Posted on 10/08/2005 7:33:57 AM PDT by RobFromGa
October 8, 2003 is the date that I quit drinking for good. It has been a great two years!
When I was drinking, I thought that life would be impossibly boring without alcohol. How can you enjoy parties, football games, vacations, weekends, etc without alcohol? I found out that not only is it possible to enjoy these things, that in many ways they are made better without the "buzz".
I haven't had a hangover in two years and that is a blessing.
I have occasionally had brief thoughts that I might be able to drink normally now that I have controlled myself for this length of time. But I understand myself better now. The fact that I would even consider such a question and action even for a millisecond is a sign of my lack of control over alcohol. My only sane solution is to keep it out of my body.
I urge anyone who suspects that they may have a drinking problem to find help and deal with the issue. I wish I had quit when I was 30 instead of 41.
Almost a year ago, I posted a thread on FR, If You Suspect You Might Have A Drinking Problem (An Open Letter). There might be some help there for you if you are trying to quit.
Thanks to all who have helped me to quit and to stay sober.
There's a reason I spoke out against the cockroaches. I too once tried to drink myself into oblivion.
Thank you. My sobriety has been a wonderful gift, and it benefits not only me but my family as well. I don't want to do to my kids what my mom has been doing to us for almost 30 years. I've been on both ends of it, and sometimes I think alcoholism is harder on the family than on the drunk.
Congrats, Rob, but you might just take it a day at a time. It's a great life ,....been doin' it that way since 1972. ]]
I'm curious. I saw Rob's original thread, and this one. Anytime anyone said anything about 'never drinking again', or 'quit for good', a host of other people jumped in to 'caution' him to take it 'one day at a time.'
Why, if a person has mustered the courage and strength to make this promise to himself, does everyone rush in to make him doubt his decision?
I don't believe in 'alcoholism.' I do believe in addiction. You choose to drink (for the pleasure of it) or you choose not too (to avoid the problems.) When you want not to drink, to avoid the problems, but you still drink, you are addicted. When you make a decision to quit drinking, to avoid the problems, and carry through on it successfully, you are an ex-addict.
Certainly, some people are more prone to addiction, but there is no disease that makes people powerless to stop drinking.
The 'one-day-at-a-time', 'you-are-powerless-on-your-own' attitude certainly does not seem to fit with the concept of self-reliance and personal responsibility. It sounds like trading one addiction (alcohol) for another ('recovery'.) Either you're an addict, or you're recovered.
That is the plain and unvarnished truth! Some can do the "cold turkey" thing, others need a different path. As the kids say today, "It's all good". There are many paths to your chosen goal, keep trying 'till you find your way. What works for you is the important thing.
I was always a "happy" drunk, even when I got to a liter - liter and a half a day. It really started to take a toll on my health. Some people can control drinking to the extent they hold it to a "little", others find the slope a lot steeper! For us it's best not to tempt fate. Like you, I don't have an agenda. My life now is good, I'm happy with the way things are and so is my wife. My only regret is I didn't quit sooner (da##, I miss that car!)
Regards,
GtG
BTW, congratulations Rob, both for your personal decision and strength, and for the obvious inspiration you have given to others on FreeRepublic.
You're right but there is a industry with a vested interest in keep you on the reservation. Alcohol recovery is big business and there is money to be made off the suffering of others.
The 'one-day-at-a-time', 'you-are-powerless-on-your-own' attitude certainly does not seem to fit with the concept of self-reliance and personal responsibility. It sounds like trading one addiction (alcohol) for another ('recovery'.) Either you're an addict, or you're recovered.
Right again but keep in mind that not everyone can go it alone. The problem with support groups is that they tend to stay past the point where they are needed.
Regards,
GtG
A Mosin/Nagant is a russian rifle, sold under the
Curio & Relic provisions of the ATF, if you hold a
C&R License, you are able to buy from dealers and importers
at wholesale and have the pieces delivered right to your door by the BBt or big brown truck.
Most go for under a hundred dollars, with some multiple buys
averageing out to thirty or so each.
Highly addictive in their own way, but providing hours of
enjoyment if you like cosmolene and don't mind getting your
hands dirty.
Have to watch the little boogers though, they breed in the dark of a safe.
Congratulations, Rob! I admire your courage and conviction!
Don't let the naysayers get to you. You SHOULD be proud of yourself! Big bear hugs to you, FRiend!!!
This is good stuff in many many ways... Being an alcohol and drug counselor (I use RR) I get to see and hear more than enough of the destruction and death that alcohol and drugs bring to individuals and families... It is good to hear of the ongoing success stories.
If interested, Minn. needs A&D counselors as there is a real shortage up here... You sound like you would be a good one, by the way you sound humble to me!
How 'bout we stop asking and just give him a pat on the back?
Congrats, Rob. Keep it up, and may your story encourage others to quit.
thanks for the congrats, I hope that these success stories will help others to see that life without alcohol is possible.
thanks for the info on the Russian rifles, they sound pretty cool.
thanks for the kind words!
For me, the biggest benefit to going to AA meetings after I had already been sober for three months was to hear the horror stories, and drunkalogs of those who were much less fortunate than me. As one with a "shallow bottom" I always felt that the chance of a relapse was higher for me.
I am originally from MN and I know that there are many good programs up there. Some of my family and friends are still in the NW Mpls suburbs. Keep up the good work in helping people to recover.
Re: humility, this is the one area of my life where I feel I am humble as I understand the word. I recognize my impotence when it comes to regulating alcohol. My purpose on this and previous threads is not to raise me up, but to help others. I don't know any other way to help besides telling my story and encouraging others to do the same. In this way, the Freeper in pain might see the light. I know it has worked in the past and pray that it will work for more people in the future.
Thanks, it is the comments made by everyone else that adds strength and truth to my own story. I appreciate all the support.
Way ta GO!!!!!! Congratulations!! Hope your post will be a encouragement for others' to walk away from their bad habits......alcohol and others!!!
Why SHOULDN'T HE!!!!!!!!!!!! Another congratulations. !!!!!!
I hope that if anyone is looking for a solution to their alcohol problem, they will stumble across one of these (infrequent) threads and find someone who faced similar circumstances.
I just have to go back to my FReepmail from the time since I first told my story, and I am amazed by the amount of reaction and positive results a simple thread like this can inspire.
Posting this "anniversary" thread today is just my way of bringing this topic up again for discussion.
I encourage anyone who doesn't want to post their question on this thread to send me (or someone else who sounds sympathetic to your situation) a FReepmail and ask your questions outside of the thread, it will not be repeated here.
thanks for your kind words.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.