This is my second post on the discussion board, and my 4th day of being booze-free. Today was a first, in a long time, for me - i made Friday night plans that do NOT include alcohol....and to be honest?....I'm looking forward to it - though it will be a struggle if/when the booze does present itself (at a restaurant? etc).
I was just curious if anyone here would like to share any emotions or activities or hobbies or feelings or behaviors that have emerged in your life since you've been sober? Is there one or more things that you are proud that you can now do, without the control of the bottle?
The list is so long. When I was drinking I was limited by activities that revolved around drinking. There almost had to be booze there as bringing booze with you is obvious and cumbersome, unless it's a picnic or camping or something where a cooler didn't appear out of place.
Later, I was afraid to leave the house at night because I'd been arrested a few times for DUI, drunk in public. You might not relate to that but I'm sure that there are places that you wouldn't want to go in an altered state because of the related vulnerability with regards to drinking and being taken advantage of.
Just some of the things that being sober has allowed me to do are: snow skiing, scuba diving, interstate motorcycle trips, traveling abroad, building a vacation home on a mountain top, and having a wonderful marriage of 16 years.
I am able to live one day at a time due to my personal relationship with God of my own understanding, which continues to improve throughout this journey.
There's absolutely NOTHING I cannot do in recovery. One thing I CAN do which has proved necessary on many occasions since getting sober, and that it, I can start my day again AT ANY TIME. Thjis means that if I have a bad time from waking until say, lunchtime, I can change that. Using the AA toolkit I can turn my day around within minutes, just by picking up the phone and speaking to my sponsor or another AA friend.
What to do if in the restaurant you're tempted?? Always make sure you have telephone numbers with you so you can ring someone and let them know you're tempted, and if they can't get you through it, then GET THE HELL OUTA THERE.
WELCOME TO HMS RECOVERY.Be sure and stay in the middle of the boat, less chance of falling out then.
__________________
Serenity is Wanting what you have, not having what you want
Always remember non-alcoholic beers are for NON-ALCOHOLICS
I am 46 yrs old and have always wanted to learn how to play the piano. Well, about a year ago, I bought a beautiful used one from an old lady. I started taking lessons, but had to stop cuz' I ran out of time . I will start the lessons back up .. someday. At least I have a piano now and can either teach myself or return to lessons.
I am involved in a fair decent amount of AA service work and that keeps me busy.
I just got a motorcycle about a year ago. Was to afraid to drive one when I was drinking.
I just took up deer hunting last fall and this will be my second year. I loved it last fall. Sat there in that deer blind looking out over a field of corn and the sky was opened right up . It was snowing , and the sun was coming up over the pines . Absolutely beautiful. I was disgusted with myself cuz Id spent so many years sittin in a bar or hungover to enjoy what I was seeing .
For the last 5 yrs I have grown a garden , and canned some of the veggies from that garden. Yummy ! I actually bake zucchinni bread now from the zucchinni's I grow in the garden . how cool is that ?
I am a member of the local humane society and volunteer once a month. Im a member of other community organizations as well.
Started raising chickens and built a chicken coop.
One of the best parts of being sober is enjoying the time I take to relax. I am comfortable in my own skin today. Im okay with who I am. I dont sit and wonder, worry or fret over hardly anything anymore.
The possibilities are endless ..... when Im sober.
I ran a marathon a couple of weeks ago (slowly), by the grace of God. Wouldn't even have thought about a marathon when I was drinking...I couldn't run for more than three minutes then. Honest.
Also, lots of people saying that I just seem different, happier, nicer to be with.
And now I come home to see my family not smelling of beer and acting like and idiot.
My only "hobby" used to be drinking and drugging. Now.....I took up photography. I learned to drive a boat. I've gone back to school. I know how to be a friend.
I like that I've become a better listener, and as a sales guy - that's a huge skill.
I've taken up archery. It requires meditation, discipline and it amazes me how physically attenuated my body has to be to make an arrow end up where I'm aiming it. It's really unwinding to fire off 100 rounds or so after a day's work.
I'm a better angler now that I can walk more silently to a stream-side. It's a lot easier to be stealthy without a pint of bourbon in my tackle kit.
I'm enjoying clothes more, now that my face doesn't look like sh*t everyday, I like looking good.
I write radio ad copy, and now if an idea doesn't just "come to me", I can formulate a multi-phase matrix or outline a plot progression where before I would've said "screw it! My muse is on vacation and I got nothing!"
Everything's better sober...except surprises. I no longer get to experience surprises like "where the f***'s my car?", "who's sofa did I just wake up on?", "Wow, I have mystery bruises!"
Hang out with people and be a less anxiety-ridden me. With AAers it's always ok to be the honest me, what ever it is today. This feels so different and fantastic.
-- Edited by angelov8 on Sunday 8th of November 2009 01:54:52 AM
This was such a breath of fresh air to wake up to this morning! So glad you all wrote down your thoughts. Speaking of fresh air.....
FRESH AIR!!!! :) My walk to work this morning was fantastic. (it's about 15 minutes from my apartment which surely beats the subway in boston sometimes! - except when it's negative 50 degrees here in the winter time haha) It's officially my 7th day sober....and while i feel as though because drinking hadn't DRAMATICALLY affected my life (yet!)....i notice a huge difference in the way i feel in the morning. I can walk to work, smell the fresh fall breeze and enjoy it sweeping my face and through my hair. I don't feel like complete shit on my walk, and I can look forward to a nice warm coffee from starbucks, rather than worry about whether it's going to make me feel sick to my stomach, mixing with the booze....
My weekend was fabulous - rather than looking for the next drink, and making my plans around where the booze was....I took initiative with my partner and with my friends and we had an AMAZING dinner....which filled my stomach and gave me the most fantastic food coma ;)
Walking around the city for about 6-8 hours yesterday was another perk since it's been about 60 degrees in boston lately. I didn't run out of energy, and i actually enjoyed stopping for a smoothie, rather than stopping for a beer.
Just a really great feeling, in general - all weekend long :)
ET, I'm glad that you're enjoying your new found sobriety. I would caution you that with such a rapid rebound into good feeling, it's easy to forget where you came from. That's why we continue to go to meetings and help others so that we keep that fresh in our minds. Sobriety is "just a daily reprieve based upon our spiritual condition" and there will come a day when our spiritual condition is the only thing standing in the way of us and a drink/drunk. Get to some meetings, put some gas in your tank, so that the joy ride won't have to come to an end.
Dean
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Monday 9th of November 2009 09:22:58 AM
I forget whether it was you or not, but someone provided me with a link to local boston AA meetings. I wrote down all of the meetings that were closest to me and to where i live and work, and there are actually a few there are just a BLOCK away :) I hope to attend one, this week....for the first time. Big step for me, certainly....so the support of the group is very much needed an also appreciated. Thank you!
Here's something I never, ever could have done while drinking:
I quit smoking!
It's been one week since my last cigarette.
To be honest, I used tobacco pouches the first few days. But I haven't had that noxious smoke in my lungs like I have for the last 38 years. This is huge for me. I've been smoking over a pack a day since I was 14. Fatal lung disease runs in my family. I have signs of emphysema.
I've cheated Death many times already from drinking/drugging incidents. Perhaps I can prolong my life one more time.
Congrats to you, Jasper!! That's a HUGE obstacle to overcome. Keep it up. There are boards like this for those who are trying to quit smoking - huge help (friends of mine have used them and still frequent them after not smoking for a few months to a few years).
Congrats to you, Jasper!! That's a HUGE obstacle to overcome. Keep it up. There are boards like this for those who are trying to quit smoking - huge help (friends of mine have used them and still frequent them after not smoking for a few months to a few years).
:)
Thanks! I do visit the Smoking Cessation board daily, and yes -- it helps just like this one helps with alcoholism. (and beyond)
