90 Days Tomorrow
Choosing Life
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,435
90 Days Tomorrow
I haven't put 90 days together in years. Oh sure, 30 here, 40 here, 60 there, but 90? Never. What is the difference? Support - face to face and through AA. Looking long and hard at my life and working the 12 steps honestly and faithfully. Taking responsibility for my own life and not allowing people, places and things to give me an excuse to drink. My children. My health. The new hope and outlook I have on life. I never thought it possible.
I'm a retread through and through. I just want to give hope to those of you who are chronic relapsers like me ... it can be done. I've been trying to get sober for 3 years and this is the longest period of sobriety I've had in this time. We learn from our mistakes ... I certainly did. Each relapse taught me something new and I'm grateful that they did although the pain each one of them caused is still with me today. That's okay. I know many, many people who tried and failed for YEARS before they finally "got" it. I was one of them. Don't ever give up hope. Don't ever quit trying. If you quit trying, you die. I know that none of you want that for yourselves .... but you don't always see a way out. My advice is ...
Put the past behind you, even if your last drunk was today. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and look for a better way. AA, AVRT, SMART, counseling, whatever it takes. You are not out of the game until you quit trying. One of my dearest AA friends was in and out of the rooms for 13 years until it finally "stuck." It's not uncommon or abnormal. The only failure is in not trying at all.
If I can put 90 days together and still feel strong, so can anyone. Believe me. I'm a weak, self-indulgent, selfish, reckless and self-willed idiot who came from two alcoholic parents. Given my past, no one would have believed I would EVER get 90 days sober. But I have. And the only reason I have is because I gave it to God. I don't care if you're atheist, agnostic, undecided, or decidedly Christian, there comes a point of surrender ... where you have to give this stronghold in your life over to SOMETHING so that it doesn't control YOU anymore. We each find our own path ... we each have to suffer our own journey ... but we all want the same thing. A better life.
I owe much of my recovery to SR and the amazing people here. Thank you. Being supported by all of you AND being able to offer support to others has strengthened me in ways that are indescribable. This is not an easy journey that any of us is on and we are all so different in so many ways ... but the one thing we all have in common is this awful addiction. That is what binds us together. No one understands us like we do. It's amazing that when the rest of the world looks at us as outcasts, we can come here and be among others who understand. That's the beauty of fellowship ... coming around each other and being there, sharing in a common experience no matter where we came from or how different we are in other ways.
Ok, so I'm getting sappy and sentimental and I'll stop. I'm just offering cyber hugs to all of you and thanking each and every one of you for your contributions to my new life. Bring on the next 90 days. I'm ready, thanks to you.
I'm a retread through and through. I just want to give hope to those of you who are chronic relapsers like me ... it can be done. I've been trying to get sober for 3 years and this is the longest period of sobriety I've had in this time. We learn from our mistakes ... I certainly did. Each relapse taught me something new and I'm grateful that they did although the pain each one of them caused is still with me today. That's okay. I know many, many people who tried and failed for YEARS before they finally "got" it. I was one of them. Don't ever give up hope. Don't ever quit trying. If you quit trying, you die. I know that none of you want that for yourselves .... but you don't always see a way out. My advice is ...
Put the past behind you, even if your last drunk was today. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and look for a better way. AA, AVRT, SMART, counseling, whatever it takes. You are not out of the game until you quit trying. One of my dearest AA friends was in and out of the rooms for 13 years until it finally "stuck." It's not uncommon or abnormal. The only failure is in not trying at all.
If I can put 90 days together and still feel strong, so can anyone. Believe me. I'm a weak, self-indulgent, selfish, reckless and self-willed idiot who came from two alcoholic parents. Given my past, no one would have believed I would EVER get 90 days sober. But I have. And the only reason I have is because I gave it to God. I don't care if you're atheist, agnostic, undecided, or decidedly Christian, there comes a point of surrender ... where you have to give this stronghold in your life over to SOMETHING so that it doesn't control YOU anymore. We each find our own path ... we each have to suffer our own journey ... but we all want the same thing. A better life.
I owe much of my recovery to SR and the amazing people here. Thank you. Being supported by all of you AND being able to offer support to others has strengthened me in ways that are indescribable. This is not an easy journey that any of us is on and we are all so different in so many ways ... but the one thing we all have in common is this awful addiction. That is what binds us together. No one understands us like we do. It's amazing that when the rest of the world looks at us as outcasts, we can come here and be among others who understand. That's the beauty of fellowship ... coming around each other and being there, sharing in a common experience no matter where we came from or how different we are in other ways.
Ok, so I'm getting sappy and sentimental and I'll stop. I'm just offering cyber hugs to all of you and thanking each and every one of you for your contributions to my new life. Bring on the next 90 days. I'm ready, thanks to you.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Southeast, USA
Posts: 631
Very proud of you! Makes me wonder where i will be in 90 days. My 30 today is such a blessing, that 90 right now seems incomprehensible. But instead of wasting my life away I will ENJOY the next 60 sober until I reach 90. I enjoy your posts and the conversations we have had. Stay strong. You are a rock to me!
Lee
Lee
!Keep up the good work girlie!!
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South East England
Posts: 8,009
That post was truly inspirational and has given me strength and hope for the future. You have already helped me so much, and I look forward to continuing my journey with you.
Congratulations xxx
Congratulations xxx
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,138
Originally Posted by desertsong 
If I can put 90 days together and still feel strong, so can anyone. Believe me. I'm a weak, self-indulgent, selfish, reckless and self-willed idiot who came from two alcoholic parents.
Congrats on 90 days, and thanks for the wonderful and inspiring post!
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