freein14

Today is a new start. We can't change the past but we can create a better future. It all comes down to what we do moment by moment. The small things count.

If I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself and things are going a bit wayward, I've found a little mental trick which can help. I try to imagine a person who I admire (Gandhi, Jesus, Buddha) suddenly being reincarnated in to my life, with all its past and present problems, then I imagine how they would live out the day with the same restrictions that I face. It gives a different perspective, and can get me moving in a more positive direction.
It sounds a bit weird, but it works for me!

I've been out in the sun too much over the last couple of days and my skin is a bit on the red side. No doubt it'll all peel off in the not too distant future. Ah well, I'm going to enjoy this healthy (unhealthy) glow for a little longer, before the sun becomes just an illusive memory again.

Izzy, hope the new job goes well this week.

Have a great day all.

Adnamaeel

Greetings from South Africa!
We just got here last night, and so far all has gone smoothly. Somehow I managed to sleep through most of my second flight, it was 17 hours long, so the travel part was far less painful than I expected. Our hotel is spectacularly beautiful, though we'll only be here until tomorrow.
Up, I know exactly how you feel about bad choices and squandered opportunities, but we can only move forward through time, so dwelling on them isn't especially productive, unless the point is to determine what there is to be learned from the past. Having said that, I sometimes get really upset with myself over all of the opportunities I've blown, too.
ST, good for you for quitting weed. I agree with up, it's probably better to just get rid of all your paraphernalia, as hard as that is. I'm glad your therapist is so helpful. I know you can do this.
Freein, I really like your mental trick of imagining how someone you admire would navigate the circumstances in which you find yourself. I'm going to try that myself. My usual approach to things like that is to imagine the worst possible outcome to the situation, and then to realize that I actually could deal with it, which then makes me feel like things really aren't all that bad.
Hello to any other fools who are reading this. I hope everyone is doing well.

freein14

Adna, I'm pleased that the journey wasn't too bad. I've heard that South Africa is beautiful. I hope you have a wonderful time.

It's the start of a busy day here, but nothing as glamorous as travelling to foreign lands, just the usual Monday gripes.

Have a great start to the week everyone

obosob

Hey fools
Cambridge...
great town....
on i thingy
family tension
mother in law is up to no good
obo thinking of having a go
........
drunken smoking ******** on flight
great story.......
more info later......
love yous all......

Stay tuned......

freein14

Welcome to England, Obo. Sorry the weather's ..well... a bit British!

A pheasant has had a nest under a shrub in the garden, and her little brood hatched sometime over the weekend. Unfortunately, a couple of eggs were still left abandoned in the nest yesterday night. They were cold, and I thought there was little hope of any life, but brought them in to the warm anyway.
Well, to cut a long story short, one of the eggs has a live chick in it, I can hear it chirping!
I've spoken with Chickchick, and she's given me some advice about the hatching process. So now I'm feeling like an expectant mum. I hope the little fellow survives.
I'll try to post some photos of the grand event if all goes well!

izzy8

Hi all-

Quiet around here- hope everyone's ok.

Free- good luck with the hatching process, sounds fun!

Adna- wow, africa- you're quite the traveler!

Up and ST- thanks for being honest about your struggles- means a lot. Hope you're both knowing how much you're loved today.

I'm ok- God def answers prayers!

May share more later- thx to everyone who has been there for me over the last year! You guys have been awesome.

❤️

freein14

Morning all. Unfortunately, I don't think the chick has survived the night. There's probably a good reason why he didn't hatch with his siblings, but it was worth trying. I'll keep him in his little 'incubator' just in case he's just messing about, but it's not looking good for him.

Izzy, sounds like things are going well, that's good news!
It's a rainy day here, I don't mind working on a rainy day. Hope everyone's doing well today.

obosob

Hi all.
raining here again
bloody booze everywhere
been tempted to have a crack
playing the tape through
some great posts on sr on the outcome of just 1 drink....
that has helped a lot...
1 means 100
0 means 0.....

Cambridge is a great town
really cool
street bands,art, performers
set against the epic colleges...
dont wanna go back to hk.....

Hope all are well
stay tuned.........

rockstonic

Stay strong obo! I believe!

Sorry to hear about the chick free. It's nice he spent his last hours in a warm cozy spot though if he didn't make it after all.

UP, sorry to hear you're struggling with anxiety. It's the worst. I hope you can be easy on yourself. I agree with free. I think the thing I'm most grateful for in sobriety is consistency. Both good and bad. Small bits of progress build up over time even if it's hard to see at first.

Glad to hear you're kicking the green ST. Hope you have some luck and some clarity. Sounds like good things are going on in therapy!

I've always wanted to go to South Africa Adna! I hope you have an amazing time.

Hi izzy!

I just finished my class and I did quite well in the end. Lots of hard work. Hard and consistent work I could only do sober. And I'm really grateful for that. Grateful and also tired. Wishing everyone a good week!

obosob

Thanks rocks..
Have a great week..

Dee74

Hi Rocks - enjoy your summer

I'm sorry about the chick Freein.

you'll never forgive yourself if you give in Obo.
Be a shepherd mate - not a sheep

D

obosob

Dee... I'm on a train to a dinner with friends in Winchester.
I was talking with my wife about this and whether i can have a drink.
Her response was she wants a peaceful life.
I said I'll check with the fools.
Then we both read todays posts.
Thankyou so much.
I feel like crying......
You have saved me many times.
Im eternally grateful for all you do....
Our little family loves you....
I love you.

I was not born to be a sheep.
I am a shepherd....

I would never forgive myself....

Stay tuned......

Dee74

Thanks mate - have a good dinner

D

freein14

Obo, I'm glad you like Cambridge, it is an amazing city. Staying sober through this break will be one your major achievements, and will strengthen your "true self", I know you can do this! Just stay present.

Rocks, hearing you say that you've "quite well" with your exams , and knowing what high expectations you have of yourself, means that you've actually done amazing. So well done you!

Hi everyone else, hope the day is going well.

obosob

Made it through......
how good is the next morning when you make it through a challenging night....
It wad all in my head again。。
stay tuned......

Dee74

Keep it going obo
D

freein14

That's great to hear Obo. as Dee said, keep it going, make this holiday one to remember, not one to regret.

We're off to Croatia again in September. Can't wait. It will be my second sober summer holiday. I should be a bit fitter this year so we'll be able to do a bit more walking than we did last year, and come back even healthier.

UP, ST, Mariah, how's things?

Hope everyone has a good day.

freein14

It's a quiet end to the week here, hope everyone's OK.


I'm in for the Bargain.

Dee74

me too

D

freein14

It's about 3'30, I've caught up on a work project, I've been doing a bit of gardening, and I've prepared a nut roast, but I can't shake off a feeling of general lethargy. I'm going to try a few skipping intervals to get my blood pumping a bit more enthusiastically. If that fails, I fear I'll have to resort to an afternoon nap!

Hope everyone's weekend is going well.