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Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Alcoholics Anonymous -> Alcoholics Anonymous -> made it through the weekend
Post Info TOPIC: made it through the weekend
jc2008


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made it through the weekend
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I grew up in a family of half-hearted Lutherans. We seldom went to church, and never talked about God. So it feels foreign to me to hear people talk about God or a higher power. I wonder sometimes, if one isn't raised to believe in God, can one come to it later in life?

Over the past several years I've attended my husband's church and have grown fond of it, if only for the socialization. This weekend, I volunteered at the church festival Friday night, Saturday and today. There was alcohol everywhere. I knew I had no business being there, being only 10 days sober. But I didn't want to let down the people I'd promised to help, and my husband would have been upset, etc., etc. I put everyone else's feelings before mine and put myself in a dangerous situation. Friday night I hovered around the bar for a while, then finally decided I couldn't stand it anymore and was going to buy a drink. Just then, a cousin walked by, put his arm around me, and asked if I was okay. I said no, and did a big u-turn away from the bar. Then, tonight on the way home, I got pulled over for speeding. The cop must have thought I was crazy because I was smiling. I kept thinking, if this was two weeks ago, I would be on my way to jail. I told him I knew I was speeding, knew I was wrong, and that he should do what he needed to do. He just stared at me for a minute, then told me to go home. As I drove home, I said thank you to God. Thank you for putting my cousin in my path, thank you for keeping me sober today so I didn't go to jail. I also figured something else out: I cannot be around alcohol, at least, not yet. I white-knuckled it through the weekend. It was not fun. I'm lucky I didn't pick it up.

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Nisha


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Congrats Jen. That was awesome.Tells me that there is a higher power over us, watching and helping us when we are sincere towards our on day at a time goal.

Last weekend I was ina different city, more than 1000 km away with fellow AA members.My host took me to his friend's birthday party where there was booze all around.Only he and an another member were not drinking.I kept looking at the bar counter, and even asked them if its ok that I drink(!), they said its my choice.Well, I didn't go for it, and before my monstors drove me crazy again, I had an apple juice glass thrust in my hands, which I really enjoyed sipping.I even enjoyed the dinner, after a very long time, and had a restless but still peaceful sleep.The next morining when I woke up, it felt good.No alcohol in my system, no hangovers, I even felt hungry for breakfast!!

I also feel that for some time I cannot afford to be in places overflowing with booze. If AA members had not been in that party, I would have succumbed for sure.

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Tuggboat


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You will discover a freedom in AA regarding this higher power thing. Do you have a Big Book yet? Chapter "to the agnostic" is good.


We Agnostics

Every time we make the right move regarding alcohol or find gratitude for a higher power now working in our life we build up insurance and a faith that is allowed to grow. We find like you are finding out that we can be places with alcohol but only if we have a power greater than ourselves to help us through the bumps.

I find it much easier if I stay away from these places. We have a Slogan, its called People Places and Things. It is easier if we stay away from people places or things that make us feel we want to drink.

Be Wary,Sometimes a succesful brush with alcohol boosts our confidence and lowers our guard. especially early in sobriety, it is so in our nature to not want to have this problem.

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Quetzal


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Hi JC,

Well done on making it through the weekend. You should be feeling really good. You are doing so well.

And, there definitely is a Higher Power watching over you.

For me, I didn't feel that I could trust myself around alcohol for about a year after starting with AA. Now, it's OK as I genuinely don't want to drink. But, we're all different and you will work out when you will feel comfortable. But, for now, stay well away from anywhere that might tempt you back to drinking. It's just too dangerous.

Please keep posting and letting us all know how things are going for you, won't you?

Take care,

Carol

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StPeteDean


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I was wondering where you were. you sound like someone who enthusiastic about getting sober, that's quite a gift. It's reccomended that you try and take someone sober with you into the kind of situations. It's also good to pray that your higher power will go with you and protect you.

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eastcoastscott


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I see from Nisha's post that your name is Jen, are you comfortable with us using it here? Never know, maybe a picture next,LOL....just kidding.....Outstanding job toughing it out on the weekend, sounds like you are a committed recovering alcoholic. It is hardest at the beginning but sort of a no pain,no gain thing. It does get better and easier with time. Your Higher Power will help you with things from now on. Smiling while a cop pulls you over and all the other mystical "bonuses" that come your way are not coincidences. I love Appendix 2, page 569 of the Big Book, definitely stuff that makes you go "hmmmm". You rock!!!!

Scott

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jc2008


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Thanks everyone!  In response to Scott's question, feel free to call me Jen.

I had to visit a jail today in order to obtain evidence from an inmate.  I saw many young women there, in prison garb, mopping floors and doing other menial tasks.  It made me think of something I heard someone say at a meeting: but for the grace of God there go I.

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StPeteDean


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jc2008 wrote:

Thanks everyone! In response to Scott's question, feel free to call me Jen.

I had to visit a jail today in order to obtain evidence from an inmate. I saw many young women there, in prison garb, mopping floors and doing other menial tasks. It made me think of something I heard someone say at a meeting: but for the grace of God there go I.



 JC you're really getting this!  Are you sure you haven't been this way before? smile.gif



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lani


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Hi JC,
Glad to see you posted. I too was wondering how you were. Sounds like you made it through the weekend. Your growing quite a bit and I do give you credit for following thru with a commitment you made. At least now, you can say no to the next thing that comes your way that your not sure of.

I know for me, I cant be around alcohol right now. Not that I will drink but like Dean was sharing about the wedding, Im afraid it would put me in too bad of a mood and make me crazy. But, who knows, it may trigger thoughts that, "theyre doing it, why cant I?" Have had to say no to a few invites from friends but its not worth losing my mind or sobriety over!

So, best of luck! Your doing great!!!

Lani

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jonijoni


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I'm really glad you made it through the weekend. In AA, we find that religion and spirituality are not the same.

Someone once said, "Religion is for folks who don't want to go to hell. Spirituality is for folks who have already been there and beck".

There is nothing wrong with religion. Not anything wrong with it at all. All that AA's program requires is that you believe that there is a force greater than yourself out there, or even within. Doesn't even say what kind of force it has to be. We just need to eventually stop relying on ourselves for everything.

You'll get there, and in your own way that's comfortable for you.

You sound much better today. I am glad to see you are healing.

Joni

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Sobrietyspell


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Well done, Jen. You're a fantastic example & inspiration already doing so well. I'm proud of your story & have great hope for you. Your relationship & developing of a Higher Power is a beautiful journey & I hope you enjoy it as I have. It's all to your own understanding & can be so subjective making it sometimes hard to explain but that doesn't seem to matter so much. Keep an open mind & you'll develop your own ideas on that. Your HP is all for yourself & will help you to learn lots about love & forgiveness without conditions. That's what mine's been meaning for me. Can compare notes with you & whenever you like. Enjoy your early days of sobriety 1Day@aTime, Jen. You are doing supremely well! Keep up the good work! Just for Today ~ Danielle x

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Sept_19_2002


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Great to hear all this wonderfully good news Jen.

Thanks for sharing it with us. I love the cop story! It's so true. Very early in my sobriety I was pulled over at a roadside check and I was deliriously happy that I was clean and sober .. I had nothing to hide. A HUGE first!

I think it was one of my first tastes of the freedoms promised. I was just coming back from my Men's step group "The Whine and Snivelers" and being the new guy I had to pick up guys from Detox and bring them to the meeting and then take them back and I had just finished dropping everybody off.

You should have seen the look on the Cop's face as I tried to share with him the wonderful adventure he had just taken me on ... sadly being a regular normal person I was just some over talkative guy with way too much enthusiasm slowing everything down. After he politely sent me away I went home and called everybody I knew in the program and told them I had gotten pulled over. Truly a highlight from the early days.

Thanks for being here today. Please keep coming back biggrin



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