Today is the Day

franny · Veteran Member

Today is the Day

AGO · MIP Old Timer

franny wrote:

Good morning.

Today is the big day. I woke up extremely crabby just thinking about quitting. I am holding your words near to my heart that life will get better and I will be happy. UUUUUGHHHH!!!! I know it will be hard. There is no choice for me but to quit now. My husband is behind me 110%.

My friend gave me a really good book that I could not put down, even when I got to my destination yesterday. Ultra Marathon Man: Confessions of an all Night Runner by Dean Karnazes. He talks a lot about the test of the human spirit and that we can do anything we put our minds to.
I can do this.
The sun is shining today and the grass is green finally. That is something to be excited about.
Hope all are well.

That's great Franny, Good luck

He is right, if we put our will power in the right direction, we can do anything

for example, if I have a car with no wheels and I spend all my time applying my will power to fixing the engine, I will never move a foot until I put new wheels on the car, the thing is, it helps to know what the problem is, the same was true with my drinking.

My will power is nonexistant with regards to drinking at some point, I have an obsession of the mind that will ALWAYS overcome will power, because my mind will convince me that drinking is a good idea, that it won't burn me this time and here is how.

I spent years applying my mind to quitting drinking, with as much success as a diabetic patient has with using will power on their diabetes

The moment the diabetic changes their diet and follows direction by a doctor they can arrest their diabetes

The same was true with my drinking, once I put all my will power into going to meetings every day, getting a sponsor, working the steps and making sobriety my number one priority the problem seemed to relieve itself.

Real alcoholics have an obsession of the mind, that by definition will ALWAYS overcome will power, our problem isn't willpower, it's where we apply it

I wish you Godspeed and success, and hope that you have a lifetime of todays free from drink.

louisa · Senior Member

I can do this.

Yes you can! I couldn't do it on my own, but with the help of this fellowship I got there in the end.....a day at a time turned into years.....but it's still for me a day at a time.

Not always been easy but ALOT easier than the hell and despair of drinking and everything that went with it.

with love,
Louisa xx

Larry_H · MIP Old Timer

Franny,

Great to hear that today will be the start of your new life one day at a time.

I totally agree with AGO my experience was that no amount of will power on my part no matter how sincere I was could keep me from drinking for any significant length of time.

When I had no other options left I surrendered and won.

I had to get to the point where I knew with absolute certainty that I could not beat this by myself.

That is when I attended my first AA meeting and listened to how they became sober. I was finally for the first time in my life teachable and willing to follow suggestions.

We can do this and yes it does get better.

Larry,
---------------------
Surrender: We don't seem to give up a life of failure without a fight

mikef · MIP Old Timer

We are in the marathon with you Franny! Let the journey begin.. I have been blessed enough to have run 12 marathons since 1999 ,last one My 4th Boston in 2004 and like Dean says(ultramarathoner) OUR MINDS ARE POWERFUL TOOLS AND PUT IN RIGHT DIRECTION WE CAN ACCOMPLISH MANY AMAZING THINGS.The real power though comes from your God, through Him all things are possible... "Those who put there hope in God will fly with wings like eagles ,they will run and not grow weary ,they will walk and not grow tired" A mantra I would use at the 20 mile mark when everything is telling you you can't but inside ,you know you can..and Franny YOU CAN!! The big difference here is there is no finish line,the joy is in the journey and that goes "day by day"Enjoy a new way to live.... smile

itsmichael · Veteran Member

If God can keep this drunk away from a drink for a day, He certainly can do it for you... and He will if you ask Him too! Now off to a meeting with you! And let us know how today goes.

I wish you the best.

Michael

Just Toni · MIP Old Timer

Hi There Franny,

Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life, with God's Grace to see you there.

When I read your Post, this saying went through my thoughts.
"I can't, HE can, and I let HIM"

Looking so forward to hearing back from you, and your progress as WE do this together.

I dont need my will power to do this sobriety I cherish, I need HIS.

The desire to quit drinking, and the surrendering of my will to HIS Will, to win in this WE program.

Love and Hugs, great to see your new Resolve.

Sorry Sweet friend, seems I am talking about the Third Step, and forgive me please, you are only at Step 1, and a great Step 1 it is....

.....and to this one day at a time, you can do it by the hour or second too if you choose. (I was talking to your grumpy side you mentioned...:)

Looking forward to hearing about your Meeting.....

Toni

-- Edited by Just Toni on Sunday 11th of April 2010 03:12:08 PM

gonee · MIP Old Timer

Hi Franny,
My grumpy side turned out to beneficial to me. It gave me an opportunity to allow the grace of my higher power to work in me. He changed something in me which looked unchangeable. Bit by bit the transformation took place despite myself. All it needed was willingness, even with a stubborn self will. Wish you well.
God bless,
Gonee.

franny · Veteran Member

Suprisingly, today has not been as bad as I thought it was going to be. I go back to work Tuesday, so I spent the day finishing the book I spoke of earlier. Very inspirational and I related a lot of it to my problem.

I can't thank you enough for the replies. I have read them and reread them a couple times today. Many brought tears to my eyes.....good tears.

I have not been too crabby, so that is good. I'm not at all tired though. I think I will start my new book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

I will investigate about when and where the local meetings are. The more help I can get, the better.

Thank you.

Just Toni · MIP Old Timer

Hi Again Franny,

So happy you are doing it, and using this board for help.

Now multiply the support you feel here x a thousand, and that is what a real face to face meeting will bring to you.

The AA Meeting are where we get to really "feel" the awesome support, for exactly where you are now, and that will never change all the way up to how many years you stay, just one little day at a time.

Praying that you will investigate soon and go, and the recommended reading that I feel you would love would be the book of Alcoholics Anonymous. You will find yourself in that book, so many do...in the first part, which is only 164 pages.
That beloved book would make me cry all the time, in sheer joy that I was at last ....truly home with a family that completely understood every problem I have ever had.

Hugs and lots of love with this note,

Toni

franny · Veteran Member

Thanks. Just went to the Big Book online and checked out some of it. It is bookmarked now. I will investigate the meetings tomorrow.

AGO · MIP Old Timer

franny wrote:

Thanks. Just went to the Big Book online and checked out some of it. It is bookmarked now. I will investigate the meetings tomorrow.

This caught my attention the first time I read it

http://www.healtalk.com/public/chapter-3.shtml