Wishing you all a great day!! Made a decision to lay out my email on here--re experience strength and hope. Others have done that for me in the past. Im not God, or can I solve and fix any problems you might have. But i can listen, and understand, and be there for you, as others have been there for me. Im just a small splash in a big big ocean, as we all are. Feel free to email me any time. Phil@personainternet.com For those looking for personal relationships of the non AA kind--sorry-I cant help yu there." :) Been there--done that.:) Pretty grateful to celebrate 20 years of sobriety tonight. Gave away all my medallions in the past. This ones no exception. Gave the last one to my Mother. She went through hell on wheels. This one goes to my wife, We went through separate hells of our own in the past. She never saw me drink. Even tho we arent together, and our marriage is over and Ive accepted that. I think that she deserves one, for what alcoholism has done to her life. Thats just the way it is. Onward ho guys!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To heal ourselves is a reclamation of the power we all have as living beings to live in harmony with the life energy and to fulfill our potential as creatures among many on this planet. --Chellis Glendinning We live in a world that tells us healing only comes from outside ourselves. To some, it may seem odd to think each of us has the ability to heal ourselves. How is this possible? Easy--we can do it if we believe we can. Whatever we believe we cannot do will remain beyond our ability. But believing we can heal ourselves gives us access to many healing ways. Self-acceptance is healing. Singing, playing, walking by a river are healing. Even helping others with their problems can be healing to us. There are as many ways of self-healing as there are people in the world. Once we experience what is healing for us, we can go on to discover many more healing acts to share with others. What healing things do I like to do?

Phil,

Congratulations on your 20 years of sobriety. I would love to hear your story sometime, what it was like, what happened, and what it is like today.

I want to thank you for always being here to share your experience, strength, and hope with all of us.You are an oldtimer and it shows.I have prayed for you as I do all who post here and will always do so.I pray you will continue to do this deal one day at a time, keep it simple, and always let go and let God. Oh, yes, and I pray you will never lose your sense of humor, I know it not only keeps me smiling but it puts a smile on Gods face too.

(((Love and Hugs)))

GammyRose

Congratulations on 20 years Phil, well done! Keep it up. It must have been a massive learning experience staying with the program for that long. I just hope the rest of us can manage as well as you have.

Bye for now.

Chris.

Well Gammy-I just know one thing. I never wanna go back there. Sobriety-all growing painfull experiences of learning. Three years ago I found this board. Three years ago, after 17 years sober I had no choice, but to delve into the rest of the steps, besides number one and number 12. My way, no longer worked. Three years ago, I found a safe haven 'THIS BOARD". A place where I could pour feelings, fears, thoughts, and all the emotions that I had bottled up for years. Each and every day, I poured my pain unto this board and shared it with you people. I received love, experience, and hope in return. Back then, there was just DW and myself most of the time. In return I tried to humbly share what I could each and every day. How this Haven has grown, is overwhelming some days. Just a miracle it itself. But it has become a part of my life. On some days, it has saved my life. There is no doubt. When one finally gets it. When one learns to give from the heart to others with love, through God, asking nothing in return. Thats what its all about. How simple can it get? The rest of it? Just a very simple program to learn how to live life on lifes terms, one day at a time sober. God takes care of the rest, and the outcomes. Do some of us do it simply? Some of us havent, and it causes a lot of growing pain, and going through a lot of dark tunnels to get to the light. Let Go And Let God? I took every other route there was possible before I had to completely let go. Every one possible. Just let go with trust and faith, doin the best we can today. And Chris? Its all one day at a time, just not picking up a drink, and the days add up. We are promised a rose garden. But there can be a lot of thorns when we journey through that rose garden. We try to get rid of those thorns our way, and get all banged up and scratched to smitherines. OR we can simple do it the program way, and Gods way, and find out in the end which way works better. Some us cant be shown or told. You tell me one thing--Ile likely do the opposite.:) Some of us through sobriey learn, just how short life is. It does not go on forever. Grab life, each and every day--some day soon, there will not be a tommorow Each and every one that shares on this board is a part of my life each and every day. Im so gratefull for that. So grateful. Onward, with love in your hearts, and baby steps. We are here for each other.