SoberForMySon

I had to go to the store. I knew I had to today or tomorrow. We needed milk for my son, plus a few odds and ends from Walmart. My Walmart sells beer and wine. Well, I went today. And you know what, I walked right by that section to get my milk, and I resisted. I thought of you guys, and about posting this very thread. I looked at my adorable son in the cart. And I kept walking.

My sobriety is safe. I passed a BIG test! I CAN do this. I feel AMAZING at one week. Alive, aware, hopeful, excited, clean, new, and awake! It's better than any buzz. You know, right now, I HATE booze. I cringe at the thought. I know I'll crave again, maybe tomorrow, maybe next week. Maybe in an hour. But right now, I am loving sober life. And it only gets better, right?

Thanks guys.

Next step is to get the courage to try AA. I think working the steps could help me not only stay sober, but find some inner peace. Can't hurt, right? I'm going to try online video meetings due to the odd and infrequent times of local meetings. I have a trip coming up too, and where I am going there are tons of meetings, so if I get tempted, I can pop into one, even though I no longer live there. They'd be okay with that, right? I'll be there for two or three weeks. I'll also be logging in here on my phone. Does anyone else hit local AA meetings while on extended vacations?

Thanks guys. This place is my life saver!

laurie6781

ABSOLUTELY AND POSITIVELY!!!!!!

I think I attend more meetings when I travel than I do here at home.

My premiss has always been:

"there are a whole bunch of new friends out there waiting for me, I just haven't met them yet!

I even do it when I am Out of Country, lol That is really neat, as I have made some really truly great friends from other countries, just by introducing myself when asked by the chair person about anyone from another area. When they hear USA there are many that want to talk after the meeting.

So go ahead hit those meetings. You never know, if and or when you might be moving back there, lol But either way, you have LOTS of new friends waiting to meet you.

Love and hugs,

SoberForMySon

Thanks!!!! Yes I WILL be moving back there! For sure. In a few years or more, but yes, for sure. So that's a good point, too And I will be visiting there often, at least once or twice a year, as long as I am not living there.

Still feeling AWESOME!

Hevyn

Thanks for sharing the good news, Sober! I remember those first few trips to the grocery store - and all those bottles just staring at me (or so it seemed ). The first time I was angry - second time just a bit uncomfortable - and after that it didn't even bother me anymore. It's so good to be free.

sugarbear1

Where are you headed?

Sazzle

You sound so positive! I'm so pleased for you. I think AA is a fab step to take and you can visit classes wherever you travel. What a fab way to meet people and make friends. Off to my 3rd AA tomorrow. My home class as I like to call it now, lol, after the other funny class!

Keep on keeping on, Sober.

S x

SoberForMySon

Tampa, FL area!

Will have my son and my dogs (but my van is equipped with crates and water and beds and the weather's cool, so the dogs will be fine while I'm in a meeting).

I am feeling great today!

heath480

I always go to AA meetings when I am away from home.

There are no strangers there only friends you havent met yet.

Enjoy your holiday.

sugarbear1

Start by calling the AA office and pre-plan your meetings!!

Tri-County Central Office - Alcoholics Anonymous - Tampa

I wish you well!

Love & hugs,

Mark75

Yea, I like to attend meetings when I am on vacation, and I try to do so whenever possible.

Sasha4

I love it when new faces turn up at my meetings - some are away on buisness, some visiting family, but everyone is always so friendly and it is genuinely nice to meet these people.

Well done mate x

wpainterw

I'm so glad for you? Every good wish! Just try not to get over confident. This is tricky stuff. It's wise to get as much help from others as possible, counselors, friends, AA or some other program. Keep in touch!

You wrote: " And it only gets better, right?" Yes it gets better but only if you work it, keep your eye on the ball, avoid dangerous places or people who drink excessively and beware of the "pink cloud" (i.e. overconfidence, often a hazard in the first stages of recovery)

W.

Dee74

Congratulations on your week SFMS

D

ForMeForThem

That's great! I had a similar experience driving home today, I have to pass a liquor store and would normally stop for a bottle of wine but I drove past and thought about everyone here and posting about it, definitely helped me to resist the urge. Congrats on your week, you can do it!

neferkamichael

SoberForMySon, you resisted? You are FANTASTIC. Congratulations. I had the hardest time going into a store and seeing all that booze and I couldn't have any. But 2 years 4 months sober, I hardly notice it at all.

tomsteve

5 months into recovery through AA, i flew out to kansas( 1st time on a plane and it was awesome!). my brother and sister in law live there and we were drivin down to oklahoma to see my son graduate basic training. 1st time i had been around my brother and sister in law sober. i needed a meeting. found one there in witchita.
had some fear creapin in, but had the courage to go. was welcomed like family. once the meeting got started( topic was 1st step) was then that i realized that alcoholics are the same there as in northern mi!
i have been to metings in kansas, colorado, DC, and oklahoma. they have all been awesome.
the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, so you are welcome at a meeting wherever you go.

jennikate

Awesome! You must feel so proud of yourself and we're proud of you too. I do go to meetings when I'm away. This summer I found a great meeting that met every morning while I was on the Cape. Met some nice people plus got some great travel tips that only locals might know.

Pondlady

It does get better. I stopped drinking in June and avoided the liquor isle for awhile. Now I barely notice the wine

MemphisBlues

Do try some online meetings! It will allow you to know what a meeting is like, ease any nerves you might have about attending, and help you stay sober.

And visitors are always welcome. I'm in Manila and we get folks from Germany, Ireland, all over the United States, Australia, Malaysia, from all over the world. It's one of the few "clubs" I can think of that you can be anywhere in the world, walk in, sit down, say hi and be welcomes. More important, you find people that get you being you right away. We're all alike in many ways.

BabyJane

This is so cool! Good on you!!! Very proud of you, keep up the good work.

Also with AA, give it time to "click" - I started going and had a love / hate relationship with the whole thing for some time, but now I'm very glad I went to that first meeting. It saved my life.