As I mentioned a while back, one of the meetings I attend on Thursday night, gives out chips for each month under a year that we are sober. Sunday was my 8th months and I am so excited today. I am usually one of the ones who sits in the back....unless the seats are taken. But my eyesight has gotten so bad, that one time a few months ago after I got my chip I almost sat in the wrong row after I got my chip. I was so embarrassed, because I thought others would think I was drinking. So I sit closer to the front on chip day. Eight months is very important to me because it is the longest I have gone without a drink in about 25 years. I have gone 7 months when I got my DUI and forced not to drink by the Court. We could have gotton called in without notice during that time to test us and see if we were drinking, and although I really wanted to drink the whole time I was going through that, I didn't want to risk going back to jail for drinking during my probation period. Anyway, that was a few years ago (and I still haven't gotten my license back) and my DUI just gave this sick ole' mind of mine another reason to drink after I finished my classes.
If I can go this long without drinking, anyone can, because I had reached the point I didn't think I could go one day.
-- Edited by betterthanyesterday52 on Thursday 30th of January 2014 08:50:15 AM
CONGRATS BTY, ... ... ... How odd that your story so much mirrors mine ... one of my early attempts to get sober lasted right at 7 months ... but I wasn't sick enough, so I went on drink'n ... ... ... years later, it was only when I was at deaths front door, that I took this program seriously ... huh, miracles can and do happen here, don't they ??? ... hang in there babe !!! ....
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Beautiful!!!! .Just for Today you never have to drink alcohol again!!! Have a blessed evening,, you will be a message of HOPE AND A PROMISER OF FREEDOM... by sharing your chip with others ...
__________________
Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
Hi BTY, Congratulations on the miracle of 8 months of sobriety!! I hope you know how happy we all are for you, and that we all cheer you on. Years ago, I went 30 days without a drink and thought that was a big deal. But, the truth is, I was actually in a court-ordered outpatient treatment for DUI....so I sort of was forced to stay sober. It was a loooooong 30 days. Not too long after that, I was lucky if I could make it a couple of hours without drinking whiskey after I woke up in the morning. During the 6 months before my second treatment, the whiskey totally stopped killing my emotional pain. I couldn't stand the pain of drinking, but I couldn't stand the pain of not drinking. I was completely screwed. It was either kill myself, or go to the hospital. It was a long time ago but I still remember how it felt to get my 8 month chip. It was like a miracle to me. Thanks for sharing your recovery with us. Blessings, Mike D.
Thanks everyone for your support. And I think this is the first time I've been called a "Bro" before, and I like it...I have been called much worse...such as, "wino", "drunk b****.
"Bro" is just fine with me because I am your "Sober Bro".
Congradulations BTY...good that you're staying in the day. That worked for me also. I was told never to look back over my shoulder at what I've missed or was missing or to look beyond the second I lived in for fear of the distractions of "what just might be if". That wasn't so hard for me because I came to completely accept that I was responsible for the mess my life had become in this disease. I focused so definitely on living one day at a time that I missed all chips until my 16th anniversary when someone else remembered by "start" date and brought me the chip in a morning meeting. I didn't know what to do with it and almost...almost left thinking "I cured now" until HP used a newcomer to shout out, "Keep coming back". I've always done that...please do the same. ((((hugs))))
-- Edited by Jerry F on Friday 31st of January 2014 12:44:17 AM
Thanks Stepchild....and in a meeting the night before you posted this, someone defined "trudging" as not being something to fear. And you used it in your post! Great timing!
I look at like...Walking with a purpose. Onward we march BTY...Side by side.
It's funny how you always hear things you need to hear in a meeting....Never fails.
...