One to remember. Of course, without AA, my insane mind would think "yeah, well, that's true for all those hundreds of millions of alcoholics, but I'm different." ;)
Another good one that I have heard is that if you have a drink in front of you, and you put your medallion in it, when that disolves it is ok to drink it... not good advice, but I am sure that if you waited that long, that desire would go away.
Another good one that I have heard is that if you have a drink in front of you, and you put your medallion in it, when that disolves it is ok to drink it... not good advice, but I am sure that if you waited that long, that desire would go away.
Definitely had not heard that one before...like it! :)
It's funny the thought of drinking again doesn't cross my mind at all. However, I occasionally think about someday after retiring, the idea that I might be able to smoke that green fruity smelling substance. There are a couple of other drugs that come up, in discussions with the "committee" but I guess that's a topic for another fellowship. The problem is that eventually it would lead me back to alcohol, cigarettes, and perhaps chasing women, other than my wife. Completely the wrong frame of mind, on Vallintines day.
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Monday 14th of February 2011 04:04:59 PM
Alcoholism is a PROGRESSIVE disease. I know a man that did exactly what you are talking about. He had 31 years of sobriety. retired. Thought he could handle it again after all that time... He drank, and was dead of alcohol 3 months later. Cunning baffeling and powerful. This disease progresses even if we do not drink. Regardless of what we may think, that evil will get worse and worse as time passes just waiting for us to go back. It will surely kill us if we do.
Yup, my sponsor's missus gave me a 1 year chip. Said when i thought of a drink, I had to put the chip in my mouth and suck on it. When it had all gone, then I could take the drink.
Carried that chip around with me for about three months then passed it on to another 1 year anniversary.
__________________
It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
Thank you to everyone for the warm welcomes I have received since signing on here yesterday. As I travel around this wonderful country we live in, I often get to various AA meetings, and the welcome is always the same. I guess I have thought often about that welcome... In all of my life experience prior to sobering up, I never experienced anything like the fellowship I find in AA. There will always be the naysayers, and the bad attitudes wherever we go, but there is a gift from God to each and every one of us in this program that is there for the taking, and offered freely by our members. Don't let slips, or doubts keep you away. Find the people in this fellowship that "get it" and stick to them like glue. Find a sponsor. Don''t just take the first one that comes along. Watch, listen, hear what people say. Eventually, you will find one that seems to make a lot of sense, and then approach them with the reasons you want them as your sponsor. Don't just read the big book, study it. Hear what it has to say. Go to meetings. Eventually you will filter through the things that you don't need to practice to maintain your sobriety. The steps and traditions give you everything you need and will find your own way to what it says in the promises. When you find your sponsor, call them daily. If you know it or not, your call to them makes THEM stronger.. That is why they agree to sponsor you, not for you, but they know it will make them stronger by sharing with you their experience, strength and hope. Then, just maybe what they "do for you" will help so that you can eventually do the same for the next person that needs a sponsor. That is how this program works. I am kind of reminded of that movie, "Pay it forward." We each get so much from AA and how it works. If we each continue to give back, and pay it forward this program is a lifeline for all of those, as we were when we came here, without hope. God bless each and every one of you. Thank you again for your welcomes. Dave
