Looking for some tips for a sober christmas. I have been in recovery for 40 days today and I have just broke up for christmas until boxing day. Feeling out of sorts as all my collegues have gone on a night out this evening just felt it was to soon to put myself in that enviroment so opted out. I am looking forward to christmas but it somehow feels so different. This is no more than I anticipated but would like some good advice from people who can maybe remember there first christmas how you felt and overcome any feelings and got through it.
We've all been through that "first Christmas". Stay close to the rooms. Go to a meeting every day, if possible, and don't be afraid to share your feelings and fears about this - everyone has been through it and will offer support and strength. Many areas have Alkathon meetings starting at midnight Christmas Day, with non-stop meetings and often food as well. Same goes for New Year's Eve.
Surrender your alcoholism every day to your Higher Power as you understand it, and ask your HP to help you stay sober just for today.
I avoided gatherings where I knew there would be drinking; I can handle it now, but early in sobriety I'm not sure I could have. Be where there's coffee, not booze!
Oh, and don't worry about calories right now - eat those Christmas treats, if your health allows, and enjoy!
Thanks for the tips gonna be a tough time but will keep doing what I'm doing going to meetings. Posting on here I really do get some good advice. Looking for my sponsor asked a guy and he declined due to distance which I'm disappointed about but my search will go on.
In many areas, there are AA 'marathon' meetings during the holidays, where a local AA meeting place will host meetings pretty much around the clock so people can go to an AA meeting at just about any time of the day or night during the holiday. Check with your local AA central office, or see if there is a nearby "Alano Club" and contact these places to see if there is anything like this going on near you during the holidays. Then make a plan to go there and attend a few meetings, share some gratitude about being able to experience the holidays sober, and see if maybe you can help out someone else who is new or struggling.
Oh man, I remember my first Christmas sober ... it had been about 40 years since I'd had a sober Christmas ... and it felt very odd indeed ... one reason was I got sober in February and took the opportunity to do my 9th step while all the family was together ... and my family does not drink ... I'm the black sheep ... so I'll never forget gettin' a few minutes with each one of them in private ... to make my amends ... I was scared as hell, but it went well and the relief I had when it was over was absolutely incredible ... of course I still didn't gain very much trust from them til years later ... (Dad always said the proof was in the puddin') ... (I never knew what the hell that meant, but I got the message, LOL) ...
Years after that, when timin' and distance were conflicts, I always went to the all-nighters ... I felt 'SAFE' there ... especially the first few years, for sure ... and the food in those meet'ns was some 'Gooood stuff' ...
Yeah Fenners, keep ask'n til you find a sponsor ... I feel it's VERY important to have a 'buddy' that doesn't judge you or isn't critical of your past ... one that you enjoy be'n around and can learn from ... keep look'n, it'll happen soon ...
Love ya and God Bless, (and Merry Christmas) Pappy
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
I am drawing on my first one and two Christmas's staying sober....
1. I got invited to a Christmas function where alcohol was served---didn't go.
2. I participated in holiday time and Christmas Eve meetings--service work...helping with coffee, making holiday goodies, cleaning up....all helped me plan ahead and look forward to what I was going to do to help --not stay focused on how I was going to get through these times without drinking.
3. I looked up on the internet on what other's did to stay sober during the holidays--just like you are doing by posting what you did. I also found a great site which addressed just this subject. I posted it a short while back. I don't want to post the same link twice as may get a spam message....if you cannot find it on this board, you can do a search for it yourself. It's there.
I just tried to post the link for the movie My Name is Bill W. for you to watch online Fenners (if you want to)....great Christmas time inspirational movie about the founder of AA. Actually it is a great movie for anytime of the year, however, now I think it would be a great one for you to watch. If you are interested, do a search because I got the message again, "Flagged for Spam and needs approval by administrator". Last time I got one of those messages, it was never approved and it was AA related too. Oh well. Really strange how so many cabinet maker's were able to post their links on here for a good while before they got pulled and I cannot post a movie about Bill W. What's that about?
-- Edited by hopefulone on Saturday 19th of December 2015 09:40:01 PM
I sometimes forget how difficult the first christmas can be. Getting sober in february meant I had a bit of time up before my first christmas, so it wasn't much of a problem for me. My work party was very conservative, no booze at all as far as I can remember, so that made it easier. Part of my dread around christmas was that this was a time where I had my biggest disasters and caused the greatest distress to my family. Still, I had the phone and the meetings to get me through.
Today, christmas is a wonderful time. I have taken a leaf out of the big book and always try and see what I can contribute to make it better for everyone else, rather than focussing on my self and what I can get out of it. The last few years I have done the catering and cooking, which I really enjoy. I also try and nip down to the local meeting and offer a bit of support to those who are struggling. With them I can share the fact that if you work the steps (at a good clip) and continue to try and pactice these principles in all your affairs, next christmas will be much better.
I just tried to post the link for the movie My Name is Bill W. for you to watch online Fenners (if you want to)....great Christmas time inspirational movie about the founder of AA. Actually it is a great movie for anytime of the year, however, now I think it would be a great one for you to watch. If you are interested, do a search because I got the message again, "Flagged for Spam and needs approval by administrator". Last time I got one of those messages, it was never approved and it was AA related too. Oh well. Really strange how so many cabinet maker's were able to post their links on here for a good while before they got pulled and I cannot post a movie about Bill W. What's that about?
-- Edited by hopefulone on Saturday 19th of December 2015 09:40:01 PM
