Flight fear!
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 10,912
Thanks for your feedback. Yes I agree with you on all accounts. I don't think any work-related contact or interaction would be worth risking my sobriety. I want to think about it for a while carefully - why I decided to avoid this situation at this event. It was the first conference I attended since I quit drinking this January. I definitely need to figure out a brand new way of dealing with this part of my job.
Yes absolutely we can meet and interact anytime during these events (coffee breaks, poster sessions, lunches, dinners, receptions, etc) and I did that of course. The only thing about these late evening gatherings at the bar is that it tends to be rather spontaneous, ie. you can establish connections and exchange information with colleagues you would not have approached otherwise because you simply just did not know they had anything interesting to offer. But anyway, I will think about all this carefully. If I need to lose some opportunities in order to protect my sobriety, I'll do that because the alternative (losing my sobriety) would probably be the end of all of it sooner or later.
Thanks again. You did well talking to those people on the airplane, btw. Not sure I would have had the courage.
Yes absolutely we can meet and interact anytime during these events (coffee breaks, poster sessions, lunches, dinners, receptions, etc) and I did that of course. The only thing about these late evening gatherings at the bar is that it tends to be rather spontaneous, ie. you can establish connections and exchange information with colleagues you would not have approached otherwise because you simply just did not know they had anything interesting to offer. But anyway, I will think about all this carefully. If I need to lose some opportunities in order to protect my sobriety, I'll do that because the alternative (losing my sobriety) would probably be the end of all of it sooner or later.
Thanks again. You did well talking to those people on the airplane, btw. Not sure I would have had the courage.
Originally Posted by emmsie 
Haennie - That is a tough predicament that you're in and I have heard other professionals say very similar things. I really don't envy you. While it's a part of your bread and butter to network in situations that would more than likely involve alcohol, I would personally ask myself if I felt safe in such an environment. I know it's easy for me to say but would there be any way you could ask any prospective contacts to meet with you for coffee/breakfast/lunch the following day so you don't miss out on any possible opportunities? It's just you said you were going to have to try and 'force' yourself to be in an alcoholic situation and I get the impression that you are therefore uncomfortable about it. Again, easy for me to say but your sobriety is the most precious thing.
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 4,682
Originally Posted by emmsie
Thanks, yeahgr8 - that's kind of you to say. I don't do meetings as often nowadays but tap into a variety of resources that I've picked up. What I might need to use in terms of what I've learned can obviously change on a daily basis. Can I ask what it is you do to maintain your sobriety? As I said, this is something that is always of interest to me. :-)
So it's about moving forward because if I don't move forward then I start slipping back, I mean moving forward within not referring to money, property etc.
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