Let me start by saying I am truely thank full for my soberity, and I wish all f you best and hope you all have a great holiday. That said Ive been having alot of mixed feelings lately, all are based on life being somewhat boring now. So I took 7 months to get myself on stable ground, family is happy, kids are healthy, job is secure. That's it day in day out, same thing over and over. One day at a time is how I go here but this dy is starting to drag. Do I want a drink? No, to be honest the pure thought of it scares the life out of me. So no worries there. Do I want a cig, bet your ass I do, do I want to smoke a "special" cig, you bet ya. Even though I haven't in 10 years that's what I have the biggest craving for. So I am looking for advise on things to help me get that pure true relaxed feeling, things that are non mind altering, thins that are benficl to me and others. My main problem is time, I have o time to myself, for myself, no I am not having a pity party. Thanks for listening to rant, any comments and thoughts are appreciated.

Hi Flipper,
truly you haven't lived until you have experienced the joy of sponsoring another and watching them recover. You have recovered and been given the power to help others. If you do that your life will be rocketed into a 4th dimension, a state of being that you nverer dreamed was possible. Just my experience....

God bless,
MikeH.

Hi flipper. Are you going to meetings daily? Have you been through the steps with a sponsor? If so, are you working with new comers or being of service at your home group? The root of our trouble is selfishness and self centerdness. The root of our recovery and quality of life is selflessness and other centerd. Your probably just suffering over exposure of you. Helping others does wonders for that. It just doesnt last so we gotta keep doing it. All that aside, ive started to learn tai chi and qigong. It helps alot to bring me into the now which is the playing field of life. I like it alot. Its just a substitue for trusting God cleaning house and helping others.

Well, sorta feeling like a clone here. I read this post last night on my phone and then went to sleep because I find it annoying to text on my phone. I thought about how you were feeling and recognized it as pretty standard alcoholic thinking. I meditated and did my 10 step inventory, but in a few moments was back to thinking of all the things I could suggest to you this morning when I woke up.

Now I get here and I realize I'm nothing but a spittin clone! Everyone has said - almost word for word - what I would have said. Jeez - it's awesome!

Why? Because I didn't have to bother typing it all out lol... but I still got to think about it all last night, and be excited for this morning. Helping others is a pure JOY! It will give you EXACTLY what you're craving - if only on this message board, but in person is even more rewarding. Maybe you don't feel ready for that, but here on MIP is a great place to start with welcoming newcomers and sharing your ESH!

I have felt like I don't have much to offer... or I would be stepping on people's toes trying to help when I'm still learning myself at only 7 months sobriety like you - BUUUUTTTT - then I realized, I'll never be done learning - and this is what I'm suppose to be doing - it's 12th step work, like being a greeter in a meeting, or making coffee... there are lots of things we can be doing to make things more exciting. It may not seem like it will do much - or even look all that attractive from the outside, but as people have said - if you put your heart into it - you can't go wrong - and you WILL enjoy yourself. I, and all of the people who've responded are proof of that.

Finally - to touch on the fam & kids and the life is good part... I have been feeling like things are going well and "is this it?" sort of stuff. Someone else has said this too: it isn't if you don't settle for that. Yesterday, I realized my daughter and I are really making a connection, but something inside told me it's time for it to get deeper and more fun. I decided to TRY some new silly things with her, and REALLY get involved and pay attention to her - making her my one and only for a while. Some fun songs and games - some real eye contact and gut laughs later, left me beaming and smiling from ear to ear. Her too. She was happier all night, and I felt how connected and close she felt to me... and I to her. We were more courteous to each other and everything! A real unexpected benefit of: Making A Decision & Taking Action.

It's all inside you waiting - find the joy in finding it - and living it.

I echo pinkchip on the working out angle. I was feeling super....restless, I guess is the word and had that craving for some sort of alteration of my "self". I started working out every day, not super hard or for long periods of time, but I made it a habit. Months later I can attest that it has helped 100%. Mood is better and that feeling of longing for something has slipped away. I also feel good about doing something nice for my body after all the abuse it has endured.

All the best to you. :)