Congrats Lynn!!! :You_Rock_

Thanks everyone!

That's fantastic, congratulations! I'll be halfway down that road in four days.

I guess I just have to write about what happened so I can process and get on with life...stop ruminating over it.
It's less about what happens and more about how you react to it.
And even though this is a marijuana forum, what happened yesterday was about alcohol, but as I see it; addiction is addiction no matter what the drug of choice it. And I feel at home here rather than the alcohol forum.

Yesterday I was invited to a garden party that started at 11AM. The hostess started us off with a drink (alcohol) while we toured her garden. I opted for iced tea.
The first course for lunch was a shot of Kahlua, vodka and 7-Up. She asked me if I wanted a virgin shot, to which I said yes. Then she asked me if I drank coffee, again yes. She said she could do just Kahlua and 7. Non-alcoholic Kahlua? No, but it's a very low %. Really? Seriously? I declined. Shake my head and roll my eyes.
All during lunch the booze flowed and flowed hard. She kept pushing the drinks on everyone all the while pouring twice for herself and eating nothing.
Typical alcoholic. Takes one to know one.
By the time the party was over she was hammered. A few people were bothered by this and we left promptly.
All day yesterday and into the morning today, I've been thinking about it and I hate when my mind is on rewind.
I'm now working on forgetting the acts of others and thinking about how I responded. What she did has no bearing on me. The important thing is that I didn't drink! That is what I need to focus on. That is what matters.
I guess I just needed to get that off my back.
:tyou

You did great. That's what matters. :c011:

I'm really glad you didn't Lynn - and congrats :)

D

Way to go, Lynn ! Can be really infuriating though when people keep trying to force you to join them when you really don't want to. Have to pass on her place next time - LOL

So true. And it sounds like it's going to become a yearly thing. I think I will decline the invitation next time. It just wasn't my thing.

You did great Lynnmarie, nice one.

And the AV rears its ugly head.
Quite some time ago, probably 2 years or so, I lost (misplaced, probably while stoned) my paraphernalia box. I knew at some point I would find it and after I got sober, I wondered how I would react when I found it again.
Well, today was the day. I was busy at the time, looked in it, discovered the contents and set it aside to finish my tasks. And all that time, I kept thinking...
Was there actually weed in it? (it's a jumbled mess, there could have been anything in there)
I knew there was resin, certainly enough to do the job for I hadn't smoked in over a year and a half.
When I got a moment, I briefly rummaged through the box and thought,"Why am I even considering this? I've done so well, I'm healthy and happy."
So I pulled out my other box. My toolbox. I pulled out the tool called "playing the tape".
I thought about how I'd feel if I gave in. It certainly wasn't pleasant last time I smoked. My heart pounded and I felt woozy and not in a good way.
And then I remembered the monkey on the back syndrome and having pot constantly on my mind, living my life around weed. Panicking when my stash got low or run out. Why would I want to go back there?
I threw the box away. The entire episode from finding the box to throwing it away took maybe 15 minutes. But I was a bit shocked by it all.
I really considered picking up.
I know it takes time to make that turnaround. Some longer than others. But I was hoping I had achieved that level of revulsion that I wouldn't even consider getting high.
I still have a ways to go, obviously.
But after today, I think I've taken another step.

I think you did great lynnmarie :)
It took me a long time to bop that excitable little thought on the head.

D

I too think you took a step, a big one. You did great. Weird huh, considering something you know will do you no good. We all suffer from that from time to time I guess and I am glad Dee's always around to tell us that it will take time, but that those thoughts will someday vanish entirely.

Hey

You done great at least you didn't get sucked in by it. I hope I have that kind of will power too someday I can imagine how ur av must have went. I still have my box too can't seem to part with it yet. Thanks for posting this its gave me some thought.

Thanks everyone!

Lpg -it took me a long, long time to get rid of my box (the first one, lol). For me, having it around was just leaving the door open for future use. And I didn't want to use anymore.
And it was hard, really hard to dump it. It was saying goodbye to a big part of me. But it was a part I didn't want anymore.
But when I did get rid of it, oh man, what liberation! It's the most freeing thing in the world. It also shut that damn AV up. Not completely, obviously, but it made things so much more pleasant.
If you are really serious about staying sober forever, get rid of your box.

Counting my blessings, so happy to be sober.
Former neighbors dropped by unexpectedly last night to wish me Merry Christmas with a plate of cookies.
I invited the couple in; he in his full cop's uniform.
Had a lovely coherent chat and after they left I said aloud to myself, "Thank God I am sober!" and gave myself a high five. (Yeah, picture that one!)
I imagined how different that scenario would have played out a couple years ago. Paranoid, trying not to get close enough to them so they couldn't smell the booze or pot on me, wishing they would leave.
The cop gave me a hug before they left and I thought, "yeah, no worries there."
The good stuff just keeps racking up and the AV is becoming a small, distant figure.
Hoping the season is merry for all!

That's great Lynn - so pleased for you :)
Happy Holidays to you too :)

D

It's so nice to have those moments, where you can really relish being sober. Good for you Lynnmarie. I hope your AV shuts up for good in 2019. Maybe he can take mine on a permanent vacation too?

Oh, the holidays. Sometimes I just want to run away from it all.
Christmas Eve was especially bad. My whole family are either drinkers or tokers.
And it's not like I can not spend time with them or avoid them during this time.
It started with my sister, the toker. She hardly drinks at all, but she opened Champagne and asked me if I wanted a glass. She knows I stopped drinking.
"Not even half a glass?" she asks. "It never stops at half a glass." I replied.
"Well, I have to stop at half a glass. I'm driving home." she said. But guess what? She didn't stop with half a glass.
It got worse from there. My inebriated nephew said," You don't drink? What's the matter with you?"
Just made me want to crawl under a rock.
Then my husband, who never drinks to excess did that night.
The more he drank, the prettier I got; the uglier he got.
On the upside, he was pretty sick all day today. I pointed that fact out...many times.
I may have felt out of place and maybe a bit sorry for myself last night, but I am thankful I remained sober.
It was the best gift of all.

That seems like a hard situation to deal with, but you did it in the best way possible. That's something to be proud of!

I agree about it being the best gift of all.

As for whats wrong with you ...I'd have smiled sweetly and said 'nothing! whats wrong with you?"

D

Yeah, Dee, I've got to get better with the comebacks. My son was really the only supportive one. He said there's nothing wrong with it, it's a lifestyle choice.
I was worried about him for a while. He liked his booze a bit too much when he turned 21, but he was the only smart one that night...along with myself of course!

Love that quote, lynnmarie! Thanks for sharing <3 Hope you're having a great weekend!

had to change out the FB link Lynnmarie - we're not 'sposed to link to FB as we can't control the content, and not every one has a FB account anyway...

D

Thanks, Dee. I tried and tried to post the jpeg, but just kept messing up.

no worries lynnmarie :)

D

AV rears its ugly head again.
Just when I thought I was done with thoughts of smoking ever again...
Road trip to see family. My brother is a heavy smoker.
He's not smoking when he offers me a toke. Knee jerk reaction was No Thanks.
Then I went into his bedroom where he keeps his stash. A rather large smelly stash. I breathed deep, taking in the aroma. I smelled deeply again and started to think. I had plans to go for a long walk with my camera that evening (he lives in a gorgeous city) and I thought "wouldn't it be fun to photograph stoned?"
This thought process took way longer than it should have.
Then I pulled out my tool bag. I remembered how awful I felt the last time I picked up after a long abstinence. I wouldn't enjoy it the way I think I would and that I needed to stop romanticizing.
I had a beautiful 2 1/2 hour long stroll at sunset...sober. And happy for it.
Stay vigilant, my friends. You never know...https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

Recently I went through something alike, Lynn.
AV was all over me after a quiet year and a half. I was pretty sad for even listening to the AV for a while, but glad I did not act on it. My toolbox saved me as well. Forever humble and vigilant.
Congrats on your victory!