Dee74

least

I was stagnating when I was drinking. I couldn't move forward at all. So glad I got thru the hard part and on to the rewards of sobriety.

silentrun

Not only did I stagnant I'm convinced I moved backward during the period I was abusing myself with alcohol. Im thinking that's why the first two years of recovery was so grueling for me. I had the 10 years of growth I lost while using plus the 10 years I backtracked. The changes started happening so rapidly I got frustrated trying to keep up.

Totally worth it to get myself back.

Mizz

Discipline produces results.
I truly think that we can change our lives and raise our life condition.
We are empowering ourselves by rising above an addiction. We are facing our problems with a determination to WIN!
At least this has been my attitude and there is a palatable change. I'm so grateful for being sober.

Thank you all for being here.

Steely

In that case I must be growing. 🌲 🌲 🌲

That was a good one, Dee.

Grateful09

Right now on Friday nights I must grow ten feet! In choosing the hard thing, I like the idea of also being able to say, "I am choosing to grow." Thank you Dee.

brighterday1234

🙏

Surrendered19

It is a great way to look at every single part of our lives, isn't it? All things worth doing are worth doing the best we can. Every time I struggle and make it to the other side of something, I feel a sense of contentment and accomplishment. That really goes for challenges in my recovery.

Gabe1980

Well....that's going on my recovery chalk board! Thanks Dee.

I have found the growth so far pretty painful but I am looking forward to some of the meaningful experiences that are in the pipeline now xx

Fusion

Yes! My AV is an Instant Gratification Monster - drink, drink, drink today for temporary 'comfort' - and damn the other option - not drinking temporary 'discomfort', that would lead to a better, more comfortable future created by not drinking.

My real self places value in the future, if I don't drink today, I'll build a better tomorrow.

Anna

Great post, Dee.

least

They don't call them "growing pains" for nothing.

FarFromHeaven

I can really relate to this as I am still extremely new to sobriety. The strangeness and uncertainty of this new way of living is deeply uncomfortable at times, to say the least. However, in such a brief period of time I have learned so much about myself, both good and bad. I have goals and dreams and a zest for life that I have never experienced before and that alone motivates me to keep going. There is so much freedom and opportunity in growth and that is such a beautiful feeling, despite the difficulties along the way.

RAL

Thanks for starting this thread Dee. It has helped me today,

columbus

As silentrun mentioned above, not only did I NOT progress, emotionally, while drinking,
I can now see that I actually REGRESSED, as drinking reduces one to a child-like
emotional being, not a rational adult.

Steely

Growth makes me happy.

least

Growth means I'm alive. And Gratitude means I enjoy every moment of my life.

DriGuy

Growth is different for adults than it is for a child who naturally learns to walk and talk. As adults, growth requires doing something, while doing nothing would be easier. But learning to grow ends up being easier in the long run. Like most jobs and careers, getting started is often challenging, but it's also one of the most rewarding things we can do.