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Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Alcoholics Anonymous -> Alcoholics Anonymous -> Day 7 - Sobriety! My sobriety birthday!!!
Post Info TOPIC: Day 7 - Sobriety! My sobriety birthday!!!
Dave Harm


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Day 7 - Sobriety! My sobriety birthday!!!
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This is it. A very spiritual week ends - with sobriety. Thanks for reading and letting me share a week that started in hell and ended on a path of hope.

**********************************************

Made it - sobriety! The date was 9/4/94 a little after 10 AM I had my last sip of alcohol. I woke up and went to town to unlock the church. There was going to be a rare Saturday morning funeral. I got there pretty early and made sure the windows were cleaned, the church was cool, the grounds were presentable, stuff that those at a funeral wouldn't recognize, unless it wasn't done.

I got done a couple of hours before the funeral and went outside to my car. It was 8 AM and on the front seat I still had two cans of beer. Should I drink them? Or pitch 'em? I thought a bit and opened the can and it didn't taste the same. That AA meeting was starting to make me think. But I drank it anyway.

I got out of the car and sat on the bench outside the church and began thinking about that second can. What would I do after I drank it? Would I quit or would I go to town and buy some more? As I thought about it, one of the church secretaries pulled in the parking lot and started towards the building. She seen me sitting there and she just had the biggest smile and said, "What a beautiful morning to be alive!" I really didn't want to talk, but her words sunk in. A great day to be alive.

She went into the building and I walked out to the car and opened the second can of beer and took a couple of sips. I got out and went for a stroll around the building making sure everything was set to go, when I looked up and saw my ex-wife carrying a MacDonald's bag filled with breakfast. We talked for awhile and my emotions went up and down quicker then a ride at the carnival.

We ate together sitting on that bench and I finally got her to leave. I sat there for a moment and thought to myself, that this was nuts. I'm done! I walked out to my car and grabbed the can of beer which was about 2/3 full and I dumped it on the ground.

That was it. I surrender - no more - please Lord no more. I struggled through the rest of the day and as I drove home part of me kept saying, "get some beer we'll start tomorrow." But I didn't stop. That night I locked myself in the house by myself and begged for another 10 minutes of sobriety. That whole weekend my sobriety was based on ten minute increments. "Please Lord, just ten more minutes."

Sunday morning was nasty. I was sweaty, cold, and uncontrollably shaking. "Please Lord, just ten more minutes." It was a very long day. By Sunday night, I was still not feeling the best, but I had enough sense to begin trying to find an out-patient program to help me.

Monday was Labor Day and I remained locked in my house. I needed that weekend to go through the withdrawals - 10 minutes at a time. But by the Grace of God, I made it through that weekend.

Tuesday morning arrived and I was fortunate enough to see a counselor right away. It ended up being a two hour session. It was the first time in a long time that I felt a natural high. And that night, I returned to AA. This time sober.

Today is 15 years. I am so grateful for a second chance at life. Thank you for letting me share a very spiritual week in my life with you. Tonight, I'll receive my 15 year chip and I'll be asked how I did it. And I'll say I did it through Love - His Love.

I can never say it enough, how truly grateful I am for a second chance at life. It was through this gratitude that I was able to look at my whole life. Just short of my one year anniversary, I began working on my co-dependency issues and a month after that I began to understand how my life was almost "scripted" because I was raised in an alcoholic home with two alcoholic parents.

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame my folks for my alcoholism - I did that to myself. But when I combined all three AA, CODA, and ACOA... my life changed from just "being here" to one of adventure. An adventure that started in 10 minute increments... but now I do it one day at a time.

Besides the chip I'll get tonight... I've already got my first gift 15 white roses. Every year we've been together my wife honors me with roses. We started dating shortly before my second birthday. That year she gave me two roses, the next year three, and so on. Over the 13 years we've been together she has given me 102 roses. I can honestly say that she has given me a lot more roses then I have given her.

I usually write poetry for other people or other events. The video below I wrote for myself. It's entitled "An Attitude of Gratitude."

 

 



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"A busy mind is a sick mind.  A slow mind, is a healthy mind.  A still mind, is a divine mind." - Native American Centerness

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Jerry F


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Congradulations Dave and Thanks again for the bio on your last week before sobriety.

I'll remember that prayer...Please God just 10 more minutes.   (((((hugs))))) smile

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StPeteDean


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Congrats on 15 years Dave. Those 5 year annis are special. smile.gif

cake.gif  headbang.gifcake.gif

-- Edited by StPeteDean on Saturday 5th of September 2009 05:47:31 AM

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toni baloney


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Good Morning Dave,

Thank you SO much for all of your sharing on this - you last week prior to this wonderful Day!!

I have read each day, over and over, and loved how you articulated it all.

Dean is so right, those 5 year increments are very special indeed!

All that you contribute here - you are just the Best!!!!

Happy Happy Year 15 Birthday, cake.gifparty.gif

A Big Anniversary Hug,

Toni

-- Edited by toni baloney on Saturday 5th of September 2009 07:58:24 AM

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Reffner


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15 years...way to go man. Keep on going, one day at a time!
Brian

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Ruadh gu brath
carlasober


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Happy Birthday

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learning


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Dave,
With appreciation for all of your inspirations to ANYONE struggling with the disease of alcoholism or those struggling with another's.
Congrats. on your anniversary.......many you have many more!!!

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pinkchip


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Happy Anniversary Dave!  Your experience, strength, and hope was certainly a gift for me to hear this entire week.  Thank you so much.

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carlasober


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Wow Dave, your story is powewrful. I saw myself in you. Thanks for reminding me to not for get where I have came from (incomprehensible demoralization) and to be grateful for what God has done (gave me a new life) for me not only in recovery but also when I was in the tornado. God was there during everything. Thankyou for your sobriety and for sharing it with us. Again Happy Sobriety Birthday.

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Dave Harm


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Thank you. AA was the program that opened my eyes to everything that was going on in me and I can never thank my Higher Power enough for this second chance and all that he has taught me and all the great "teachers" he has given me.

Well, tonight, we'll be going to town (pretty quick actually) and eat at one of the finer restaurants, in our neck of the woods, and be served by my step-daughter.

When I met Betty she was five years old, last month she turned 19 and she greeted me this morning with a phone call wishing me a "Happy Birthday."

Then we'll hit a meeting...

Yes, life is good and I some glad I gave it a chance to find out...

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"A busy mind is a sick mind.  A slow mind, is a healthy mind.  A still mind, is a divine mind." - Native American Centerness

Creating Dreams, from the nightmares of hell...
angelov8


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Dear Dave,

Happy Birthday!  I have to admit I didn't completely understand the different threads each day at least at first.  I do appreciate you sharing your experience.  Now it all makes sense!  I enjoy the video work you post.  I think you linked the promises video in a thread from a few months ago.  I was newly sober and really touched by that.  I still like it.  Thank you for putting this one dedicated to yourself too.

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Sobrietyspell


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Congratulations on 15 years 1Day@aTime, Dave. That is such a Gift you share with us already in your gratitude. Thank you for being here & an inspiration for us in sobriety & creativity. You express yourself so beautifully. To Thine Own Self, indeed. Thank you, Well Doings & Keep coming back! Danielle x

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bikerbill


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A belated happy birthday Dave. Just back from holiday. Inspiring stuff you've shared this past week.

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