BlueFairy

Well--in my new job--I'm at the helm of it. Yeah bah humbug. Are there no workhouses--prisons?? ;-)
Thanks that did make me feel better.

amp123

I've never been much for V day. It creates a void for those who are not in a relationship and an obligation for those who are. Just my opinion, of course...

Yogapants

Hello everyone, I am hoping I can join you on this thread.

I was part of August 2015 class and today marks 6 sober months for me. Doing well and feeling great, but still need all the support and company I can get. Currently making a serious attempt at dealing with sugar in my life - I used it as a crutch in early recovery and got into a bad habit of consuming vast quantities of sugary treats.

Heading out to work now in falling snow... Hope everyone has a great Thursday!

waywardson8260

I agree with Dee about Valentines and don't really mess with it.

For the Florists here I can see it being the big, big day and hope you can get through it with your sanity intact!

Welcome Yogapants! This is an awesome thread with great people and lots of support!

amp123

Hi Yoga! Congrats on 6 months! Quite an achievement!

Babs1234

Welcome Yoga---
I have a funeral this morning so, will be just a short note to say
Hi ! and have a great day everyone.
Hugs to all of you !!
Babs

BlueFairy

I got a new fitbit for xmas and noticed every day I was well under calories and read a little about under eating which I think I actually do. I knew it slowed your metabolism, what I didn't realize is it could trigger hypoglycemia which makes you crave sugar. I'm going to start cross tracking my food as much as i can on myfitnesspal and make sure I'm not 1000 calories under every day and at least make sure I'm eating more during the day and more frequently. My problem is lunch-if I do eat anything during the day it's just a tiny amount. sugar craving after quitting drinking though are common.

Saskia

Welcome, Yoga! Always room for one more :-)

At this point in my life I tend to ignore all holidays. It keeps my life much simpler.

Saskia

I just read the first of two parts of an article in the New York Times that really resonated for me. Even if you don't subscribe, Dr Google can find the article if you type in the following:

"Staying sober after treatment ends"

Much of what we are doing now seems to be critical to the process of staying sober: staying aware and engaged in recovery, avoiding as many triggers as we reasonably can, etc. After reading this article, I feel less guilty about the number of times I relapsed and also feel validated in my current approach of vigilance, staying actively involved in recovery, etc.

Thumpalumpacus

I feel like I'm turning the corner on the emotional swings. After a bad morning brought on by a drinking dream, I have found a balance in my feelings that seems more robust, brought about by putting into practice more mindfulness and gratitude, and reiterating a commitment to living the Serenity Prayer.

It feels bloody good to be alive.

tootsl1

I am almost 3 years in and still recently had a drinking dream. They do lose their power, in the early days I would be discombobulated for the whole day after one.

Yogapants, welcome. You can be in charge of the fitness classes, being as we mostly sit and jaw drinking coffee here!!

I agree on the view of the commercialism of Vday. And if a loved one needs to be reminded once a year to treat you nice? Waste them! Seriously. We should be telling our loved ones daily how we cherish them and their part in our lives.

Have a good one folks x

gleefan

Welcome Yogapants!

I can relate to the florists' impending stress! I worked in a bakery during college, and the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve were epically busy.

For me Valentine's Day is a bright spot in the cold New England winter! I can always use a reminder to take time to tell people I care.

Thumpa - The Serenity Prayer sure helps me keep my compass pointed towards joyous happy and free. I'm working on my first cycle through the 12 steps right now. That prayer, and the principles of AA, are the only things that have freed me from my self defeating thoughts, moods, and actions.

Babs, WWS, BlueFairy, Amp, toots , Saskia and any Undie I accidentally missed - have a great day!!

Babs1234

I can't seem to post a thanks to your recent posts so, will try and say thank you this way.
Gleefan I really enjoy AA also and it has helped me along with SR stay on the straight road. I don't know what I would do without the help. I can't say enough how much I appreciate this thread.
Have a wonderful day everyone !
hugs
Babs-------

Thumpalumpacus

I should have been clear, the dream and mental discombobulation (I love that word, discombobulation -- just sounds so ridiculous!) was on Monday morning, but I'd had drinking dreams before. This particular one hit home because it outlined in a nutshell how I hurt the woman I love -- and this at a time when I doubt our ability to have any relationship beyond friendship, a breakup brought about by my drinking. So I walked around that morning and into the afternoon bearing refreshed guilt and angst.

I go to AA meetings, though I don't think the Steps are the perfect answer for me. The Serenity Prayer, on the other hand, embodies the principle of surrendering in order to win. Funny how that works, it's almost a form of emotional judo, rolling with the blow instead of absorbing it head-on.

stargazer016

Valentine's Day is just another created "Hallmark Holiday" so people feel pressured to buy stuff. I totally agree with you Blue Fairy, Dee and Amp! Possibly because I have spent so much of my life selling flowers to people for the Big Day.

Babs1234

Thumpa---the main thing is your here and with friends.

Babs

Keepnitreal

Hi all!
Welcome Yoga pants! Glad you're doing better Thump.
It's day 95 and I'm doing a little PAWS dance all about the upcoming summer. Why worry about something so far done the road you might wonder? Ahhhh, because we are having "beach weather" here for the next week and we also fired up the pool heater because it's a 4 day weekend. I want to boogie board with the kids and other moms at the beach, but don't know if I can or will without a little wine on board.
Well, I'm not strong enough to post in response to others right now. I'm just trying to remind myself that I don't have to worry about tomorrow, this weekend, or this summer. Today I chose not to drink and that has to be enough for today.
My thoughts are with all of you!
Hugs,

Thumpalumpacus

I'm alive, sober, and happy.

gleefan

Thumpa - Saskia has discussed leaning in, and your post reminds me of that.

KIR - It was a challenge for me the whole first year of sobriety to separate certain events or activities from the type of alcohol I had long associated with it. I was committed to staying sober though.

With time I'm developing a sober life. Some days during that first year all I could do was white-knuckle it because I was still around all the people and places where I drank. Having an AA home group helped, as did taking on the coffee making responsibility at meetings. Also, I joined crossfit for the summer, which does not entail drinking! I made sober friends, not overnight, but with time, who I trust. What are you doing to develop your sober life?

waywardson8260

Awesome! That is enough for me today as well.