Not sure where to start or what even is going on with me but I am just not where I want to be right now for some reason. I just really want to run away to be honest! I don't want to drink, don't even entertain that thought. I have so much going on in my life and it's mostly all good, but damn, I'm bored, I'm tired and restless and i just don't know why...I have 3 yrs now and I am so proud of myself for that but even that is just a thought. I don't know just thought I would put it out there to see if anyone has suggestions or thoughts.
Thanks
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Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is!
I found for me I had to find something to replace my drinking. I to felt restless at one time and couldnt identify it. It was chaos. I has so much of it while I was drinking that when I had some time sober I wondered what was missing. I have become a runner and do alot of service work in the fellowship. I to am 3 years sober on the 29th of this month. I heard said in a meeting that if your bored maybe your a boring person lol lol. That cracked me up and got me thinking. No more poor me. To many of the promises out there to enjoy and discover. Get up and out there and try something new!!
I relate to being bored sometimes. I'm content this weekend, I just bought some new piano music... I can do that for hours. I've been craving comfort food lately, so I'm cooking more than usual... a Bread Pudding is on my mind today...
I went to an awesome meeting today, then out to lunch with the fellowship for the whole afternoon, it was wonderful. At the meeting, a few women (and one man) were knitting, sometimes I think I would like to try that...
My sponsor up north, used to invite the fellowship over for spaghetti in the winter when we were all bored, she said it was so simple, along with bread and a salad. People always asked what to bring, she'd request, "dessert." It was sooo much fun to have a plate-full of 5 or 6 desserts...!!!! Sometimes we'd play board games....
Maybe phoning someone in the fellowship would help you get out of yourself...?
Just throwing out some random ideas... I hope you feel better soon. ((hugs))
Well telling on yourself is great, hopefully even ended the restless, irritable and discontent that you are feeling.
You titled you post "Lost" sit alone, really still, and ask yourself silently, "What is you want" sitting still and wait for an answer might help. I has helped me when I feel I am sort of all over the map in my thoughts, feelings.
good to see you back here with us, and if you are Sober, that's the biggy! This too shall Pass.
Godspeed to out of Lost, haha, in my head I started humming, was Lost, but now I am found, From that awesome Amazing Grace song.
Go to a CD rental place, and ask about the funniest movies out.....laughter is wonderful medicine.
Hugs, let us know when you feel less of what you are feeling....
You wrote: "I just really want to run away to be honest! " Run from what? Run to what?
Maybe there is a clue in the answers to the running piece that relates to the "tired--restless--bored" piece? And are you bored, or are you depressed? Two different things.
When I am honestly "just" bored, I have to make getting un-bored a priority, so it does not domino-effect into depression. Lots of good tips above, and I also keep a list of things to do "someday" that I can pull out when I need that someday to be now.
I have also learned that geographic cures (wanna just run away) do not work--I take my self with me wherever I go. Day trips are cool, tho, and often help. Going to a place I've never been and checking out a meeting there is a great way to get over a slump. That and a slice of NY style cheesecake!
Thank you all so much for the ideas. Honestly I do so much now i don't know how I am bored. My passion is hula hooping (I love it!) and do that often, school (everyday) and work, work, work. I need to regroup though cause this poor me, what am I doing walking around in circles being unhappy, is not the answer! Will touch base when I figure this one out. Thanks
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Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is!
Sacrifice, Not long ago I looked at my gas guage, looked in my wallet and calculated how far it would get me. I played that tape to the end and while it might make for a good indie movie, it made for a bad life move so I drove to somewhere I'd never been (not far...just new), found a spot and prayed. And prayed. And prayed.
Two days later a new guy at a meeting asked said "Is there another Rob at this meeting?" and I said "No." And he said, "My primary therapist says I need a sponsor and that I should ask you."
That has begun a beautiful new life of service work; multiple sponsees, possible speaking engagements at DARE events and a fledgling NA Group. Next week the temps are supposed to go back up into the 20's and I think I'm gonna make room for an hour or two of trout fishing. Never done that in the snow before but whoo - I could use a little break from having my prayers answered.
Sacrifice...I truly believe that everything is exactly as it should be, and more will be revealed.
Thanks for sharing. I'm not sure if I was feeling what you are after a few years sober, but my ESH is that I had to get alright with everything in my life being alright.
My M.O. was every time good things where happening I would subconsciously figure out how to screw it up creating problems and drama. I never wanted what I had, good or bad.
I really had to work on wanting the good things that where happening in my life and feeling that maybe I was worthy of the positive things that where happening, after all I had done a lot of work on myself and for others (Steps and service).
Over the years I've really tried to work on wanting what I have.
I've been fortunate to have had material success ,great freinds and relationships, but all that stuff can be gone in a NY minute.
The 12 Promises are all inside things that can never be taken from us.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
I have been struggling with this a lot myself recently. I call them the Itchies, because I keep itching to do something else, or something more, and I have no idea what will cure it. Sometimes I'm looking for more meaning in my life, sometimes I'm just not interested enough. I don't know what will work for you, but I can tell you what works for me: I have a lot of hobbies. This is what works for me:
Start a sewing project. Any new babies in need of a quilt?
Knitting is great, but it doesn't involve the brain much, that's why people can do it at meetings. It's fun, but it might not be your cure for boredom
I've played the violin for about 13 years (starting in middle school), so I found a low-stress, fun community orchestra nearby to join that rehearses once a week.
Learning to paint with acrylics or watercolors. Find paintings online that you like, or pick up a painting magazine, and try to copy it.
I bought an excellent study bible and started reading. I've never read the whole bible before (the church and I have been on-again, off-again for years), and I've always wanted to, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
Read. Reading is an excellent boredom killer. I'm an avid reader, if you want any suggestions, I'd be happy to give you some!
Tutoring. Is there any subject you're particularly good at that people would benefit from you tutoring them? I am an engineer, and so am good at math, and set up a website http://math-tutoring-with-lucy.blogspot.com/. I posted on Craigslist that I was available for free algebra/calculus tutoring either by email, phone or meeting in a public place, and I ended up working about 10-20hrs a week with a nursing student. Let me tell you, it was by far the most rewarding thing I've ever done....which makes for a great boredom-buster.
Hope this helps!
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At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.
--Father Alfred D'Souza
Three years is a good amount of time, but I didn't really feel extra comfortable, with myself and my sobriety till I hit 5 years, and even then I knew that I had work to do. Sobriety is like climbing a mountain. You climb up a ways and the view is amazing. If we stay at that level, the view gets old and we risk sliding down. So when we get bored, or feeling restless irritable and discontent, we need to get back to work on ourself. Granted we should be maintianing our spiritual condition, through prayer, meditation, and imo better meetings and preferably an 11th step meeting, and a men's/woman's meeting. Above and beyond the program, we have a lot of other work to do. Keeping up with a weekly exercise routine, eating, sleeping well and taking quality vitamins. Looking after our finances, planing ahead for our future requires work and discipline, but having a retirement plan alleviates "fear of economic insecurity". Setting goals at the beginning of every year, brings excitement and results. Working with a calendar, I plan all my vacations, and major events/holidays in Jan. Scheduling regular vacations/getaways is very important. It gives you something to look forward to and work for. I take a vacation about every 3 months (whether I need it or not lol).
I'm in Breckenridge, Co. right now, getting ready to ski the 8 new inches that fell last night. My timeshare has 4 feet of standing snow on the grounds, it's spectacular. Get busy, it's a good life, get out there and have fun.
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Sunday 23rd of January 2011 09:12:07 AM
Being proud of my sobriety could cloud up my gratitude. It is again time to work on the gratitude list. today's daily reflection touches on self centeredness and selfishness. Even focusing on my faults too much can be a way of being self centered. It could have something to do with not accepting what we have is good enough and wanting what we don't have because we deserve so much better.... has to do with the "me-me-me" syndrome that most alcoholics have to deal with. I am bored , I deserve better, I want this... I don't want that for damn sure. it is not about "self", it is how can God use me to help others. after we get physically sober, we need to reach out for emotional sobriety. after we start working the steps and get into service, we start to grow spiritually. and this helps find emotional sobriety.
Only a power greater than ourselves can begin to restore us to sanity. Saneness means being whole. We don't need to understand God, or understand His plan for our life, just allow that God is present. Accepting this presence can restore us to wholeness. We are right where we are supposed to be. All God asks of us is that we have the desire to do God's will. We can ask God in 5 minute blocks of time (if we want to be sure) "am I doing Your will? am I doing the right thing right now?" A circumstance cannot block God's will or our doing God's will. Only I can let a circumstance block my doing God's will. The great lie is "I ought to be different." (don't believe it.) Our agenda today is to be ourselves today, as we are today.
Be of maximum service, according to God's will, and experience a soul deep joy, a sustainable joy. The deeply painful wounds we have experienced in life can either bury us in bitterness or bring us compassion for others. It is a choice. A goal for me is to Be in any circumstance and 'be well.' That is our Victory and that is our witness to those who need help. Give without demand and without dependency.
Third Step Prayer
God, I offer myself to Thee to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!
Big Book page 63
-- Edited by jj on Monday 24th of January 2011 12:16:54 AM
