Day 1 the way life SHOULD be.
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 87
Day 1 the way life SHOULD be.
So I had a really really great day today..even with a hangover I managed to get into positive mode and thought to myself 'How do I really WANT my life to be? how do you imagine it could be without this poison in it?'..
so I jumped on my treadmill and ran 10k which I havnt done in a while, then I got all my housework done, took the kids to swimming lessons then headed out the door with a smile on my face to do a few massages that I had put off last week (as I wanted to drink instead of work that night).
Alcohol effects every aspect of my life Im trying to move forward in..my fitness, my career, my home (who wants to do housework hungover?), and my kids (how can I take them anywhere when I feel like crap, or Im drinking).
Day one DONE AND DUSTED! Only positive things can come from this..
I just really really wanted Day 1 to be something positive, something I can look back at tomorrow and say Hey, you did well yesterday, lets do it again.
so I jumped on my treadmill and ran 10k which I havnt done in a while, then I got all my housework done, took the kids to swimming lessons then headed out the door with a smile on my face to do a few massages that I had put off last week (as I wanted to drink instead of work that night).
Alcohol effects every aspect of my life Im trying to move forward in..my fitness, my career, my home (who wants to do housework hungover?), and my kids (how can I take them anywhere when I feel like crap, or Im drinking).
Day one DONE AND DUSTED! Only positive things can come from this..
I just really really wanted Day 1 to be something positive, something I can look back at tomorrow and say Hey, you did well yesterday, lets do it again.
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Chepstow
Posts: 359
I like your positive frame of mind; I think that's something to be cultivated. We all know (I reckon) that being positive is hugely important, and if there were a 'positive attitude vitamin pill' we could take with our cornflakes, we all would.
I try to spend a few minutes by myself in the morning (not an easy thing to do if you've young children), and roughly plan what I want to achieve that day, and I'll also remind myself about a few attributes I wish to develop; things like being kind, helpful, friendly, and keeping a positive frame of mind. But it doesn't always go like that; ten minutes later I can be arguing with Mrs Tosh!!! It's a practise, so of course I'm going to get it wrong sometimes.
Anyway, well done on day 1!
I try to spend a few minutes by myself in the morning (not an easy thing to do if you've young children), and roughly plan what I want to achieve that day, and I'll also remind myself about a few attributes I wish to develop; things like being kind, helpful, friendly, and keeping a positive frame of mind. But it doesn't always go like that; ten minutes later I can be arguing with Mrs Tosh!!! It's a practise, so of course I'm going to get it wrong sometimes.
Anyway, well done on day 1!
Awesome Mazza. Glad you were able to accomplish so much on your first day. I am on Day 17 and I am just now getting some energy back. I have 3 young kids and I want to be able to be rowdy with them sometimes.
A word of caution, take it easy and allow yourself a rest now and them. Easier said than done with kids. The acronym HALT helps me a lot.
Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired
Whenever I start to feel any of the above four things, I try to pause, take a few breaths, and say a prayer.
Best Wishes!!
A word of caution, take it easy and allow yourself a rest now and them. Easier said than done with kids. The acronym HALT helps me a lot.
Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired
Whenever I start to feel any of the above four things, I try to pause, take a few breaths, and say a prayer.
Best Wishes!!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 87
I like your positive frame of mind; I think that's something to be cultivated. We all know (I reckon) that being positive is hugely important, and if there were a 'positive attitude vitamin pill' we could take with our cornflakes, we all would.
I try to spend a few minutes by myself in the morning (not an easy thing to do if you've young children), and roughly plan what I want to achieve that day, and I'll also remind myself about a few attributes I wish to develop; things like being kind, helpful, friendly, and keeping a positive frame of mind. But it doesn't always go like that; ten minutes later I can be arguing with Mrs Tosh!!! It's a practise, so of course I'm going to get it wrong sometimes.
Anyway, well done on day 1!
I try to spend a few minutes by myself in the morning (not an easy thing to do if you've young children), and roughly plan what I want to achieve that day, and I'll also remind myself about a few attributes I wish to develop; things like being kind, helpful, friendly, and keeping a positive frame of mind. But it doesn't always go like that; ten minutes later I can be arguing with Mrs Tosh!!! It's a practise, so of course I'm going to get it wrong sometimes.
Anyway, well done on day 1!
Thanks for the advice
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Chepstow
Posts: 359
The morning thing is a practise though, you will get it wrong, you will also experience times when you think you can't stay sober or remain positive.
Don't beat yourself up if you fail at the morning thing or remaining positive; or even if you relapse. Be kind to yourself; this is important; and when you're not feeling positive, that voice in your head may tell you some lies, like you can't do this. You can, and the negativity will change (at some stage) into positivity.
I'm saying this because I know runners can be so goal orientated and give themselves a tough time when things don't go to plan; and the thing is, plans rarely go to plan!
I also got sober in A.A.; this forum takes an ecumenical approach to sobriety, which I kinda like; but if you ever feel you don't have the power of choice over not drinking, maybe you ought to try an A.A. meeting. There are also other options that I'm not familiar with, but a peruse around the different sections of this forum will gen you up on them.
Take care, and good luck with the morning thing. I also do meditation; it's pretty mainstream for relapse prevention, and many athletes use it also (it can help with running); boxers do it, even the New Zealand rugby team meditate. Why not have a looksee at that?
Mazza,
Good for you for having a positive attitude.
I was in a pretty low place on Day 1, but even so, I remember it as being enlightening.
I like your idea of staying motivated. For me, I found that balance was SO important - taking care of myself physically, mentally and spiritually each day. And, you are so right about being realistic. I was a super control-freak and one thing I had to learn was that things don't always work out the way you expect, and that's okay.
Good for you for having a positive attitude.
I was in a pretty low place on Day 1, but even so, I remember it as being enlightening.
I like your idea of staying motivated. For me, I found that balance was SO important - taking care of myself physically, mentally and spiritually each day. And, you are so right about being realistic. I was a super control-freak and one thing I had to learn was that things don't always work out the way you expect, and that's okay.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 87
Thankyou both..after reading Tosh's comment It actually hit me that Im an alcoholic runner..which is the most absurd thing Ive ever heard, and I literally laughed out loud
I will definitely try the meditation..I have been looking into Buddhism for a little while now, Im not into the whole god thing but I really like the idea of committing to becoming a better person, and Buddhism is all about peace love understanding and compassion and finding inner peace on the path to 'enlightenment' and of course encourages meditation too. Cant do any harm to become a better person if you ask me..whatever your faith.
Almost through Day 2..husband has just walked in the door with a carton of beer (its really hot here) but Im not tempted
Thanks
I will definitely try the meditation..I have been looking into Buddhism for a little while now, Im not into the whole god thing but I really like the idea of committing to becoming a better person, and Buddhism is all about peace love understanding and compassion and finding inner peace on the path to 'enlightenment' and of course encourages meditation too. Cant do any harm to become a better person if you ask me..whatever your faith.
Almost through Day 2..husband has just walked in the door with a carton of beer (its really hot here) but Im not tempted
Thanks
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Chepstow
Posts: 359
She's also a compulsive cleaner; everything has to be 'just so'. And she must do her training; six days per week she's out pounding the pavements - no matter what. She's on the scale of having an obsessive compulsive disorder, I reckon! And if you want to find out about other mental problems you have but don't know about, I'm a great help!
But this is similar to alcoholism; Mrs Tosh uses running and cleaning to change the way she feels. She feels anxious, so she runs or cleans; it distracts her from those negative feelings.
You've got to remember that the problem with alcohol isn't the drinking; drinking is our solution to the real problem, which is being sober. Another way to put it is, the problem with not drinking is that we're sober, all of the time.
Bad news eh?
So, the real problem is that when we're sober, we're bored, anxious, restless, irritable, and discontented - treat that root cause and we no longer need drink ever again. I found a spiritual solution to this problem through A.A., but I also think the Buddhism idea is brilliant; I also study Gelug Buddhism; I'm halfway through a two year foundation course that's ran by the Jamyang Centre; it's called The Foundation of Buddhist Thought course - it's very good.
Anyway, I'm pleased some of my replies have chimed!
My marathon training and ambition really went down the drain because of drinking. Now, I'm rediscovering my love for running (it's still difficult but easier when sober!). I'm slowly building myself back up and having fun planning/dreaming about my 2012 race calendar.
I'm getting to a point now in my sobriety where I'm beginning to see the benefits of not drinking in so many areas in my life. All of this serves as additional positive reinforcement!
Keep up the great work!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 87
Been there, done that! I run as well and can totally relate.
My marathon training and ambition really went down the drain because of drinking. Now, I'm rediscovering my love for running (it's still difficult but easier when sober!). I'm slowly building myself back up and having fun planning/dreaming about my 2012 race calendar.
I'm getting to a point now in my sobriety where I'm beginning to see the benefits of not drinking in so many areas in my life. All of this serves as additional positive reinforcement!
Keep up the great work!
My marathon training and ambition really went down the drain because of drinking. Now, I'm rediscovering my love for running (it's still difficult but easier when sober!). I'm slowly building myself back up and having fun planning/dreaming about my 2012 race calendar.
I'm getting to a point now in my sobriety where I'm beginning to see the benefits of not drinking in so many areas in my life. All of this serves as additional positive reinforcement!
Keep up the great work!
Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Chepstow
Posts: 359
Mazza, have a look at Runner's World; I know they have forums, which I find is great for running motivation. In the UK Runner's World there was a stopping drinking post that has thousands of posts in it, and has been going for years - I mean they're all runners - and there's quite a few friends of Bill W (alkies in A.A.) on that post too.
It may help with training and motivation for both running and staying stopped?
Just a little idea. I'm upto about five miles myself, only been running for about five months, but I was also a heavy smoker too. When I first started running I was jogging for one minute, walking for two minutes, running for one minute (etc).
So I'm amazed I can run five miles(ish) without stopping; very slow though. Mrs Tosh is a decent runner and represents Wales at Cross Country. She's even ran fell marathons; she's an alcoholic runner without the drinking, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, good luck.
It may help with training and motivation for both running and staying stopped?
Just a little idea. I'm upto about five miles myself, only been running for about five months, but I was also a heavy smoker too. When I first started running I was jogging for one minute, walking for two minutes, running for one minute (etc).
So I'm amazed I can run five miles(ish) without stopping; very slow though. Mrs Tosh is a decent runner and represents Wales at Cross Country. She's even ran fell marathons; she's an alcoholic runner without the drinking, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, good luck.
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