Returniing to the God I had forgotten.
• Losing my depression and anxiety.
• Closer to my family
• Friends who support my sobriety
• Sharing the joy of AA with newcomers

Thanks for the topic!

Little Missy

Wonderful thread!!

1. I am now grateful for what I have instead of always needing more.
2. I have serenity!!
3. I have ES&H to share with other alcoholics!!
4. I not longer have to drink for courage to face life.
5. I can play with my children and remember doing it!!
6. I share my thoughts with my husband, instead of blaming him for my drinking!! hehe
7. I am happy, joyous, and FREE!!
8. The promises of AA really do come true!!
9. I can lift people up with my words instead of dragging them down.
10.Now I have a CHOICE of whether I drink or not. And today, I choose NOT!!

KelKel

Advantages of sobriety...

I am getting my sanity back...

Serene more often than not... :boat

making sure the beast stays dormant...

And everything Missy said too

requiredfield

1. I do what I say I'm going to do today. I'm a woman of my word.
2. I'm less selfish, willing to help others in any way I can.
3. My mind doesn't race all day anymore. I can solve problems with the help of others by being honest and humble.
4. I'm happy most of the time. My soul was reborn and is growing each and everyday.
5. I'm comfortable with myself, learning more and more each day WHO I am.

I could go on and on...

NoMoBeer

For me....
1. I'm in better shape than I've ever been...
2. I can wake up and not wonder who I emailed last night or spoke to...
3. I can face life's challenges head on...and not escape.
4. I accept life as it comes, everything in God's time.
5. I have a program which teaches me how to live life sober and happy (AA).

j'ade d'arcy

Why it's worth it:

1) I am alive and actually enjoying it.
2) No after blackout fear, what I did, where I went, no more waking up in
strange places, no more worry that I will be arrested for assault.
3) I can look myself and others in the eye. The overwhelming feeling of
shame is no longer my primary feeling.
4) I look better, feel better. I no longer stink like a brewery. I no longer
have to try to cover up that stench with copious amounts of perfume.
5) My hands no longer shake, my blood pressure is down, I eat normally.
6) I haven't been to the emergency room for treatment of any broken
bones
or other drinking induced injury since I got sober. Guess I wasn't so
accident prone after all!!
7) I can enter and leave my apartment like a normal person now, no more
sneaking in and out avoiding anyone that may have seen me the night
before. When I see my neighbors now, they smile and we chat like
normal people. When I walk away, they don't whisper anymore.
8) My bills are getting paid, my job is no longer in jeopardy, people are
starting to trust and respect me again.
9) I realize how insane my life was, that clarity came with sobriety. There
is no more lying to myself that everything is fine. Not much reason
to lie to myself about my behaviour. It's pretty tame now.

I'll stop at nine as that is my lucky number.

Writing this list was great, I write these in my journal quite often, to remind myself exactly where I was and where I am now. To remember why my sobriety is important to me. It is the best gift and I have given it to myself.

roadie58

1 Peace and serenity- I no longer chase down cars to inform them that their driving style doesn't fit my ideals

2 No longer puke in the shower in the mornings. Nothing like being so wasted that you can't even make the toilet

3 Money to spend- bought and paid for a new 2005 Honda Accord with the money I would have normally spent in about 1.5 years of drinking and drugging.

4 Friends in the rooms who actually care about me. I can't go to a meeting without at least a dozen people high-fiving me or flashing peace signs from across the room. It's soooo cool to be loved

5 Time- all the time I used to spend doing, hunting down, and recovering from my escapades gives me time to play with the cats, pray, read, listen to music, go for long walks, lots of stuff.

Roadie...

nocellphone

Great thread!!! I couldn't think of how to prioritize them, so they're all #1...

1. I have healthy self-esteem today.

1. I (more times than not) actually love myself!

1. I have hope today.

1. I am able to give and receive love today.

1. I do not fear intimacy today.

1. I am involved in healthy relationships with healthy people (myself included!!!) today.

1. I have learned a life-saving skill: boundary setting.

1. I have traded in my old Higher Power, Fear, for one that works much better!

1. I am surrounded by people who really, truly understand...

1. No matter where I am, I know that I can walk into a 12-Step meeting and have a roomful of instant, supportive friends.

1. I have kept the same job for the past eleven years!

1. I have learned that no feeling I've ever had has killed me, therefore no feeling I'll ever have will kill me.

1. I no longer do for others what they can do for themselves.

1. I'm able to focus on myself without running away to some unhealthy distraction.

1. I know who I am, what I like, what I dislike, and what my need are.

1. I have sanity and serenity in my life.



Everything good, positive and healthy in my life today can be directly attributed to the work I've done, no matter how reluctantly at times, in my recovery process.

tink360

Great job guys!!! Keep them comming. i wrote mine and some others i related to on a piece of paper and i keep it in my wallat. Everytime i think of using or want to use i look at it and read through it. It might help for some of you. Try it!

Luckyv2

Just that right there I can relate to, when I did my first step with my sponsor he told me to write down Why I was powerless over alcohol and what it did to my life. I didn't have a problem writing that down hell my disease took everything from me. When I was done he said good job now put that in your wallet and the next time that you want to drink or use get it out and read it before you drink or use. It works thanks for sharing that.

Love Vic

ASH

Positive Changes:

I am sober

I'm not physically sick with a hangover, or worse drunk

I'm not an emotional wreck filled with shame and self loathing wondering who I hurt while I was drinking, or, scheming were I can get more to drink

My mind is calm, (well, for me at least!)

I am taking care of business

I am starting to feel some peace

I know there will be so much more to come.....

Thanks for the great thread Tink!

Lively

There are so many reasons why it's worth it. To name a few:

1. I can look at myself in the mirror and be proud, not ashamed and disgusted.

2. I don't feel sick when I'm sober and need to drink to feel better.

3. I don't worry about what I said or did the night before. I can't tell you how many stupid things I said when drinking.

4. My kids are happier because I pay more attention to them.

5. I don't worry ALL.THE.TIME what other people see when they look at me. I know my eyes are clear & focused, my dark circles minimal, my complextion clear, my smile genuine.

6. More money.

7. I don't have that almost panicy feeling every day when I leave work.....which store should I buy that 12 pack today? Where did I go yesterday? I hope I don't run into anyone I know. I hated that feeling! And being so embarassed each and every time I bought beer because I knew the person behind the counter knew I was a drunk.

8. Not having the shakes all the time.

Geez, I could go on and on

4health

1. I am HAPPY!! I thought I had major depression for a couple of years! OMG, I am NOT depressed!

2. My family. The changes in my family are huge! My husband is on day 6 of his own sobriety! I couldn't believe it when he started cutting back after I quit, even when I waited 2 weeks into my sobriety to tell him he had started cutting back. Now it is 6 days into his sobriety. The kids are happier too. Much happier!!

3. I am working on our families health. Dh and I both need to work on our weight. I've started working out again and watching how/what we eat.

4. I sleep a whole lot better.

5. Never sick and hung over in the morning.

6. Did I mention I was happy?

7. I have my pride and self confidence back.

8. Am more active in the community than I was before. I was always saying I'd do things and then forget about them!! Horrible but now I don't do that.

Gr8ful1

Was going to write a thousand reasons, but here's a sample.

1. I am alive
1. I can think sanely again.
1. I have the love of my family and get to share mine with them.
1. I have a relationship with God again.
1. I do not POLE VAULT OVER MOUSE TURDS ANYMORE.
1. The future is brighter.
1. I no longer want to die.

nocellphone

I love it! I had an AA friend who used to use that phrase all the time to describe how he made something huge out of something sooooooo small...