Fearlessat50

Congrats Free! This is so great!

Free2bme888

Thanks fearless! I hope the weather up by you is doing a lot better and if you’re able to go out for your runs for your emotional health.

I’m about ready to meet my new friend at the gym, even though I meant my boyfriends 20 miles away I’m going to go for it! 🏋🏻*♀️

biminiblue

Congrats on six months, Free2bme888. You're rockin' it.

Keep it going. It's a miracle every day.

MantaLady

That is fantastic Free!! I am 12 days behind you! What a ride it’s been so far but you’ve stuck with it and triumphed. xx

Free2bme888

For all those new/struggling....

Hope for you, for all of us.

I’m going through a very stressful time. I’m just over 33 weeks and there’s no way I want to go back to where I was.

You can have what I have, and we can all have freedom from the chains of addiction.

It really DOES get better.....

Believe. Act. Sustain.

Best,

FlawedNFntastic

There are craploads (that's a technical term) of us who believe in you. I believe in you. You can get through this, and hopefully you can laugh about it and be proud of yourself afterwards.

Best of luck and lots of supports headed your way.

Free2bme888

Bump!!

SoberCAH

Very good thread and observations.

At some point, I came appreciate exactly how blessed I had become.

My alcoholic world came to appear to me to be the veritable hell that it actually was.

So I became drawn to my new life and away from my old one.

I have had a truly great life.

I have the scars from pain I have experienced over the years, including since I got sober, but that's all okay.

I wouldn't trade my present life for anything, particularly not the miserable existence I endured on a daily basis for 13 years.

Tinkerbeau

Such an inspiring thread i can't wait for the 'it' to happen

Dropsie

11 months -- keepa go!

Free2bme888

Has ‘it’ happened tinkerbeau?

Sometimes it happens and we don’t expect it. An afterthought, if you will.

My best wishes IT happens to all of us on SR sooner than later. And it will, if you just keep on keeping on the sober bus😊

SoberCAH

Trust us, "it" will.

Free2bme888

Update/-

At just over 13.5 months, I lost my appreciation. My freedom.

I descended into a worse hell. So much worse. Oh no, not right away.

Wash, rinse, repeat, self hate, self harm.

It hasn’t been fun. Or worth it.

I come here with new resolve, dug out my post in the hopes that I trust that feeling will come.

It will. I believe in me again. What a great feeling, and better days to come.

😊

Gettingcloser

You can do it, Free! You have the experience of what to do that came with an excellent sober stretch. Stay close and post often!

biminiblue

Man, I'm really sorry you chose to blow up your life again.

I hope this is it.

Have you considered professional help, an outpatient program, AA, counseling, something bigger than just saying it to an online forum? I don't think this place is enough for a lot of people.

dickensen

Free: Many of us have fallen off the wagon. But we get right back on because there is no choice if we cherish our freedom, health, and self-worth that alcohol will destroy.

Free2bme888

Bim-

Can count on you to be honest.

Yes. I chose. It’s a choice. I blew it. That was July 2019.

So on here now rejoicing in my memory of that freedom. Knowing it DOES happen.

Quit smoking in 1987. Not a disease. An addiction. No program to quit, no magic. Perseverance and belief in myself. 100%

Right now, easier for me to do day by day until I’m stronger and feel more trusting in myself. That trust will come

Free2bme888

Thanks dickensen and Gettingcloser 😍

advbike

I so agree with this. Free I am glad you're back, but I would have to ask what is your plan? What specific actions will you take? If you really want it you will need to take concrete steps, and avoid the tempting situations for awhile, until you build up strength. I know you live in a beautiful part of the world with a lot of outdoor activities - these things naturally come with a certain celebratory aspect for some of us and I remember it well from when I lived there myself. For me this would probably require local meetings and some restraint for awhile until I learned to enjoy all of it sober. I truly hope you do take steps as the sober life is so much better, in every way. There will be no sacrifices once you are fully living it - life becomes fun and joyful again.

Free2bme888

One of my tools is an App called ‘Streaks’. It really helped me last time, am using that again

playing it forward. Have a lot more visuals of the horrors drinking leads to this time around, so plenty to draw from there.

looking In the mirror. Looking at myself. Taking good long looks.

being here.

only thing I had in 1987 for quitting smoking was a calendar. Put ‘Xs’ on the calendar dates I made it through. Did that for a whole year back then. ‘Streaks’ is the new age way to do that this time around.