I was wondering if you guys and girls would mind sharing with me the good things that have happened in your life since you've quit drinking. I imagine there must be many awesome changes that take place when you stop drinking for an extended period of time. I've only stopped for a week and already I notice small things.
So I'll start...
1. I feel like I've lost weight! I don't feel bloated and puffy and it's even visible in my face. People at work have even said "Hey, you look good".
2. Even though it's 2 days before payday I have money in my pocket.
3. My mind feels a little clearer, I'm not walking around in a perpetual stupor. I didn't realize how much more difficult it is to function in everyday life being hungover.
Hi Tipsy. I've got 6 days to go before I've been sober for a year.
I was spending £7.49 per day ($US 13.63) on whisky. Over a year thats £2733.85
I don't have to worry about getting arrested when I'm driving to work at 06:00 after stopping drinking at about 02:00
I have no injuries this year relating to alcohol, nor have I broken anything in my house by falling over.
My feet don't smell anymore (but then again, my nose cant walk either).
I am able to drive at anytime of day and never have to worry about having to get home at a particular time to 'top up'.
I am more relaxed than I was, my thought processes are less irrational, and my relationshit is stronger.
I could go on all day with the improvements, the only downside is that sometimes people annoy me more.
It's been well worth it.
Best wishes.
Chris.
__________________
"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." -- Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989"
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Well, Tipsy, some of good things for me are not going to work hungover and trying to convice co-workers I had a virus or something. Not using up all my sick time in the first 2 months is good too cause when they're gone then you gotta come up with really creative lies when you call in ! (I've probably had atleast 5 grandmothers croak in the last few years LOL) Not lieing to my son anymore is a big one. Taking time for him and doing thngs with him is awesome. Being one of the parents that drives their kid somewhere is great. I can now commit to things in advance where before I could not because it may be a day that I would drink or a hangover day, whichever came first. My attitude towards everything has changed. I no longer always blame others for the things that happen to me, I say always because I'm still new to sobriety but I'm able to take responsibility for myself in all aspects of my life. I held it together pretty good when I was drinking, so being sober just makes things so much more worthwhile.......... but the BEST one of all is FEELING. Just being able to feel things and be sober is beyond words. No drink or drug can ever top that one.
Keep coming.
Much love,
Doll
-- Edited by Doll at 18:41, 2005-09-13
__________________
* We eventually realize that just as the pains of alcoholism had to come before sobriety, emotional turmoil comes before serenity. *
2. My employers trust me with a key to the business.
3. My home has food in the fridge, the power is on, the heater turns on cause I have gas in the tank, the bills get paid on time.
4. My car broke down but it's not the end of the world, we have another one and are looking for one for me to drive.
5. I have friends that i can call on...to laugh with, to cry with, and to just enjoy for no reason at all but that I like them and they like me.
6. I have a believe in a God that I never knew existed, but now realize that it was me turning my back, not the other way around.
7. Fear no longer overwhelms me.
8. I am willing to take risks that before I never would have taken.
9. When I have a problem I can sit down and discuss it without being defensive or on the attack.
I could go on and on but I won't...to list all the things that have changed in my life would go on forever and the great thing is that it just keeps happening. Every day is like the first day of school...I get to open the new box of crayons daily . That is my life today.
my family trust me again. work is not so much work anymore.my nose is not purple anymore.i love life again.and most of all im happy again.and i could not have done this alone and you guys. love to all . and god bless everyone of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wagon
I appreciate hearing this stuff...I am so up and down right now, one minute on top of the world thinking "I feel so good! Why the hell didnt I give up the boozeahol a long time ago! Sobriety id rad!" and a half hour later I feel lost, depressed and like climbing inside a bottle of rye and not coming out for a week.
3. I notice things around me ( birds flying around)
4. Taking care of my outside flowers is a blessing in disquise ( looking out my windows at my flowers lifts my spirits...looking at all the bright colors)
5.Organized.
6. No longer dodging bill colectors ( well ...some of them anyways!)
7. Not isolating.
8. No longer a "nervous wreck"
9. Reading
10. Writing
11. Arithmetic
12.Crocheting again
13. Peace of Mind
14. More money in my pocket.
The list is endless.
Nancy Jo
__________________
Life is full of ups and downs
But the faces of love will
ease the pain and suffering
from:My Mother
(I've probably had atleast 5 grandmothers croak in the last few years LOL) Not lieing to my son anymore is a big one. Taking time for him and doing thngs with him is awesome. Being one of the parents that drives their kid somewhere is great. I can now commit to things in advance where before I could not because it may be a day that I would drink or a hangover day, whichever came first. My attitude towards everything has changed. I no longer always blame others for the things that happen to me, I say always because I'm still new to sobriety but I'm able to take responsibility for myself in all aspects of my life. I held it together pretty good when I was drinking, so being sober just makes things so much more worthwhile.......... but the BEST one of all is FEELING. Just being able to feel things and be sober is beyond words. No drink or drug can ever top that one. 
