That's quite a list of accomplishments Ruhig, even for you. Not only are you well traveled dear, but you're sober too; so the adventures must seem better today than ever before. I bet you can't wait for your next adventure, kind of like me. So where shall we go from here?
I'm a community activist myself, along with the two other mainstays in my life, family and fellowshipping. I serve on the board of a local sober house and have worked extensively with addicts and alcoholics inside and outside of prison. I try to give back as much as possible because God knows we need the help.
I haven't taken any real vacations in some time, besides a weekend trip to the beach. I find more pleasure in helping others than I do relaxing, but that's just me. I would like to see the Great Wall of China someday, that and the Himalaya's -love mountains by the way. So either/or would be nice.
Besides all that, I'll continue to appreciate my greatest treasure to date, sobriety. My life started to evolve the day after my last drink, so any day on God's green earth would suit me just fine. Just as long as it involves sobriety, that's all. The rest, for me, is a journey in the making. Onward.
-- Edited by Mr_David on Friday 6th of July 2012 08:31:53 PM
Thanks David. I didn't post it to brag, I've just noticed a trend in the meetings in my area.
I heard a woman openly and publicly express shame because she missed two meetings in a row, she explained it was because she flew out with her daughter to a cheerleading event.
I heard a woman ask if she had fallen short because she missed a meeting because her church group help a help the homeless banquet.
I heard a man express remorse for missing a weeks worth of meetings because he took a vacation.
I was told in my early recovery that we needed to get out there and experience life. I wanted to pass that message on.
I personally feel that if I'm not in a meeting, I can "make up" for it in another way-- be of service to others. This doesn't only apply to coffee making, but like you said, joining a community gathering. PTO meetings, neighborhood watch meetings, volunteer.
I was given the opportunity to REMEMBER the adventures I take. So I take them when I can. And lucky for me, I can meditate anywhere. In the forest, in the desert, during traffic.
I started recovery while in high school. And to me, meetings were just another class. I like to make it a point to "practically apply the steps in all my affairs". After all, that is the best way to learn them, practical application. And what's the point in being sober if your not living in the moment.
You shouldn't arbitrarily miss meetings, or make a habit of disconnecting yourself from the fellowship, but I felt bad for these people who felt guilty for living life and showing up.
-- Edited by Ruhig on Friday 6th of July 2012 11:28:34 PM
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sober: showing no excessive or extreme qualities of fancy, emotion, or prejudice
Since I got sober, here are the things I have been able to show up for;
my graduation (high school)
college (even if I did screw up a bit)
my mothers 50th birthday
my brothers 30th birthday
my sisters 18th birthday
my sisters prom & graduation
I got a job that allows me to rent my own place
I got to take vacations to smoke hole & spruce knob w. Va.,
actually see the pyramids in Egypt
and the myan temples
I got to walk through auschwitz
I got a job that allows me to serve the community
I'm able to volunteer at the YMCA and the salvation army
all of these things I have accomplished in my life because I showed up in life. My hp gave me the opportunity to explore this earth and to partake in the things that go on around me. World wide in the community and in my occupation.
What have you been given the opportunity to experience??
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sober: showing no excessive or extreme qualities of fancy, emotion, or prejudice
Thanks David. I didn't post it to brag, I've just noticed a trend in the meetings in my area. I heard a woman openly and publicly express shame because she missed two meetings in a row, she explained it was because she flew out with her daughter to a cheerleading event. I heard a woman ask if she had fallen short because she missed a meeting because her church group help a help the homeless banquet. I heard a man express remorse for missing a weeks worth of meetings because he took a vacation. I was told in my early recovery that we needed to get out there and experience life. I wanted to pass that message on. I personally feel that if I'm not in a meeting, I can "make up" for it in another way-- be of service to others. This doesn't only apply to coffee making, but like you said, joining a community gathering. PTO meetings, neighborhood watch meetings, volunteer. I was given the opportunity to REMEMBER the adventures I take. So I take them when I can. And lucky for me, I can meditate anywhere. In the forest, in the desert, during traffic. I started recovery while in high school. And to me, meetings were just another class. I like to make it a point to "practically apply the steps in all my affairs". After all, that is the best way to learn them, practical application. And what's the point in being sober if your not living in the moment. You shouldn't arbitrarily miss meetings, or make a habit of disconnecting yourself from the fellowship, but I felt bad for these people who felt guilty for living life and showing up.
-- Edited by Ruhig on Friday 6th of July 2012 11:28:34 PM
Great insight Ruhig. I totally agree with you dear: no one, including ourselves, should ever have to apologize for enjoying life today, especially in sobriety. It's our way of celebrating this wonderful gift called sobriety, that's all.
We're not here to brag either, Ruhig. The point we're trying to make is abundantly clear; there's life outside these rooms, and our success's today aren't limited, so why allow them to be. I didn't sober up to be miserable, or to be dry. So I'll continue to be a responsible member of A.A. just like other people, but with a twist. I'll twist off that old cranky demeanor and replace it with a new fun version instead. That way I'll have my fun wheel ready for travel, as always. Enjoy yourself Dear, God knows I will.
To get sober and live a decent life again, was the greatest opportunity that God had given me. I had tried on my own, but I always failed but God is faithful to those that believe in taking the opportunity. The new man I took to a meeting the other day does not want this opportunity of sobriety, because SOBRIETY LOST IT'S PRIORITY [SLIP]. Thanks both of you for a little reminder of the opportunity, that God has given me.
I don't want this to sound like a brag post but I wanted to chime in also on things I've learn how to do since becoming sober.
I became sober and disabled at the same time so finding things to do was a tiny bit harder for me but not much.
My wife went to art school many years ago and had tons of paints left over. So one day I decided to try painting. Got out her paints and gave it a try. After a few tries and a few Bob Ross shows I discovered I'm fairly good at this painting thing. I donate one of my paintings to an AA fund raiser. A guy sees my painting ask if I have more he wants a few to put a few in his gallery. :0 I take 3 paintings down his gallery, he likes them so much he gives me 10 feet of wall space to fill. The gallery liked so much I was their featured artist in the main room for 2 months(Didn't sell a damn thing). This all happened in the first 6 months of starting to paint and first 6 months of sobriety. . I have them for sale on a web site (not here pimp myself so link to page) and have sold a few over the last 6 months or so. All I can say is I had wined about how hard it was to paint instead of trying to paint I would have never learned how to paint or been exposed to the artist and there ways.
I've always wanted to play the drums. Said that at a meeting once. A friend jumps up and is like WOW man you got a place for drums? Can I set mine up at your house? So he did. he gave me a few pointers and I was off to the races. Few months later I bought my own set, found a great sounding set (new, Ludwig) with all cymbals and hardware for like $575. A bit pricey for a new thing to learn. But at the same time I bought an electric guitar, ($40 pawn shop), amp at pawn shop ($50), an acoustic guitar ($40 pawn shop), got on Youtube learned my barre cords 1st, learned a few easy song (Nervana songs easy easy) started learning all major cords (that's not easy). After a year or so, I read tablature music, can play a dozen songs so so.
I've really gotten into photography since becoming sober. I focused on astro-photography, pictures of the stars. My profile picture is a pic I took in my back yard in Ft Collins, CO of Orin's nebula. Astro-photography has made me learn patients like nothing else. I've been trying and waiting for almost a year to get pictures of the Virgo galaxy clusters and once they came to view fist 2 weeks moon was to bright. Next 5 weeks cloudy. Long story short the Virgo cluster is almost out of view and I got to set up for it once in 6 months. Then got 0 useable pictures that night. Most pictures of the stars take 1-2 minutes per picture and out of 100 pictures I'll get 1 or 2 publishable pictures. Now this hobby is pricy with capitol "P". We saved up for 3 or 4 years to be able to buy the telescope and camera. Just one more thing I do.
Gardening. I started small to learn now my garden is huge. Why so big for just me and my wife? The mission and food bank are always in need of fresh veggies. I love watching my garden explode after a good rain. Picking out weeds. O'my eating carrots straight out of the ground is like heaven. Pull um rinse um eat um. Not to expensive except for the water bill. And I'm helping others.
We took a train ride from Colorado to Niagara Falls. What a blast. I have never been on a long train ride before, little over 40 hours each way. We got a sleeper car had place to lay down. A place for some privacy. All meals included (food so so). Was not cheap either ($1500ish for both of us) but all 1st class when you get a sleeper. Paper at your door every morning, free juice coffee bottled water. Showers etc etc just was a real fun time. Had a bad reaction to my pain meds and got real sick. When we got to Niagara I was, well I felt hung over. So I found a meeting. They do it all wrong (lol) but was still a meeting. I walked in so sick and tired I just wanted to die. Walked out of there on a pink cloud. Was a small spiritual experience in there that night.
I am finding in sobriety I can go out and do ALL things I used to sit at the bar and talk about doing. My back hurts so bad my legs are like noodles most days. walking a few hundred yards (across Home-Depot once) is a struggle. With that being said. I still have more things to do than I have hours in the day. There is no ceiling on what I can do now. Sobriety has opened doors I didn't even know where there.
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Back issues have me knocked down but not out. 100% disabled, chronic pain patient and SOBER! Been sober since 11/04/2009.
Trying to work on humility so I'll just say that never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of the life I've had in the last 23 years. I've pretty much been able to do, go anywhere, have anything I really wanted. Been self employed the whole time and in a wonderful relationship since year 3. The sky is the limit in sobriety, don't limit yourself with "old ideas"
Trying to work on humility so I'll just say that never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of the life I've had in the last 23 years. I've pretty much been able to do, go anywhere, have anything I really wanted. Been self employed the whole time and in a wonderful relationship since year 3. The sky is the limit in sobriety, don't limit yourself with "old ideas"
