Class of January 2020 PART 2
Free at last!
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 52
Originally Posted by DaisyBelle7 
My plan this time is to hibernate. I keep going out with “drinking buddies”, thinking I can abstain while with them. Not true. When I have 1-2, it turns to 8-10 and I blackout every single time I drink now.
When I gave up a life long smoking habit (35 years) early September 2012, I fully committed then to doing everything I could to make sure I never smoked again after multiple failed attempts.
That included not going out to parties, social events, pubs etc for nearly 6 months in my case. Did no socialising at all over the xmas period of 2012. Having failed on numerous occasions before at 3 months, I knew I needed longer to get through the worse of the cravings and more importantly the mental hold smoking had on me.
6 months was nothing to be free of that awful, health impacting habit.
Now applying it to my drinking. I would agree on the hibernation for as long as it takes away from drinking buddies.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 546
Originally Posted by Geenie
I had the most delicious drink at a friends house Tuesday night using ginger ale (the soft drink). Never been a fan of ginger before but now converted and will be my go to drink on Friday evening as a treat!
Grapefruit and Ginger Spritzer
1 part grapefruit juice
2 part ginger ale/beer
Mix above and add to a tall (hi ball) glass with ice cubes, some mint leaves and orange slice.
Grapefruit and Ginger Spritzer
1 part grapefruit juice
2 part ginger ale/beer
Mix above and add to a tall (hi ball) glass with ice cubes, some mint leaves and orange slice.
Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 8,762
Originally Posted by Geenie
I had the most delicious drink at a friends house Tuesday night using ginger ale (the soft drink). Never been a fan of ginger before but now converted and will be my go to drink on Friday evening as a treat!
Grapefruit and Ginger Spritzer
1 part grapefruit juice
2 part ginger ale/beer
Mix above and add to a tall (hi ball) glass with ice cubes, some mint leaves and orange slice.
Grapefruit and Ginger Spritzer
1 part grapefruit juice
2 part ginger ale/beer
Mix above and add to a tall (hi ball) glass with ice cubes, some mint leaves and orange slice.
Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 8,762
And I agree with hibernating too Daisybelle7. I’ve been doing a lot of hibernating lately. Sometimes it’s simply in our best interests to lay low and stay away from temptation. I mostly avoid my old drinking buddies unless I have a good strong plan, like supply my own nonalcoholic drinks, only stay a short time, and be driving my car. I’ve been going to bed really early too, although I’m still not sleeping well at all
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 941
Thanks to all the posts.
I am feeling more fatigue these days but happy to be doing this, and as committed as ever.
Welcome Sunnyday, Daisybelle and any new classmates I have missed . Great to have you with us.
Have a safe, happy and sober day classmates.
I am feeling more fatigue these days but happy to be doing this, and as committed as ever.
Welcome Sunnyday, Daisybelle and any new classmates I have missed . Great to have you with us.
Have a safe, happy and sober day classmates.
Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 8,762
I think the fatigue is fairly common in the early days bacchus. Hopefully it goes away for you soon. I know I feel tired a lot of the time too, but that could be because I don’t sleep very well... Speaking of which, it’s 8.30pm here and I’m off to bed to try to get some sleep.
Goodnight everyone
Goodnight everyone
Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Toronto
Posts: 3,195
Awoke at 2am after about 4 hours sleep. I know a lot people are early risers but I think I got them beat. I expect another month or so of insomnia. 4 hours is the longest sleep I've had this week so making progress. I've been waking up abruptly with a pounding heart rate. Must have been dreaming. That's a good sign of deep REM sleep.
I take comfort in that we are in a new decade. I am going to do the exact opposite of what I did in the 2010's which means I will probably be a super-successful billionaire mogul by 2030!
I take comfort in that we are in a new decade. I am going to do the exact opposite of what I did in the 2010's which means I will probably be a super-successful billionaire mogul by 2030!
Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Colorado
Posts: 702
Geenie , congrats on quitting smoking! I’m a former smoker, too. I quit sometime in September 2016, but had a relapse when I went to Vegas this past October. I 100% agree that avoiding social functions is in our best interest... until we decide we’re strong enough to handle it.
Willow68, on the subject of “drinking buddies”... how are you handling those relationships? I only have one friend here, and my husband, who are not drinking buddies. Everyone else I met when I was wasted, and I’ve had very few sober moments, if any with them. For now, I’m lying low (like I mentioned). I even gave up Facebook.
Willow68, on the subject of “drinking buddies”... how are you handling those relationships? I only have one friend here, and my husband, who are not drinking buddies. Everyone else I met when I was wasted, and I’ve had very few sober moments, if any with them. For now, I’m lying low (like I mentioned). I even gave up Facebook.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Colorado
Posts: 702
Originally Posted by Wastinglife
I take comfort in that we are in a new decade. I am going to do the exact opposite of what I did in the 2010's which means I will probably be a super-successful billionaire mogul by 2030!
Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 3,767
Always glad to read updates from our class. It helps so much to share the stuff we are encountering -- the progress and the challenges along the way.
Morning for me on day 13 and it's nice to be in the teens. I feel like I'm gaining traction now which felt impossible in 2019. These first few weeks are hard-won and worth clinging to fiercely.
Yesterday I had a calm day at work and in my mind. A slice of heaven. I did some art therapy too -- made a collage of words and images from magazines that spoke to me or encourage me right now. It's sitting on my desk here (at home) and is a great snapshot of where I am right now. I did this several times last year when I was in a very dark place but those are tucked away now. I plan to continue doing this.
Today is a day off. I work part-time, 3 full days each week. I'm grateful for this schedule. Take good care everyone.
Morning for me on day 13 and it's nice to be in the teens. I feel like I'm gaining traction now which felt impossible in 2019. These first few weeks are hard-won and worth clinging to fiercely.
Yesterday I had a calm day at work and in my mind. A slice of heaven. I did some art therapy too -- made a collage of words and images from magazines that spoke to me or encourage me right now. It's sitting on my desk here (at home) and is a great snapshot of where I am right now. I did this several times last year when I was in a very dark place but those are tucked away now. I plan to continue doing this.
Today is a day off. I work part-time, 3 full days each week. I'm grateful for this schedule. Take good care everyone.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: German Village, Columbus with my love ♥
Posts: 88,449
So, there is not one single person in my life now that was in it when I was drinking. Except for my sister and nephews, but they are in Aus. I met my husband here (SR), and a lot of my friends. I do still have good SR Aussie friends, but they are a long way away now....I have a few lovely new US face to face friends, and I am making more every day.
Just by being in the world, sober, engaged (as well as an Aussie in Ohio), people talk to me all of the time. And they are lovely. One neighbour I had talked to a little and admired his gorgeous house came over and brought us home-baked Christmas bread (well fruit bread that was divine).
And the people out there are exercising...walking their dogs and themselves and it is such a good way to meet people. Easy to leave it as a casual hello or really become friends as I have with my next door neighbour and her husband, dog and baby.
I like hibernating....I love the excuse of the cold winter here, but I need it to be temporary.....it is a choice and it is very enjoyable for me. But I don't isolate....I still connect with people every day.....here, and my husband and neighbours. If that makes sense....I am not hiding from people....they are welcome. That is a big difference from my drinking days when I literally hid in the bedroom and pretended I wasn't home.
This just might be an enormous waffle
I am trying to express that everything in my life has changed in ways I could not possibly even have imagined. Life just opened up for me, and I feel sure it can and will for all of you as well.
Just by being in the world, sober, engaged (as well as an Aussie in Ohio), people talk to me all of the time. And they are lovely. One neighbour I had talked to a little and admired his gorgeous house came over and brought us home-baked Christmas bread (well fruit bread that was divine).
And the people out there are exercising...walking their dogs and themselves and it is such a good way to meet people. Easy to leave it as a casual hello or really become friends as I have with my next door neighbour and her husband, dog and baby.
I like hibernating....I love the excuse of the cold winter here, but I need it to be temporary.....it is a choice and it is very enjoyable for me. But I don't isolate....I still connect with people every day.....here, and my husband and neighbours. If that makes sense....I am not hiding from people....they are welcome. That is a big difference from my drinking days when I literally hid in the bedroom and pretended I wasn't home.
This just might be an enormous waffle
I am trying to express that everything in my life has changed in ways I could not possibly even have imagined. Life just opened up for me, and I feel sure it can and will for all of you as well.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Colorado
Posts: 702
venuscat, I think I know what you’re talking about... seeing other, healthy people enjoying their lives. It’s very eye opening. When I’ve quit before, I’ve noticed, “hey, there are people out there enjoying their lives and doing stuff other than drinking.”
Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 546
G'day all. I posted here already today, but I think the last one was during the 2 a.m. hour in these parts, after which I went to bed around 3 and slept soundly till 7, so now (noon) it feels like a new day.
When I got up this morning I said (to myself) that I'd be at my work desk here at my home by 8 a.m. or so. At 10 a.m. I even announced on another thread that I was signing off SR in order to do some work tasks.
Didn't happen. But as I also said in that other thread, I have learned from the collective wisdom of SR that in these early days I need to focus primarily on the work of maintaining sobriety. In my case, that has included innumerable invaluable hours on the site.
It has included a bunch of other stuff, too, but I won't (continue to) repeat myself.
Happy Thursday to all, and Friday where the calendar has already turned -- the land where they actually say "G'day."
Or so I have been led to believe; I've never been there.
What say y'all? (I'm not in the U.S. South, where they actually say "y'all," either, but I have been there, and I think that's a pretty good approximation).
However, keep in mind, in whatever accent that rattles around up there:
You can't trust everything you read on the internet.
When I got up this morning I said (to myself) that I'd be at my work desk here at my home by 8 a.m. or so. At 10 a.m. I even announced on another thread that I was signing off SR in order to do some work tasks.
Didn't happen. But as I also said in that other thread, I have learned from the collective wisdom of SR that in these early days I need to focus primarily on the work of maintaining sobriety. In my case, that has included innumerable invaluable hours on the site.
It has included a bunch of other stuff, too, but I won't (continue to) repeat myself.
Happy Thursday to all, and Friday where the calendar has already turned -- the land where they actually say "G'day."
Or so I have been led to believe; I've never been there.
What say y'all? (I'm not in the U.S. South, where they actually say "y'all," either, but I have been there, and I think that's a pretty good approximation).
However, keep in mind, in whatever accent that rattles around up there:
You can't trust everything you read on the internet.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 268
Hi Januarians!
Venuscat...I used to isolate myself when drinking. I wanted to be alone with nobody getting in my way and bugging me. If anyone knocked or phoned, I would pretend no one was home. That was before I started working full time and was forced to be around people.
Of course I just adjusted my drinking. I would have a drink on breaks to keep the shakes away. I'm quite certain some of my co-workers knew, but they didn't say anything to me. I'm off now for a few more months I guess, and determined to go back sober, it's a good job and I'd be a fool to risk losing it...
I'm confident that as long as I stay sober, the world will open up to me too.
Today is 18 days, and I'm good for another 24hrs...
Venuscat...I used to isolate myself when drinking. I wanted to be alone with nobody getting in my way and bugging me. If anyone knocked or phoned, I would pretend no one was home. That was before I started working full time and was forced to be around people.
Of course I just adjusted my drinking. I would have a drink on breaks to keep the shakes away. I'm quite certain some of my co-workers knew, but they didn't say anything to me. I'm off now for a few more months I guess, and determined to go back sober, it's a good job and I'd be a fool to risk losing it...
I'm confident that as long as I stay sober, the world will open up to me too.
Today is 18 days, and I'm good for another 24hrs...
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: German Village, Columbus with my love ♥
Posts: 88,449
Yes, it will dear Patterson. 
s
I think I was trying to say before that wherever you are right now, just stay on this path and your life will unfold in wonderful ways. The world will open up again. Magic will happen. And while protecting ourselves from a lot of the outside world can be important and often necessary in early days, just don't isolate....don't hide....go out and smile at the sun and pat a dog.
sI think I was trying to say before that wherever you are right now, just stay on this path and your life will unfold in wonderful ways. The world will open up again. Magic will happen. And while protecting ourselves from a lot of the outside world can be important and often necessary in early days, just don't isolate....don't hide....go out and smile at the sun and pat a dog.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Toronto
Posts: 3,195
Temperatures are dropping fast tonight here. Minus 12 Celsius. Wind chill will feel like minus 20. This works to my advantage because it will ensure I just stay in. I often find myself drinking on a whim while strolling in the city. There have been times where I meant to get a coffee or lunch but end up in a bar or the liquor store. Gonna hibernate until Groundhog Day.
Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 8,762
G’day jr and everyone else
Yes we do say this in Oz. Quite a bit. And it’s Friday morning here, 7.15am
WL I’ll join you in the new decade, although a mill would do me nicely
Daisybelle7 I haven’t entirely cut off my old drinking buddies but I don’t go out with them anymore. In fact I don’t go out much at all anymore. I occasionally drop in briefly to see an old friend during the day or on my way home from work and take my own nonalcoholic drinks and don’t stay long, as they’re invariably drinking no matter what day/time it is. I don’t go very often, only when I know I only have a short time available and things to do, so I don’t get tempted to stay and drink. If I go out I’m always the designated driver, and I only go to some things that aren’t purely drinking focused. I’ll go out for lunch or occasionally dinner but never stay late. Occasionally to the movies. I’m trying to focus more on health and exercise and am thinking of joining a walking group...
Patterson, I agree, if we stay sober, the world will open up for us. What a lovely way to look at it
Silversky the collage sounds great, what a nice idea!
Welcome Fish
Lol Suze, me too I used to throw them all back too!
Gotta go to work, see you all later
Yes we do say this in Oz. Quite a bit. And it’s Friday morning here, 7.15am
WL I’ll join you in the new decade, although a mill would do me nicely
Daisybelle7 I haven’t entirely cut off my old drinking buddies but I don’t go out with them anymore. In fact I don’t go out much at all anymore. I occasionally drop in briefly to see an old friend during the day or on my way home from work and take my own nonalcoholic drinks and don’t stay long, as they’re invariably drinking no matter what day/time it is. I don’t go very often, only when I know I only have a short time available and things to do, so I don’t get tempted to stay and drink. If I go out I’m always the designated driver, and I only go to some things that aren’t purely drinking focused. I’ll go out for lunch or occasionally dinner but never stay late. Occasionally to the movies. I’m trying to focus more on health and exercise and am thinking of joining a walking group...
Patterson, I agree, if we stay sober, the world will open up for us. What a lovely way to look at it
Silversky the collage sounds great, what a nice idea!
Welcome Fish
Lol Suze, me too
I used to throw them all back too! Gotta go to work, see you all later
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