LOLOLOLOL! Oh, Marc...stop it stop it....you're too much and that's too funny!
And "big ass cookie" more LOLOLOLOL!!!! Pappy, you two have made me laugh more tonight than I have in the last week!
(Oh, excuse me.... no one can "make" me laugh unless I want to?
By jove! I think she's got it!
and you're welcome Pappy. I thought it was great too. (However, I am just waiting for someone to come along with their little pic...and pick it apart...LOL)
That wasn't a cookie, Marc...that was a plaque with the Serenity Prayer....LOL...my wonderful pic taking skills at work.
The "cookie" is taking a break for now, while my little monkey is trying to stress the importance of eating a good breakfast.
Interesting article, but the guy at one point talks as if anxiety were something we just choose to do and can drop like any other character defect. I have GAD disorder, which is something sponsorship can't help, so it's something I have to actively manage. Which I think is a sober behavior itself.
Also he gets into the support system vs isolation topic in a way that seems to imply you have to be extroverted and have a big support group, or you are not working on your underlying emotional issues. To me, it seems possible to just work to avoid getting offended about things, without necessarily yakking about every little emotional tick to somebody, only to have them tell you to stop whining and go to more meetings...
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Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's.
Interesting article with lots of food for thought. Personally I have found getting through the steps quickly the first time, and catching on to the AA way of life has changed my whole outlook. Spiritual experience I think we call it. The day to day practice of the program has been emotionally rewarding since I took the steps, so it is more of a natural thing to carry on with, as opposed to a discipline. Human nature is such that everyone, alcoholic or not, will eventually get tired of a disciplined existence.
Meetings based sobriety looks like a discipline to me. Characterised by "man I needed a meeting" or "I tried to get by with two meetings a week but have found three is the least I can get away with" life seems to go from one crisis to the next and sobriety hangs tenuously between now and the next meeting. Walking on egg shells believing tomorrow could be the day we pick up is what the fellowship sometimes teaches, probably becasue it is true for meeting based sobriety. That's a long way different to "man I love the meetings, it's such a pleasure to see others doing well, and to get the opportunity to contribute something."
That doesn't all mean that life is a bed of roses, though it is pretty good most of the time. But even in adversity, I'm ok inside,and thats what counts.
I am very jealous of Bill's achievement of having written over 70,000 original words on recovery. In over 35 years sober I haven't managed a single one! And the synic in me says that Bill is not spending all day doing consultations, free of charge, out of the goodness of his heart. Someone is paying him, it just might not be the caller.
ZZ made some good points above. I wouldn't know about GAD or any other medical condidion, but I do know that sober spells, untreated alcoholism and early sobriety are characterised by anxiety, fear and depression. I suffered from crippling fear/anxiety at the end of a bender, hiding behind the sofa with the curtains drawn, shaking, while my father was outside knocking on the door and calling my name. He just wanted to see if I was ok.
My early recovery, the first few weeks, were chracterised every few days by an incredible sense of impending doom. I has thought I was doing ok and out of no where I thought the sky was going to fall on me. It was solved by a sponsor who understood the program and the alcoholic mind, and was able to help me navigate through these waters. Further relief came through step four where I discovered the character defects (behaviours) that brought on the anxiety. I was my own worst enemy.
Speaking of navigation, euphoric recall is something we yachties suffer from too. Many is the time we have had a particularly trying voyage, cold and seasick, tired out and miserable, we eventually reach port. We dissappear on terra firma with thoughts of never doing it again! Then a month or two later, after dinner, the charts come out and we start planning the next adventure. The memory of the misery of a few months ago is gone, and all we can remember are the good bits, calm anchorages and sunny days. The insanity has returned!
