Above all, take it one day at a time. AS BILL SEES IT, p.11
Why do I kid myself that I must stay away from a drink for only one day, when I know perfectly well I must never drink again as long as I live? I am not kidding myself because one day at a time is probably the only way I can reach the long-range objective of staying sober. If I determine that I shall never drink again as long as I live, I set myself up. How can I be sure I wont drink when I have no idea what the future may hold? On a day-at-a-time basis, I am confident I can stay away from a drink for one day. So I set out with confidence. At the end of the day, I have the reward of achievement. Achievement feels good and that makes me want more!
Thanks - thinking to myself "I'M NEVER GOING TO DRINK AGAIN??????? WHAT????? AHHHHH!!!!" is exactly what lead me into relapse. Very important now to keep in mind that I only have to make it until bedtime, say thank you, and go to sleep.
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Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
the day will come when you go all day without even thinking about alcohol. When faced with some decision or event where you have options in how to deal with it, alcohol just won't appear as an option. Whatever the future may hold, you will be safe. Something to look forward to eh? Of course we do have to stay in fit spiritual condition:)
We can't [ not drink ] tomorrow, we can only do it Today. This obvious little slogan sets us up for the realization that we can only do anything Today. Our way of doing things, while drinking, was always tomorrow and yesterday. We put off things we needed to do till tomorrow, while we fretted over yesterday, and drank today. This is all about abandoning the dysfunctional and moving back into life on life's terms Today!
the day will come when you go all day without even thinking about alcohol. When faced with some decision or event where you have options in how to deal with it, alcohol just won't appear as an option. Whatever the future may hold, you will be safe. Something to look forward to eh? Of course we do have to stay in fit spiritual condition:)
God bless, MikeH.
They weren't my words. I was just passing it along. I don't think about drinking. I am (today) in that happy place where I don't obsess nor do I fear it. It just is what it is, and I think about drinking it the same way I think about eating dirt.
I broke completely a short time in to my recovery. I was dry but not sober, if you know what I mean. I couldn't stop thinking about it and I knew that I would drink again - it was just a matter of when - but I couldn't live like that. I was done. It had beaten me black and blue, and taken everything that mattered off me. So I had a choice: I could kill myself or I could do something I'd never done before - I could pray.
So pray I did. I begged Whoever It Is that runs the universe to help me, help me, please, and I would do whatever was asked. I woke up the next morning feeling different - calmer and without that feeling of doom that was my normal mental state those days - and sometime that afternoon I realised that I hadn't thought once about drinking, and other than two quick but powerful grabs at me it has remained like that for a year and a half.
I don't know why I was picked. I have some dirty black spots on my soul and I've hurt good people in ways that shouldn't be forgiven, but here I am. For some reason I have been given a chance to be a real person again. One who helps rather than hurts, and who can do anything but drink. Amazing Grace and all that, eh?
But it's still one day at a time. The Lord givith and the Lord may well take it away if I do not focus on today. Being sober today is enough, and more than I ever thought possible such a short time ago.
Ha, ... This made me think of my typical day in reflection ...
As it is now, I never even think of taking a drink anymore, except when on this board (and ones like it) or at a meeting ... AND when the thought of a drink enters my mind, it's not an anxious thought but rather, a 'disgusting' thought ... you know, like jerking your hand back from a hot flame ...
Thing is, I just recently stopped 'smoking cigarettes' ... and I learned that I'm way better off using the program to stay stopped, like with the booze ... BUT ... I am STILL getting those 'once in a while' cravings that make me feel like I've got to have a cigarette or die!!! ... Can anyone relate ??? ... I do have to admit, those cravings are becoming less frequent and are of less severity than a few weeks ago ... So, continuous praying for the 'desire' to be removed IS working, but my inner self is still fighting for control ... HeeHee!
(I keep saying, I don't have to have a cigarette today ... I can wait til tomorrow)
God Bless, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
