Christmas is upon us again and I would just like to wish you all a very happy time. I know it is a very difficult time for many, especially those having their first sober Xmas. I have been blessed in that area. Xmas was always the time of my biggest disasters, and I spoilt it for my family many times. So for me it is a relief and a joy to know that today I bring something positive.
This Christmas I will spend partly with my late wife Judy's family, and partly with my new partner and her mother. They are all such lovely people and it is quite a privilage for someone like me, who came from the alcoholic pit, to be part of their lives. But one of the discoveries I have made in this journey is that the world is full of lovely people.
They are not big drinkers, and all know of my AA membership so I have no concerns about anyone giving me the wrong drink. Even so, I have always found it a good idea to keep an eye on my drink and what goes into it. It's just a habit from other social occasions. Earlier this year a barman made me a cocktail when I ordered a mocktail. I couldn't tell from the smell that it had a big shot of rum in it. It would have been easy to drink it by mistake.
Having a fun Christmas with the family is something I look forward to. I try and follow these suggestions from the book:
"But be sure you are on solid spiritual ground before you start and that your motive in going is thoroughly good. Do not think of what you will get out of the occasion. Think of what you can bring to it. But if you are shaky, you had better work with another alcoholic instead!
Why sit with a long face in places where there is drinking, sighing about the good old days. If it is a happy occasion, try to increase the pleasure of those there; if a business occasion, go and attend to your business enthusiastically. If you are with a person who wants to eat in a bar, by all means go along. Let your friends know they are not to change their habits on your account. At a proper time and place explain to all your friends why alcohol disagrees with you. If you do this thoroughly, few people will ask you to drink. While you were drinking, you were withdrawing from life little by little. Now you are getting back into the social life of this world. Don't start to withdraw again just because your friends drink liquor."
A special note of thanks to Pappy and Tanin for the service they perform on the board. Your kind words of encouragement are, I am sure, appreciated by all of us.
Wishing you all the best and may your God go with you.
Thank you Fyne for this special seasonal message .... your account of your past Christmas' hit me right between the eyes ... my story is the very same ... I made these 'happy' occasions a disaster for my family too ... oh man, the last one before I got sober, for real, was especially bad, my wife and I had traveled up to have Christmas with my family in a different state ... I made an 'A$$' out of myself and left the merriment to spend the night in the hotel room alone ... no wonder my father disowned me ...
Long story which most of you know from first hand experience ... I will never be able to express enough gratitude to AA and God for pull'n me out of that pit I found myself in ... I could never adequately express the happiness I have today live'n life sober ... daylight and dark difference ... I actually love the holidays now and have such delight in give'n stuff to others ... a genuine change of heart for me for sure ... my family members actually smile now when they see me come'n around the corner, instead of a big frown and run'n for cover ...
I wish a very Merry Christmas for all read'n this message AND I wish you all to find the love in the come'n days that our Creator has for us all ... there is no greater love than that of a friend laying down their own life for another ... wow, hard to imagine huh? ... that's the kind of love we're look'n at here ... it comes from God in my way of think'n and my goal in life is to spread that 'Love' ... please join me on the road to a happy destiny ...
With deep love and gratitude to all here at MIP, God Bless, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Life is good
I'm sober
I'm relatively serene
I'm enjoying my first family Christmas for 9 years.
This is a safe place for me so merry Christmas james (my son) not seen you or heard from you for 9 years. Still love you.
Merry Christmas chrissie. It's been the same 9 years. I still love you too.
I know you don't want me in your lives and that's my amends to you both. I hope you're having a happy life.
Hey. Merry Christmas to all you guys on here. You've listened, challenged, kicked and hugged me through the days.
Love the lot of you.
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
Oh f*ck.
How quickly things change.
My partner's eldest daughter is miscarrying. Powerless. Helpless. Poor lass. My heart breaks for her and her mum.
But you know what? I'm still sober, can identify my feelings and just be there for them both.
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
