Really starting to see the beauty of sobriety
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 129
Really starting to see the beauty of sobriety
Long story short: both my parents are very difficult. It’s not necessary to go into the history, but yesterday after a slightly tense morning phone call (my family and I live thousands of miles from them now), I got a really sh*tty, unkind email from them that concluded with them saying not to bother getting in touch until I was ready to crawl to them with an unqualified apology. Now, seventy days ago I’d have felt fear and panic, opened a bottle, got drunk, got some Dutch courage and written back a stream of furious invective that would only have upped the ante. But instead I felt fear and panic, typed out an email I didn’t send, cooked dinner for the family, had a cup of tea, talked to my husband about it and went to bed sober and fairly calm having not responded. And not responding was a choice. Being sober gave me the space to realize that I don’t have to get involved in the whole circus and that my parents’ problems don’t have to be my problems. I’m so very grateful.
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: US
Posts: 5,095
I've posted this many times but the quote
" Between stimulus and response is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom" or something along those lines. Viktor Frankl wrote it. I live in the space now. Or I try to. And I love the dr Phil line 'never miss a good chance to shut up'. Haha.
" Between stimulus and response is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom" or something along those lines. Viktor Frankl wrote it. I live in the space now. Or I try to. And I love the dr Phil line 'never miss a good chance to shut up'. Haha.
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,238
I echo everything you said wynwrights.
In fact i just shared with my husband
just about the same thoughts and feelings
towards my own family minutes ago.
I don't know for sure if my actions
are perfect or condoning, but for me
right now, my sobriety is important
to me for without it I surely wouldn't
be here.
I cant have all that drama that comes
with family in my life. There's no room
for it.
I use my Faith and Recovery Program
taught to me yrs ago as a guideline for
living a healthy, happy and honest life
today.
You can too.
In fact i just shared with my husband
just about the same thoughts and feelings
towards my own family minutes ago.
I don't know for sure if my actions
are perfect or condoning, but for me
right now, my sobriety is important
to me for without it I surely wouldn't
be here.
I cant have all that drama that comes
with family in my life. There's no room
for it.
I use my Faith and Recovery Program
taught to me yrs ago as a guideline for
living a healthy, happy and honest life
today.
You can too.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 113
Well done on allowing yourself that “space” to make the decision! It echos in my head as I probably would have done what you said and reached for the bottle, but not this week! It’s a nice feeling of being empowered and taking back what was rightfully ours! I hope you are well x
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