Good stuff, been to some meetings lately, one of which was an Anniversary which was very nice. I have made it 10 months tomorrow (Sunday) and that feels good. I had not been counting, and had no idea how long I had been sober again until a few months ago, and that is the way I like it. But then I was thinking about Thanksgiving coming up, and it was shortly before that when I went off the wagon last year for a short time, and fortunately found my way back. I had a lot of problems in my marriage, and was taking some different medication, and was not sleeping at all due to severe insomnia from the meds. This was not something that would FORCE a person to drink, but because I was NOT going to meetings or keeping up my daily reprieve, I did not have the tools to deal with stuff. It is a good reminder that there are a million things that can get us into trouble, but those things we can HANDLE if we are keeping up on our Program. We never know when personal disaster will strike, and we had better be in good spiritual condition when it does! Lesson learned, just for today.
I am currently being transferred to the satellite office at work, and working in a much more relaxed and patient-focused environment than the speedy-gonzales type practice I am at now. Same practice, just a differrent location under a different doc. I am so grateful for the change of pace, and the focus I will get to have in the areas I am best at dealing with day to day. Plus, I will not be working int eh office where the girl who is so abrasive and back-biting is. She has really tested my patience and I had found myself questioning my own abilities because she is the type of person who is always picking at someone else in order to build herself up. I had to work on accpetance, and on seeing her for the challenges she has as a person who is very young and trying to "prove herself", but there came a point where I had to take a risk and tell someone about what was going on. I am glad I took that risk, as I found I was one of SEVERAL people with the very same complaints! While I questioned my own motives, what unfolded was the fact that I had a legitimate complaint, and it was not all in my insecure alcoholic head. What came to pass is that I was offered to become a core person at the satellite office, and that was truly God working in my life.
My nonalcoholic husband has recently showed his appreciation and pride in me as his wife, by buying me a car that I really enjoy too. It is a fancy foreign car, and a blast to drive, and although I am not big on "appearances", I loved my Honda.... I feel really special, and grateful that we can make ends meet and even BE employed and secure in our home in this day and age where so many Americans are suffering all sorts of problems right now. Weare truly blessed, and I do not ever want to take that for granted.
A friend who has recently landed back in treatment asked me to pick her up sometime from the treatment center for a meeting, and I can't wait til she calls me. What better way to celebrate some new wheels, than to give it away and use it for AA?
God bless everyone suffering in the Gulf area right now, and I pray especially that our friends in AA down there get what they need spiritually right now to cope.
Take care, and hope everyone is having a great weekend!! Love, Joni
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~Your Higher Power has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.
Thanks for sharing your recovery with us, Joni. It's so good to see you working well & showing how recovery can be successful in a hardcore field too. These still very much feel like my early days & I'm having to overhaul so much of who I thought I was so that I can change & it's tough work. It's been so very humbling to realise how much sicker I am than I thought I was & how I've all this to work on with my Program so that (I hope) I can go on to better things.
I'm just beginning the next certificate in counselling & I know how I so much need to learn how to help myself before I can help anybody else. Some people can just do it but it is hard for me because I can be so self conscious & willful. When I learn regularly how to hand this over to Whoever it is really in charge then maybe I can make better progress!
Anyways, I take alot of heart knowing that you can make recovery work for you in a professional & caring capacity & I hope maybe I can do the same, wanting what you have! Congratulations on 10mths 1Day@aTime. Great to see you working it, Lady! Daniella xxx
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
Congrats on 10 months, I know the feeling, I too had to stop counting as it drove me crazy. I needed to learn 'just for today' and counting each second of sobriety made that difficult for me.
Ah! The 'tests' that are presented to us - other people outside the program. We have a girl in our training dept who absolutely drove me NUTS due to the fact I couldnt' understand how she got to be a trainer when she didn't know one damned thing about the positions she trained people for! She finally got transferred to another dept. but I found myself thanking her (in my head) for showing me how to work AA outside the rooms. I have begun to learn patience & tolerance of others all because of her.
Thank you for being a part of my recovery, Joni. You're an awesome lady.
Love you!
((hugs))
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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
Hi Joni, Aaahhhh the blessings of sobriety!!! Most especially the blessing of sobriety itself, huh? Soooo proud that you've made it 10 mos. At this rate it'll be 10 yrs. before you realize it. Funny you should post. Was thinking of you and Lani as I watch the arm of Ike sweeping across my Illinois grounds. Yes, we are under his fury too. No tornados/lightning but the wind and massive gallons of rain that he is dumping is quite impressive. Got my attention. And so far, that now unplugged basement drain is working furiously in overtime. (From Feb's. floods to a week ago, I had been pumping water. Of course, I didn't pitch the pump because one never knows.) Checked the NWS maps and 'looped' this mess. Right here....we're under the gun most of today. Shall be interesting to see how many detours I'll have to take tomorrow. As for you, gals......sorry looks like you may be getting some of this too. Better keep that car garaged or find floats for it. LOL So happy everything seems to be working out with the job. Another irony.....had a dream about my 'thorn-in-the-side' coworker. Except in the dream.....I didn't meekly recoil into silence. She backed off.....in the dream. The weird thing.......we work very well togethor and at present are getting along. I have no idea why the dream. Must be too many things cluttering the brain right now 'cause it seems there have been several weird dreams here lately. Anyway......stay safe, dry, and most of all keep sober. You're doing awesome!!!! Wanda
Wow!! Thanks for all the encouraging and heartfelt replies!! Spell, I could not imagine getting into counseling and NOT wanting to have myself in utmost spiritual conditioning for that. I know you will do great! I believe you and Carol are going to both be incredible assets to the UK so far as recovery and counselling are concerned, once it is all said and done! So proud of you both!
Learning, we are indeed getting the leftovers of the hurricane. Last night our power went out for hours, and we had horrific winds blowing refuse and garbage cans and some people's siding all over the place! I think my house made out ok, although I will do a proper inspection once I have gotten off work. Lani, hope you are ok up there in Toledo!
Doll, you have a very helthy attitude, and I must say, it is much EASIER for me to accept this gal when I know I am on a fast track to leaving her behind at the downtown office!! God doing for us what we could not do for ourselves, right?
Sharon, good news on the Chrysler! What kind? I had been looking at a Dodge Caliber before my husband brought my car home to my surprise... it is a used Jaguar!!!! Holy Poopskies!!! Fun stuff.... just a pain in the butt to get repaired when it comes time for that... but just for today, she is roaring nicely. :o)
You gals have a terrific day, and let's get Monday BEHIND US, right??
((((hugs))))
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~Your Higher Power has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.
Alls well here in toledo! Glad to see you posting and to hear things are going well! hhh! Sobriety! Isnt it great! Gotta run!!!!!!
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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
your discovering that the work place is not much different than the school yard, theres always a bully around some where, they start off in the school yard, they move into the work force, and into church groups, community centers, bridge clubs, the bowling club, and sometimes in jail,eventually they end up in a 12 step group, because they cant cope with there shame, or guilt any more. yes i agree with you its great to leave them behind, but dont be surprised if you come across another one down the track, except this time ask them whats troubling them,and god may cure them on the spot, cheers peter.
She finally got transferred to another dept. but I found myself thanking her (in my head) for showing me how to work AA outside the rooms. I have begun to learn patience & tolerance of others all because of her. 