csaw1112

Would you have ever taken that first drink?

doggonecarl

The more relevent question might be, "Knowing what you know now, will you take the next drink?"

Soberwolf

Never I wish I didn't but that's history I back up Carl's post

entropy1964

Well let's see, I watched my father drink himself silly my whole life. And my older brother got me drunk when I was 8 yrs old. So yeah, probably because I had no idea what was really happening. When I first got sober at 38? One could argue I shouldn't have relapsed...well duh.

Bottom line, I wouldn't know what I know now if I hadn't been through the exact journey I have. I'm right where I'm supposed to be I suppose.

csaw1112

So we can be stronger, wiser, and more understanding having gone through what we did, right?
As long as we keep it in the past, that is.

Hevyn

No. It tore my life apart.

Ninjaturtle

I have so much regret. Oh if doc was here with a time machine.

gallen37

You can't separate knowledge from experience and feeling though.

I'm sure everyone knows that a snack just out of the microwave is super hot, right? How do you know though? Did you read and heed the warning on the package? Nah, we all burned out mouths a few times.

You can't dwell on the past because how could we really understand?

Venecia

In sobriety, I've had to learn to live in the present. If I allow myself too much regret or coulda, woulda, shouldas, that can't happen.

desertsong

^^^^ This.

If I had known what my life was going to become, of course I wouldn't have taken that first drink. Who would? But what's done is done. Now all I can do is use what I've learned to keep myself from ever doing it again. When I first started drinking, I didn't have the benefit of foresight to see how much damage it would do to my life. Now I have the benefit of HINDsight and know enough to know that I will never take that first drink ever again!

Ninjaturtle

The windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror for a reason. Can't remember where I heard that but thought of if when reading through these posts and needed to remember it

tomsteve

i had to go through everything i had to go through to be where i am tonight: peaceful, content, serene.

i would change one second of my past.

LostLilly

I have heard people in AA say they wouldn't change a thing since the journey brought then close to God and others and their life is full of meaning.

Personally, I am in the middle of the sad mess I created and am quite full of regrets.

Lilly

MIRecovery

Everything is exactly as it should be. Outcomes are the providence of God

ZenLifter

I thought I knew everything then. Maybe that was the problem. Now I'm quite sure that I don't know s$&@! 😜

butcher70

No. I wouldnt have taken that first drink. And I wouldn't take one now. I did way too much stuff I will never forgive myself for and really lost allot choosing to drink like I did. I came out of it I believe a little wiser and mentally stronget but would do anything for a do over on ever doing down the path that I did.

Berrybean

I doubt it. I was never a great one for listening to anything or anyone that was telling me to something that didn't fit my own agenda, even to my own common sense when push came to shove.

I made my inventories and make my amends, and work hard on my recovery today. That takes all my attention. For me, to spend time in wishful thinking, crying for the moon about stuff I can't change, means taking my eye off of what I can and should be doing right now, today, to sustain my sobriety and recovery. It also is path straight to self-pity of me, which is certainly a dubious luxury for me.

shortstop81

That's impossible to say because I was so young when I started drinking. I grew up in an abusive, alcoholic, dysfunctional home. I don't think I could've truly understood that insight at that time.

FreeOwl

I think I probably knew.... and did it anyway.

It probably wasn't as much about what I knew or didn't know - as much as it was how I felt, how I was wired.

Maybe I needed to go through it all to become who I am today.

In any case it's nothing I can change. So knowing what I now know, I know now what I'll do and who I'll be today.

gallen37

When I hear the word "regret" I translate into "stuff booze stole from me". I can't have the past back, but I can have every minute now moving forward.