I just came back from Gay Days at Disney. Was pretty cool although it was a big circuit party with tons of alcohol and drugs. I knew this was going to be the case. Thankfully, they were also running AA meetings around the clock at the host hotel also and I attended several. Naturally, the discussion at most of these meetings was related to how we can go anywhere and do anything (including being at a weeklong gathering with tons of partying going on) as long as we are spiritually fit and we examine our motives.
This last week was interesting. My partner works for the guys who were putting on the largest circuit party of the week. It had over 5000 people there and we had VIP passes. Along with that came free drinks - this happened about 3 times over the week - All I could do was just laugh and think about what my reaction used to be to free drinks. I used to go around bars and finish off people's half finished drinks...how sad. I was always too big a mess to get invited to any party or have any connections in the first place. Second off, I would have been lying face first on the ground or something more horrible and embarrassing if I drank the way I used to in that setting. Basically, the only way for me to even hang in that environment is to be sober....as ironic as that seems. This does get back to my original point. I can go anywhere and do anything sober (even go to a giant party with tons of drinking) and be totally free as long as I am spiritually fit and have the right mindset. I wouldn't recommend it for someone new in recovery though...
I had fun dancing - riding rides, people watching, socializing - The only long lines or areas that looked like they would be annoying and not fun would have been standing in line for drinks (those lines were packed). VIP all I could drink passes wound up being free diet cokes with lime (my drink of choice at any bar cuz if I'm holding a nonalcoholic drink, nobody will try to give me one with alcohol - a trick I picked up). I am glad I didn't struggle. There was nothing difficult or challenging and I didn't feel like I was anywhere close to picking up a drink the whole time. I didn't feel a need to "fit in" drinking because I fully know that being sober is the only thing that allows me to fit in to society the way that I do. I also fully know that I don't drink like 90 percent of the people at functions like that. I drink in a sick and diseased way. They drink in a social way (for the most part). With a full surrender comes a lot of freedom.
Alcohol once ruined my life. I fought so hard and so long to keep alcohol in my life and it just amazes me how much more free I am without it. Hope everyone else out there had a good holiday and welcome to the new folks I see on the board. I will caution that I did not go to any bars or places where there was lots of drinking for close to 2 years into sobriety so this was a new experience for me that I wouldnt' recommend to a newcomer.
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Thanks for sharing and glad you enjoyed the trip. When we first stop drinking we think that all the fun at events is over, but like you said we can finally fit into society and participate like a normal person.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
excellent post and I am glad you had a great time. It's nice to hear that we can do practically anything if we are in fit spiritual condition and have good motives for being there. As you suggest, events like this can be a bit trying if you are at the wrong end of the steps, but the book has an answer for that too -"if you are shaky, perhaps it would be best to work with another alcoholic instead" or something like that. But the whole point of recovery, to me anyway, is to be able to participate fully in all life has to offer, without fear, and our program gives us the freedom to do that.
Great post Mark. I'm glad you had a good time sir, I really am. It must be refreshing though, knowing you can still have fun and not drink. How cool is that? I went to a sober party myself this weekend and had an enjoyable time I must say. There was food, fun and all kind of activities, just without the booze. We don't need alcohol today to have fun, do we Mark? All we really need is a fun environment instead. And you, Mark, did just that; you created a sober environment for yourself minus the alcohol. I'm happy for you Mark, I truly am. So keep that momentum going, okay.
WOweee - so inspirational! I didn't drink around other people, so I was used to saying no - but only because of the things you described above. I knew I would be shit-faced in a gutter somewhere if I did, and preferred people didn't see that, so I only drank alone. It would/will be strange to not worry about that some day!
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Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
