Hi all- A couple of things I would like to share, in hopes it might help another. I was confronted with Alcohol twice this week and it was a disturbing scene for me internally.
1st - I signed up on a secret santa deal with some people - the person I drew wanted good holiday beer, the expensive stuff. I didn't think anything of it, until I went to go get it. Very bad feelings came over me. I said a prayer, did some driving around, screwed up the courage and went in and bought it. Very cold and empty in that store. Bereft of spirit. I felt like I was betraying myself. I purchased, walked out, and a horrible thought came in my head - "You could drink this and no one would know". I immediatetly prayed again, the thought was removed, and on I went.
Next morning at work, there was a box with my name on it. I opened it, inside was a wrapped present, I opened that, what do you know, a guy in another building sent a bottle Crown Royal to me. I hardly know the person, don't know where any of that came from, but, I was shaking holding that bottle. I passed it along to another person right away.
One lesson I learned was this - I have heard many times from experienced people in meetings that the only thing between them and a drink is thier Higher Power. I have now experienced this. I am only a year and a half, and obviously I have been around alcohol, but it really got to me in these 2 instances.
Another lesson - I am staying away as much as possible from drinking scenes and stores, etc.........Secret Santa is not happening next year. I only write this as I know we are heading into a celebratory time of the year, Christmas parties for work, family, neighbors, etc.......lots of ads on TV for alcohol......it's everywhere people, please be vigilant, hit those meetings and keep HP in charge and beware your surroundings. It's the old Barber Shop thing I hear, hang around one and eventually you will get a haircut.
To tell the truth I was being perhaps too confident in my sobriety, so I am thankful for this lesson. AA/HP are always teaching, thank God for that.
Hmmm. Very in-your -face situations. I think you handled them quite well. I wonder if the fact that you were very quick to pray when confronted, and immediately felt the danger of the situation, is the "recoiling from a hot flame" reaction that we read about. Anybody?
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Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's.
What helps me is.....Christmas is just another day. I don't give it to much power. I celebrate my higher powers birthday but I see it as that. And only that.
Sounds like you're dealing with it pretty well and sharing your experience, strength and hope on it so that we can benefit too.
I mean, to give away, pronto, a bottle of Crown Royal suggests to me that there is a Higher Power at work. There was no keep it just in case I might want to give it away to somone else, keep it b/c I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, keep it b/c I might want to have just one some time, etc.
