Mags1

to the Weekenders



If this is your first weekend sober, or many, come join us for support and chat...as we know the weekends can be a struggle sometimes. (We’re here all week too!)



As the festive season looms.


It’s been a funny year.

Maybe that’s an understatement.


As well us sharing our addictions we’ve had the virus in the mix too!


It will be a different Christmas for many of us this year.


If I’d not had sobriety I would’ve found the life changes from restrictions, stifling, frustrating and challenging.


In fact they are still these things but looking through sober eyes helps.


Having our sober tools, sharpened and at the ready it seems we can use them to maneuver ourselves through the pandemic, too.



If you’re thinking of a sober Christmas, why not start right now. Yes, I know! Sounds impossible! It isn’t!

I’d like to add some words I’ve shared before from a SR member many will know, who sadly passed away nearly two years ago now.

Gilmer, our Kathy, as we fondly called her, had integrity, strength and above all humor. ❤️

She had the ability to say the right thing without any flannel.

To quote Gilmer.

“There is a great difference, though, between quitting because you know something's bad for you and quitting because you know that there's something better for you.”


This really resonated with me for a long time, I knew alcohol was bad for me but I really didn’t think there was something better. I quit because it was bad for me. I found out there was a much better life without it. There truly is.



If this is your first weekend sober, or many, come join us for support and chat...as we know the weekends can be a struggle sometimes. (We’re here all week too!)

theVman31

SHOTGUN

Thanks Mags !

Time to read the OP

Mags1

Congratulations on shotgun Vinny

theVman31

Good Morning MB, good to see ya connected, how are things

Great OP Mags, love the Gilmer quote. Long live the memories of Kathy.
She was something else...

Mags1

Good to see you Midnight

Vinny, she was something special. she lives on in all of us.

andyh

morning all. thanks Mags

good morning MB - we see you lurking there, come & say hello.

my sister got the Covid vaccine yesterday. she works for the NHS in one of the big London hospitals & almost certainly has had CV19 - loss of taste, shortness of breath, etc. - but it was way back in March before testing was available. anyway, try as I might, I haven't been able to control here from my 5G phone.

Robbie64

Thanks Mags and morning Weekenders

I'm IN.

The weekend before Christmas is usually a strange one and this will be no different. I've finished my Christmas presents buying and this is the weeknd where everything seems strange as everyone is waiting for Christmas to arrive. The shops are normally full on the Saturday before Christmas but this year I don't think they will be. For me it will be the usual mix of walking, shopping and watching football.

least

I'm in! I remember that Gilmer quote. Such a different way to look at it and made so much sense.

Kaily

Thanks Mags.

I have cancelled my appointment to take my Dad for his Covid Vaccine this morning. He actually said he wanted to get the bus...

Devizes

Great opener, Mags, as usual. I love that Gilmer quote!

I know this will be a difficult weekend for many. Just dig deep, there's a new life of freedom and self-worth out there

I'm in for my EIGHTH bulimia-free weekend. Yippeeee! I'm starting to see some physical benefits now, which is very encouraging. I still want to eat more (much much more!) at the end of every meal but it's getting a little easier to walk away and even the ice cream in the freezer is losing its appeal....

lunar

Thanks, Mags.

Thanks, Gilmer.

MLD51

I'm in! Brilliant quote from Gilmer. When I first got sober it was because I knew it was bad for me. And right at first, I really didn't realize how much better life was going to be without it. I just knew I'd end up in REALLY bad shape (or dead) if I didn't quit. And I really had no idea what to do if I didn't drink, and it all seemed rather grim and sad. It started to become clear to me fairly soon that a much better life was there for the taking, if I stayed sober and did the work. The first months were really hard. But slowly, I started to feel really hopeful. I'm happy to report that it really does get easier and better as time goes on. It's not a magic fix! Stay the course!

Great work, Devizes!

Good to see everyone.

saoutchik

IN for another sober weekend!
My 310th I think

Thank you Mags and thanks for mentioning Gilmer/Kathy, always good to be reminded of one of her insights.

These are difficult weeks for people in early recovery but doable with a bit of planning.

I was in docklands this morning at the very end of the canal where it meets the Thames. It was a beautiful day.

andyh

is that Limehouse Sao?

my office is right near St Katherine dock - not that I've been there for nine months.

Lixie

I'm in too! No more exams, so I can enjoy my fourth sober weekend!

biminiblue

"Looms" seems an appropriate word for all of 2020.

In for a sober week. Now and forevermore.

Mags1

Congratulations Devizes on your eighth weekend ,

Kaily, I hope your dad caught the bus ok for his vaccine. sorry you had to cancel your appointment.

Nice pic Sao, it looks like a summer’s day. It was nice here too.

Andy do you look over the water from your office (when you’re not remote working), nice view if so.

Mags1

Bim, cat cleaning the floor.

Aellyce

Fourth sober week for me as well! I don't find weekends and holidays more challenging than any other time, but wanted to chime in because I love that Gilmer quote, too. I'm naturally very present- and future-oriented and don't tend to ruminate much on the past beyond what helps me to do things better going forward, so this works for me. I think most of us want to quit at first because of the increasing negative consequences of an active addiction, but it is indeed much better (probably also more effective) to be inspired in recovery by a positive outlook into the future. I have a lot of exciting plans for the coming weeks, months and years and definitely don't want them to be destroyed or made half-assed efforts because of drinking.

Have a good sober weekend everyone

Kaily

I ended up taking him Mags, all ok thanks. He has a hospital appointment tomorrow as well. He is keeping me busy. I gotta share this hope its not too gross, he was drying his tissues out on his fan heater today when I arrived. Every time I think he can't get any tighter he does. He is not poor!

Nice pic Sao, lovely when the sun comes out.

Yeah Bim Loom, Gloom or Doom

My mind needs a good hot wash, rinse and spin to get rid of all the crap!