Class of December 2015
Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: maine
Posts: 204
6 days along the path. Very sad over my eldest daughter's anger, and shutting me out of her life - but I completely understand her frustration and this just gives me more help in not picking up the first drink. Also coming here is a gift.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Southern California
Posts: 554
So I just had a kind of ah-ha moment. I calculated the amount of money that I've been spending on alcohol daily. Then I multiplied that by 365 and got my yearly costs. While shocking, that still didn't hit home.
Then I divided by 12 to get the monthly cost. Guess what? It's as expensive as a car payment! Holy cow! Crazy!
One more reason to put down the bottle/can for me.
Then I divided by 12 to get the monthly cost. Guess what? It's as expensive as a car payment! Holy cow! Crazy!
One more reason to put down the bottle/can for me.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 22
Originally Posted by julesonya 
Another good night on a work trip. I am realizing that my old job really engaged me in drinking in excess. Normally my coworkers would be out drinking all night tonight, not this new job.
I am confident in my ability to get through it, but still a bit anxious about it. I also know that I do have the option of just not going, if the anxiety becomes too much or I am feeling to weak or vulnerable that day.
It's crazy to me how much alcohol is embedded into some company or team cultures. I definitely perpetuated it, too.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,518
Originally Posted by FacingFuture
So I just had a kind of ah-ha moment. I calculated the amount of money that I've been spending on alcohol daily. Then I multiplied that by 365 and got my yearly costs. While shocking, that still didn't hit home.
Then I divided by 12 to get the monthly cost. Guess what? It's as expensive as a car payment! Holy cow! Crazy!
One more reason to put down the bottle/can for me.
Then I divided by 12 to get the monthly cost. Guess what? It's as expensive as a car payment! Holy cow! Crazy!
One more reason to put down the bottle/can for me.
we've been stopped over 4 years so that's a bob or two . We didn't really save it though .
Sorry I went off track from the alcohol expenditure .
Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 22
Originally Posted by nightswimming50
It's nice to be on board with you guys. This is my first time in a monthly thread and I am on day 2 of being sober. I had a rough weekend and got a talking to from my wife. My plan is to start spending quality time with my family after dinner instead of drinking myself to sleep. The thought I've been using to fight of my AV is that today I will be living life the way I want to experience it. I plan to get away from being a homebody and start experience life again. Movies, bowling, kids sporting events, etc. I am looking forward to a great Christmas as a sober father.
The past few nights — I'm on Day 7 today — have been really good. I've tried to spend more of my time at dinner engaging with the family, laughing, and asking about everyone's days with genuine interest, instead of interest in hurrying through dinner so I could get back to drinking / myself.
Then, I've looked for some things to do with the kids — watch a game together, play a game, help with homework, anything. I'm thinking of turning "what should we do together tonight?" into an open question every night, to find ways we can connect and also keep myself distracted.
Good work. It feels great to see your results, and have a few ideas of my own based on yours.
BTW - any chance your screenname is a reference to the amazing REM song?
Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Washington State
Posts: 157
Originally Posted by Jenses
Great job! It's smart that you are planning ahead. I also have an event this evening which involves alcohol - I will take your approach and plan to splurge and get a root beer (one of my favs)!
Let me know how tonight goes. I might just order a pop for myself tonight too.. I don't usually drink pop but would be nice to have one... A reward for 9 days sober
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,445
Welcome Joe Rio and Delilah
Congrats on 7 days, nearly 7 days, or 7 days plus: NT and CuteNGayYay, JL, beautifulpines, Leasha and atxJoushua
Congrats too to everyone else hitting a milestone today, no matter what it is
and thanks for including me on the roster...feels nice
D
Congrats on 7 days, nearly 7 days, or 7 days plus: NT and CuteNGayYay, JL, beautifulpines, Leasha and atxJoushua
Congrats too to everyone else hitting a milestone today, no matter what it is
and thanks for including me on the roster...feels nice
D
Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Neptune NJ
Posts: 10
Night swimming by REM
Atxjoshua, thanks for taking notice of my screen name. It is based on the song. One of my favorite things to think about is the age of innocence and how it slowly slips away. I think the song captures that concept beautifully. I also find the music serene. What do you like about it?
Congrats on enjoying your family again, keep it rolling. Last night I didn't have anything scheduled so I took the family bowling and then watched a movie with my wife and daughter. It meant the world to me that they actually enjoyed my company.
Thank god I have to take my son to wrestling practice tonight because I can hear my AV worming around. I just tell it that I don't drink anymore. Having something else to do sure helps.
Congrats on enjoying your family again, keep it rolling. Last night I didn't have anything scheduled so I took the family bowling and then watched a movie with my wife and daughter. It meant the world to me that they actually enjoyed my company.
Thank god I have to take my son to wrestling practice tonight because I can hear my AV worming around. I just tell it that I don't drink anymore. Having something else to do sure helps.
Guest
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 397
I'm on day 1 again. I was going to wait till tomorrow to come clean, but I'm struggling. I've been somewhat in denial I think for what a grip alcohol has on me. I blame everything else and use it as an excuse to drink. It's not solving anything and I end up stuck in the same mess. The one thing I can control today is not drinking. So day 1 it is. Thanks for understanding.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,222
Originally Posted by atxjoshua
This is one of my major triggers — work travel, and work dinners. I have definitely lived large over the years when I travel for business. The companies and people I have worked for and with embrace the work hard, play hard idea — with much alcohol. I'll be going to my first work dinner next week since I chose sobriety earlier this month.
I am confident in my ability to get through it, but still a bit anxious about it. I also know that I do have the option of just not going, if the anxiety becomes too much or I am feeling to weak or vulnerable that day.
It's crazy to me how much alcohol is embedded into some company or team cultures. I definitely perpetuated it, too.
I am confident in my ability to get through it, but still a bit anxious about it. I also know that I do have the option of just not going, if the anxiety becomes too much or I am feeling to weak or vulnerable that day.
It's crazy to me how much alcohol is embedded into some company or team cultures. I definitely perpetuated it, too.
I think the easiest way for me is to tell my team that I am training for a marathon (I run when I can) in 6 months time and I am off the beers and eating healthy. But that I love my food and partying so I need them to support me to go sub 4 hours and not derail me. Said with a smile. But they all get the point and never involve me in drinking. I also say that the last thing they want is the boss drinking with them.
The hardest is clients, especially when there is big money on the line and they expect (Asian culture) to get drunk with you. Kind of like a childish man bonding thing. Sometimes I just say no. In cases when I need to do something I decline but offer to bring them golfing or to go and see some sights on a Saturday morning with their family. This has the added benefit in that the wife sees me as a "good man".
That just leaves those lonely nights in the hotel alone. For that their is netflix and they gym.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 91
Originally Posted by Rio97
I'm on day 1 again. I was going to wait till tomorrow to come clean, but I'm struggling. I've been somewhat in denial I think for what a grip alcohol has on me. I blame everything else and use it as an excuse to drink. It's not solving anything and I end up stuck in the same mess. The one thing I can control today is not drinking. So day 1 it is. Thanks for understanding.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,049
Uh, wait... I posted that I was around 7-8 days. I took 2 swigs of a drink on Sunday I think. I'm really on like 3-4.
Don't care. I'm too tired from work.
Just being accountable. That's made a lot of difference in my life the past yr or 2.
Don't care. I'm too tired from work.
Just being accountable. That's made a lot of difference in my life the past yr or 2.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,222
Originally Posted by Rio97
I'm on day 1 again. I was going to wait till tomorrow to come clean, but I'm struggling. I've been somewhat in denial I think for what a grip alcohol has on me. I blame everything else and use it as an excuse to drink. It's not solving anything and I end up stuck in the same mess. The one thing I can control today is not drinking. So day 1 it is. Thanks for understanding.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,222
Day 10 here. Feel good. Yesterday no cravings. Sleep is starting to regulate thank god. Lots of energy at work and substantial backlog of work cleared so I am starting to see a little blue sky. Its not a time to celebrate and let the AV talk me around but rather a time to start to think of my life after drinking and what I want it to look like.....
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