bananagrrrl

Thanks for bumping this.

Thami

I choose to be in recovery than to just abstain from Drugs + Alcohol.
You have clearly outlined the difference between being alive and chancing life..

Recovery=life and Abstainance=living by chance.

Thank you

Just for today: An act of kindness costs me nothing, but is priceless to the recipient. I will be kind to someone today.

Andreas

In other words, abstinence is struggle against circumstances, and recovery is victory over them. But don't you think that we can only win if we start struggling?

Stereosteveo

Thanks for the post Boleo!

honeyTrappe

Nice!

Last time I got sober I did it by abstinence for about 5 weeks ... it was pain, emotional pain, I felt like an open wound, and for the first time EVER in my life I wanted to die!

This time round, completely different!! I felt released - from the obsession, the compulsion and the craving to drink.

What did I do different? I had come to understand that I was, in FACT, powerless over alcohol ... both powerless to stop once I started, and powerless to stop "starting". I decided to put my trust in a power greater than myself that I believed could keep me sober, because I knew I couldn't do it. (... in hindsight - Steps 1,2,3)

So for me abstinence = taking on - fighting my addiction with my own will-power. (= I lose!)

Recovery = surrendering, waving the white flag, bowing out of the fight. (paradoxically opening the door to a source of infinite power)




~honey~

43395

That was brilliant, really, really good, the silly thing for rebellious alcoholice like me, it is a very hard thing to go, when I , driven literally to my knees, worse than that to be honest I could only crawl to my bed, after praying like I've never prayed before ever, ever, ever I had a,'spiritual experience', alone and unaided by human hand and my alcoholism was taken from me after 30 years of suffering, but lets not go there, you're free, I'm free so it works and there is hope for all of us, Michael.

Spawn

For me it also means living life on life's terms and being happy and at peace with myself.

din

see, here's the problem..........

7 weeks (for lack of better words.........dry?!!)

and that original post just struck SUCH a cord!!
EVERY single stupid word rang as true as today's Gospel

this is NOT what I signed up for

and I could see where people would relapse, if they stopped at "JUST NOT DRINKING"

back to the drawing board for me.........

55438

Boleo -

Thank you for posting this beautiful description illustrating the shift in your behavior and spirit as you moved from abtinence to recovery. Your post is filled with peace, hope, respect and honesty.

It is too bad that it got caught up in the 'Great AA Debate' that seems to take over everything here.

55438

bethland

hi all feels funny talking stuff here ..first time i could be in the wrong area..i think i need a few friends hope that does not sound to needy... anyone done 3 months sobriety and feel great just more positive ..???