Love and hello to everyone :grouphug:

Morning all, day 21 today. Yesterday I gave my 15 yo daughter driving lessons. First time out on the road and not in a parking lot or our quiet neighborhood. It was scary stuff, reminded me of being on a rollercoaster haha

Peke - You'll get back into running shape soon enough. I've had my challenges doing crossfit over the last year or so. Drinking never seemed to effect my performance prior to that, but I noticed recently I struggle more on certain things and my cardio is terrible right now. Part of that is probably old age as well, but I'm hoping I get back to what I could do before. Also dealing with Plantar Fasciitis and on Saturday we had a lot of running and it was a struggle. I need to see a doctor I guess.
RAL - hell yeah, I'm with you on a healthier time spent in our 50s
Zencat - I may have to check out that Batman series, sounds interesting
Sam - congrats on 1 week. And that is huge being able to identify the AV and tell it to F*** off
Erratic, Lixie, Miss - good job and let's do this for the long haul

Congrats on 3 weeks, dear Gibby! :) ❤️

Anna I agree that thunderstorms are wicked cool. Lighting is very Zen like with their "sudden illumination and the destruction of ignorance" symbology. I'm doing the get my sleep routine in order challenge. Had a good slumber last night. Progress!"

Peke, RAL Drugging/drink has tore me down from the toes up as well. I say 'it is what is' move onward. The spiritual path I follow is to repair the past by living mindful and sober in the present.

So sweet to wake up (32 times) without feeling like like warmed up death.

:01:Venus, I hope you day is full of good stuff
:ringSam, Miss, Erratic Good morning[img]data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABAAAAAQCAYAAAA f8/9hAAAC/ElEQVQ4jW2TXWibBRSGn+9LavpDk61fG23m1mVJ09kmrNht/dkaBIXCXKuC4M8YA7EMb+bmraD4A/7A9KIX6oXGgSDiBIsXMgpOjXO1rqxLG9ZkSdouS7+sabPS1v4k X3K8SFBmPfDenHN4z8vLexT+p27F7oieHCM5+webWwXsjR043V 1425zKf3fva8QTKYmOnaFKncFer1Fbq5HLqyT1LKHwPHpW48Rg AG/bXmUbQeTmhKzGB9n/SBM1e3eDWlkaGypsCLllg2sTc3z3wzhPn/wSv/+IAmAGSCSSkpt7lg6/D2p3s7FVpMrSUGI2A7UmpJCh53Ef1dU2AoGXmJyKi8/rKgm4PjIgknleRN6U8x/3CyB9fe0i8rWIfCMDA4cFkA/f7hdZ+0CGL7wgr77cIwBqPB4XR/0KaBpgI/hLCoDLl2PAA0AlP/90q9QbvQM1O/A4H8ZanScUmhbzxvI4uzQbKBVAgYvfnuLTz1o5duwQYAEUpsLv MTw8yulXuoECO6yVOByNxCNXUX6/dE46fWnUxl2AvQxb2d8CoJaVmIA1IMNieIGRYAL9ngVz3jCxtV mgCpVEYgHD+AuPp4V/HRRgHahgKhxBsxhYTCYKxSLmigrUGq2Tu+klwCClL9J/PFC+WATyZQCoDDz1CUupVdbWDbJLy7iae1Ct2mGiM4vkZrP0Hn HTfdTO4OBQWXJVGQrPvfg+zzzRjPdgE5HYEpnMAk5PZylIgaE+ aXPl6Hh0P+qDDs699iO/XbnL0d5mpAjBX6Mc97t4690nmbiaIjgaI3NvnXfOX1IUgFhcl4 ufH6K3y0tbyx5sHgcrcysEr+gootJ9sImdDVbG/kxzPTTP5FSYs2+M0Ox2KP9E+UboplwYeox23x5a3G7s9Vas1mr yhoqe3mTm9iqT07eZm53nzOvf036gVdn2TLHEonz1xVmSsREes tdRV2fHMFT0dJb0wjKeVj+nTn+Ey9mw/ZnuJ8pIdPoa0cg4iNDq7WKf+wDuffZt+38Dc704Oua0bdgAAAA ASUVORK5CYII=[/img]
:cheer:cheer:cheer
“Stronger than steel,
Hotter than the sun;
We won't stop,
'til we get the job done!”
:nanarock:nanarock:nanarock

I haven’t checked in for quite some time as I was on a horrific 10-day bender. Today is my millionth day 1. I will make it through the day though. I need to stop having day 1’s. I had a big triggering event that I obviously didn’t handle well. Feeling down on myself but I need to shake that feeling and move onward. Congrats to everyone celebrating milestones!

Oh Snap, my last post went wonky with mystery HTML code LOL sorry guys

Happy sober Monday!

Hi Basset! It’s good to see you. I hope that you’re doing okay. Ten day bender is behind you!

Eaxctly Zencat, move onward. Don’t look back!

Gibby- thank you for your reply. PL is no fun! And as we age I guess it all gets worse. Congratulations on day 21! I’m so happy for you!!


I was hit by a small truck while cycling last December. Today I see ortho to evaluate my right torn quad and my left knee (which got 47 staples). Both are doing ok! Idk. The right torn quad is nasty to look at. But I’m running in it. This is my fifth orthopedic appointment. The facility has canceled the last four appointments the day off those appointments
And I found out the doctor I was seeing had a chronic health problem so I switched to this new doctor. I’m anxious to get this evaluation.

Hi RAL, Travelbug, Anna and Venus! And anyone else who is here too.

Welcome to the group Basset. We've all had our fair share of Day 1's.

So do you have a plan? What's going to be different this time?

Thanks for welcoming me back to the group.

New plan is a mixture of things I’ve used in the past that have helped me experience periods of sobriety mixed with some new things as well. I am starting counseling with a therapist that specializes in addictions (starts this week). I also started a new sobriety book. Plan to stay more active on this site and also have a new sobriety app. I am going to be exercising frequently and also using my headspace meditation app. Going to get back to my daily journaling too.

I am 100% open to any suggestions you all may have as well.

Those all sound like solid actions to give you a good chance for success!

Hi All

not posted for a few days but have been having a read when able. Glad to see people doing well and thought I’d check in.

finishing my day 9 today. I’m not going to lie it’s been tough. Not been in a great place mentally but managing to overcome it bit by bit, day by day.

started some meds for depression which has been very weird side effects but that seems to be settling now.

I can’t even remember how long it has been since I didn’t drink for 9 days straight! Feeling pleased and starting to see a life without the drink whilst also conscious of the complacency .

It really is good to see the good news and support on this site.

good for you Bassett - just being here has been a great tool for me the last 9 days. Good luck to you

Hi,
I decided to drink on day 12. More of the same. Feel like garbage today. Didn't sleep right. How many times does it take to learn the lesson...SMH.

Starting again and this time I really mean it In done with it!

We are in the same boat FiveTries. I also feel like crap today and slept terribly during my most recent binge. Hopefully you start feeling better soon. Good job jumping right back on the wagon.

Thank you for welcome and words of encouragement! 9 days is great! Keep it going.

Thank you for the welcome Gibby!

Five, Basset--I've been where you both are. It is definitely not worth it, and I hope you stick close to us. Hugs.

So true!

I’m glad you’re going to try again Five! Sending you hugs.
Hooray for day nine FDL. This is good news!

Hi Basset. Stay here and post daily if you can!
Here are some soothing and distracting strategies that myself and others have come up with to get me through this time…
Self-soothing strategies:

1. Read.
2. Listen to a podcast.
3. Run. This works well. But I’m not exactly soothed by it. I feel better. Not soothed though.
4. Hug my dogs. That works.
5. Take my dogs for a walk.
6. Take a bath.
7. Cry. I have a difficult time crying. I know it sounds silly I shouldn’t even be thinking about it. But crying used to be very cathartic for me. If I had an experiment in the lab that didn’t work out I knew of a bathroom in a different building that I could go to. And I would cry in one of the stalls. I don’t care that sounds silly. Scientific research is a very high pressure industry and you do what you need to do!
8. Eating. Gosh eating is very self soothing. But I have struggled with an eating disorder as you all know. So that’s not really a good thing.

9. Breathing. Taking four deep, cleansing breaths. It’s very soothing.
10. Smiling. I love to smile. That kicks the negative thoughts out of my mind. Which is similar to being soothed and reassured.
11. Looking at the stars. I was walking my dogs tonight. And the stars were so beautiful. It reminded me how insignificant my problems are. And that may be the universe up there is cheering for me.
12. Watching YouTube videos of ppl who have gone through difficult or traumatic situations and who have learned to accept their lives and be happy.
13. Thinking of my father. And how much he loved me.
14. Thinking of Christmas and how happy ppl are.

15. Volunteering.
16. Humming/whistling
17. Going to a museum
18. Remembering that my husband loves me. Hugging him. Remembering when I was feeling like I’d never meet anyone and I was sad about that.
19. Calling my Aunt or my nephew.
20. Watching Antiques Roadshow
21. Remembering that I’m a good person. I’m not perfect. But I’m trying.

Welcome back BassetDog and Five…No it never changes when we go back out, only to get worse.

The fear for me was always ‘I cannot cope with this without a drink’.

The more time and the more things and feelings I negotiated sober, helped me see how capable I really am.

we’re always here to help - you just have to ask :)

D