Weekenders April 8-15
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
Weekenders April 8-15
Mags is taking the day off, she's still here!
The fence. Not a good seat.
There's no better time than right now to stop self-destructive addictions.
They all serve the same dysfunctional purpose - to quiet anxieties and to distract from the real problem, or in my case problems. Addictions are not solutions.
Today is the day to get off the fence. Pick the side that leads to life.
If you're struggling with any kind of addiction, I get it. I've tried a whole bunch of them. None of them work long-term, and they all have a pointy end. Many of them, like alcohol, drug, and food-related addictive behaviors could and would probably have killed me. By definition I think addiction equals ambivalence and struggle and the ambivalence causes inaction like sitting on the fence when what is needed is action.
I chose to put those addictions down and learn to live life on life's terms. It's a whole lot better and less frightening. I'm not saying everything is magically good, but it is a lot easier and so much quieter between my ears.
Hop down. Make the decision.
We'll be here all week. I hope you'll join us.
It gets better as soon as you want it to, but it is a choice.
The fence. Not a good seat.
There's no better time than right now to stop self-destructive addictions.
They all serve the same dysfunctional purpose - to quiet anxieties and to distract from the real problem, or in my case problems. Addictions are not solutions.
Today is the day to get off the fence. Pick the side that leads to life.
If you're struggling with any kind of addiction, I get it. I've tried a whole bunch of them. None of them work long-term, and they all have a pointy end. Many of them, like alcohol, drug, and food-related addictive behaviors could and would probably have killed me. By definition I think addiction equals ambivalence and struggle and the ambivalence causes inaction like sitting on the fence when what is needed is action.
I chose to put those addictions down and learn to live life on life's terms. It's a whole lot better and less frightening. I'm not saying everything is magically good, but it is a lot easier and so much quieter between my ears.
Hop down. Make the decision.
We'll be here all week. I hope you'll join us.
It gets better as soon as you want it to, but it is a choice.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: NC
Posts: 1,649
Thanks for that Bim. I was on the fence for a long time. Even in early sobriety I was thinking maybe I don’t have to quit forever but now I know I do. And since I’ve accepted that being sober is so much easier.
😊
😊
Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,654
Thank you for another insightful OP, Bim. Another fence-sitter here, if only I realised earlier that fence-sitting was ultimately far more painful (ouch in the posterior) than choosing a side, then taking action and clambering down that side.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: German Village, Columbus with my love ♥
Posts: 88,449
I think this is a briIIiant definition. ❤️
By definition I think addiction equals ambivalence and struggle and the ambivalence causes inaction like sitting on the fence when what is needed is action.
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,748
Good Morning, Hawk!
I hope you are doing well. Its good to see you.
Welcome back to this side of the fence....
Ive been a fence sitter and hopper.....Trying this side and that side. Always coming back to the side of the fence with sobriety. Its calmer over here, ya know? Have a wonderful day. I look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood!
I hope you are doing well. Its good to see you.
Welcome back to this side of the fence....
Ive been a fence sitter and hopper.....Trying this side and that side. Always coming back to the side of the fence with sobriety. Its calmer over here, ya know? Have a wonderful day. I look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood!
Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Canada
Posts: 6,849
Thanks for this new chapter Bim.
I will have to jump over a new fence : sugar addiction.
I was diagnosed with diabetes yesterday from my doctor.
It was a shock even though I suspected it but I will get through it as I did in successfully quitting smoking and drinking.
It will certainly be easier to do being sober.
Have a good day Weekenders ☼
I will have to jump over a new fence : sugar addiction.
I was diagnosed with diabetes yesterday from my doctor.
It was a shock even though I suspected it but I will get through it as I did in successfully quitting smoking and drinking.
It will certainly be easier to do being sober.
Have a good day Weekenders ☼
Giving up is NOT an option.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 7,808
I'm in!
That fence was a really uncomfortable place for me for many many years. Then it became an unbearable place to be sitting. I knew which side I needed to jump to for quite some time before I built up the courage to do it (and I also had a big push in the form of a DUI). It seemed like a really long way down, and I couldn't see what was down there. Alligators? Hungry tigers? Snakes? It turned out what was down there was a bunch of welcoming arms in the form of a sober community I was so grateful to land in. It was a bit of a rough landing at first. There were also some scary things, but nothing as bad as my imagination and fear had me believe.
I have never regretted jumping off that fence. That old saying "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" isn't true for me in this case. The sober side is green. The other side has zero appeal to me - I see it as a wasteland of toxic waste and tumbleweeds.
That fence was a really uncomfortable place for me for many many years. Then it became an unbearable place to be sitting. I knew which side I needed to jump to for quite some time before I built up the courage to do it (and I also had a big push in the form of a DUI). It seemed like a really long way down, and I couldn't see what was down there. Alligators? Hungry tigers? Snakes? It turned out what was down there was a bunch of welcoming arms in the form of a sober community I was so grateful to land in. It was a bit of a rough landing at first. There were also some scary things, but nothing as bad as my imagination and fear had me believe.
I have never regretted jumping off that fence. That old saying "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" isn't true for me in this case. The sober side is green. The other side has zero appeal to me - I see it as a wasteland of toxic waste and tumbleweeds.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: German Village, Columbus with my love ♥
Posts: 88,449
Originally Posted by Canadian Koala 
Thanks for this new chapter Bim.
I will have to jump over a new fence : sugar addiction.
I was diagnosed with diabetes yesterday from my doctor.
It was a shock even though I suspected it but I will get through it as I did in successfully quitting smoking and drinking.
It will certainly be easier to do being sober.
Have a good day Weekenders ☼
I will have to jump over a new fence : sugar addiction.
I was diagnosed with diabetes yesterday from my doctor.
It was a shock even though I suspected it but I will get through it as I did in successfully quitting smoking and drinking.
It will certainly be easier to do being sober.
Have a good day Weekenders ☼
s xx
Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 273
Thank you Bim!
I spent most of my life sitting on the fence! Always knowing I needed to quit drinking but never really committed to stop drinking!
Now I have no choice! I have to quit and stay quit! Drinking is no longer a viable option for me!
I spent most of my life sitting on the fence! Always knowing I needed to quit drinking but never really committed to stop drinking!
Now I have no choice! I have to quit and stay quit! Drinking is no longer a viable option for me!
Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 273
Originally Posted by biminiblue
I'm glad I quit before my Choices were taken away.
As so many know, it could be so much worse...nice to see you AD42L.
As so many know, it could be so much worse...nice to see you AD42L.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
