something that is becoming more important, from meeting to meeting, is not taking my sobriety for granted. an AA friend has been in and out quite a few times in the past 5 years. i can see that it could be me at any time if i do not stick with what works for me. Romancing the drink was something hard for me to let go, but my HP helped me in a huge way (when i got my 2nd dui). my dear friend has not had that big of a wake up call, yet..... she has not received the gift of desperation, yet. my mind still goes back to some of my pleasant times drinking, but then i remind myself that i have progressed way past the 'pleasant drinking' and into deadly drinking territory. when i see my friend and she has drank before a meeting i just thank God she is at a meeting and she is reaching out for help and her HP will be there when she is ready for the next step. in the mean time i will not judge her in any way, just love her and pray for her, because that is what brought me back 22 months ago, MY HP, AA friends and, of course, the CHP with red lights and sirens. "it takes what it takes" is not an excuse, it is part of one day at a time. jj/sheila
Thanks for the post. It's a good reminder for me. I buried a friend today. Just drank himself to an early grave. Many do not comprehend the grave nature of alcoholism. With other diseases it seems like we are more keen to get well. I am very grateful that after my 1st relapse in AA I got on to 12 step program immediately.
Thank you for the reminder. That's one of the many reasons why I continue to make AA meetings part of my program. I need to be reminded, constantly, that if I stop working my entire program eventually the beast will re-appear. We're coming up on a very difficult time of year, the Holidays, and I need to be viligant with my recovery. I've seen many bounce in and out. I was one of them. Like you, I hope that they receive the same gift that was so freely given to me; desperation. Desperation= Willingness.
Yeah, romancing the drink is something I don't really avoid as assiduously as I should. It's hardest when I'm lying in bed by myself letting my mind wander. The thing I WANT to remember is how easy it was to drift to sleep with a warm buzz. What I DON'T want to remember is waking bolt upright 3 hours later in a cold sweat.
Liquor is a great deceiver.
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Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's.
Thanks for this. I recently wrote about when I had the thought to pick up. It wasn't enjoy 1 or 2, but get fall down wasted. That's not normal, nor is it the way a normal person thinks about drinking. Thank god this program has given me the tools and a new way of thinking to fight through those times.
