Peter G

Well, it's almost here, so I thought it might be worth it to mention a few things I've seen about NY Resolutions in the past;

IMO and experience, people use the oncoming impending sobriety of a New Year's resolution as an excuse to go ba!!s to the wall on New Year’s Eve. Here's what that is: NOT COOL. To look at it this way you will place your lives and the lives of others at risk, just from thinking "I'm getting sober for good tomorrow so tonight I'm all in." Truth is that some of us drunks don't see the new year at all doing a resolution in exactly that way.

A meager suggestion? If you're one of those recently joining who has decided to put January 1 as your sober date and absolutely must indulge one last time, don't blow New Year's Eve up into the bender of all benders, can? Just have a few, or even if you must, have what you'd normally have. Don't actually try to pound back every ounce of booze in your zip code, as if it's the last day of water before an extended trek through the desert. See, the thing is, one of the first prerequisites for a successful New Year's Resolution is to come home alive on New Year's Eve. We here at SR would much rather see you back on January 1 posting, sharing, and asking questions, not having your loved ones writing in the F & F section about how they lost you forever to some final and massive drunken Uberbender. Besides it's far too cliché to die the very night before you finally decided to quit. Just sayin'.

Also wanted to add, lots of folks seem to be in fear that by picking New Years to quit it's a recipe for failure, just because most resolutions statistically just don't work out. Here's what I've learned; the date is not important, it's only important that you have a date and honor it. And if you're apprehensive about success or failure because quitting falls on New Years Day, move it up a day or two to December 30 or New Year's Eve Day. If that last big party is so important to you that quitting is just not an option before one last blast, you may not be serious about quitting in the first place. Again, just sayin'.

Only other thing I could add as something that might help (once January 1, 2012 arrives): not drinking is usually not enough. There's a reason so many addiction specialists swear by that advice. They are right. So forget being stubborn about it, just find a program and work it. In fact, find yourself this year, the self that's been buried underneath all those empty bottles. This is simple to discover just by way of a good, solid program. 12 steps, therapy, Rational Recovery, Lifering, et all, it's all about what speaks to your core about your drinking problems. Whatever works, in whatever combination, is exactly what your program needs to be. I'd suggest that in 2012 look at what made you drink so much that you ended up needing to quit, and work damned hard to never end up in that sorry state of mind/body again. Bottom line is; do something this year besides just not drinking.

I'd love to hear from those with far more experience and sober time than me share some other thoughts and suggestions on making the whole New Year's Resolution thing stick. So many times I've tried to use the new year as an impetus to quit and failed miserably out of sheer ignorance. Wish I'd known about this site back then.

Anyways, I'm offline after tomorrow until January 2, so I guess now's a good time to also add .... HAPPY NEW YEAR to all the awesome peeps here!!!

GirlFromCO

Good post! I agree with everything except picking a date and then sticking to it, because the best day to quit is always today

laurie6781

New Year's Eve is AMATEUR NIGHT. No self respecting alcoholic goes out in the crowds that night. roflmao

I used to make sure that that was a 'house party' night at another 'functioning alcoholic's home' or at my home. Or once I was living the streets a nice private corner of the Hollywood Bowl Parking lot, and partied by myself.

Now since recovery, I used to go out on the Bat Mobile at a Sobriety Check Point and do the 'paperwork' on those they arrested. Haven't done that for a few years, but ......................... lo and behold ............................... one of my buddies, in the Sheriff's Department has asked me if I would like to do that this year and I answered with a resounding YES.

So his wife will surprise me with a thermos of some new coffee she has found (we are both overly fond of our coffee) and I will go to one of the Bat Mobiles and do the paperwork (computer data entry now, much easier, lol) until about 3 or 4 am.

I have never made a New Year's Resolution. Guess I always new I would not be able to keep one. So, nope have never made one. And I certainy do not plan to this year either, lol

I hope everyone has a SAFE, SANE, FUN New Year's Eve, and with no hangover you'll be able to watch the Rose Parade bright eyed and bushy tailed, lmao

Love and hugs,

Dee74

Happy New Years binder

I never managed to make resolutions stick - alcohol related or otherwise- so I gave up some time in the early 2000s.

I figure if it's something I need to change best to do it ASAP

thanks for the post - I absolutely agree last hurrahs are dangerous and often self-defeating - many's the time I'd be so hungover I 'needed' to drink....

D

Peter G

Very much agree with ya. I couldn't pull together a "quit date" to save my own life, even though New Year's was always a great time to try. Had to be the moment I realized it was necessary, otherwise the excuses, rationalizing and dis-ease would set in and I'd sabotage it.

Thought I'd mention that stuff after just having had a conversation with a friend who is, of course, solid in his position that on New Years Day 2012 he quits drinking "forever". He said that last year. Of course "it's different this time" since he caught a DUI in July.

Peter G

Wow, you're in for interesting times come New Year's Eve. Good for you putting in that kind of help. I'm sure the sheriff's department can use the assistance. Busy times for them no doubt.

BTW, "amateur night"? SO true haha!!! roflmao!!!

GirlFromCO

Of course New Year's Day is also known as "the one day to have a mimosa, I mean I never drink them and I am really hungover right now. Pfffft it's mostly orange juice anyway!"

The things I used to say to myself