Posted on 12/16/2004 8:18:49 AM PST by SweetCaroline
Holiday Tips -Take Care of Yourself First-Join the Discussion
"After enjoying sobriety for a few years I realize how many holidays I wasted, drinking in bars, drinking in the kitchen and becoming too drunk to join the family for dinner!" Magic
I lived with the book "Living Sober" for seven years. It offered me very helpful suggestions in some very tricky situations. I learned that no one cares if I'm drinking or not and that "what" I carried in my glass was rarely noticed by anyone. At first I had the usual questions and fears about social activities like, what do I drink and what do I say, etc. I was one of those people that learned to say "Not right now, thank you".
The holiday hype is just another world situation that we have to deal with and with peace and serenity in our lives, it just happens. We must remember that in times of hype and high stress, it's okay to withdraw and quiet our insides until we feel strong again. It took me awhile; it is not an overnight accomplishment. It takes time and that's okay too.
We first have to learn to take care of ourselves and that's not selfish. It's self preservation and growth. We can't give to others what we do not have ourselves and I can't be carried on the whim of other people especially when I realize that at the other end, I will be left with whatever has been created by the situation and the other person probably won't be there nor will they care about my insides or about the level of my peace and serenity.
If I let myself go off the deep end because of people, places, and things, who is there to catch me? No one. Except, GOD. If my life is right with GOD then me and God can handle anything.
Don't let life be controlled by any person or thing or whatever. Be in balance with things as they happen and let you soul be with the Lord and nature and things will work for the good.
Later, An anonymous alcoholic
TC could you post the 12 steps? I would really like to know what they are and don't know how to find them.
I worried about Holiday parties when I got sober.
When I first got sober, I practiced saying
"I'll have a coke, please"
"plain coke"
"Coke for me".
It worked. More than ten years now.
I thought people would care. THey didn't.
"What the H@@@ Happened to You?" One friend said.
"You have skin-tone now!!!"
That was it.
Also, Ginger Ale with a splash of Orange Juice is really tasty!!
http://www.recovery.org/aa/bigbook/ww/
Check this out. The Steps are there, and much more.
She is a wonderful friend, caring, thoughful and funny. We have such a great time together, but out husband's don't get along. Which is another problem with our relationship. He is the loud mouth drunk that knows everything, I think we all have met some one like this.
Correct. It is a spiritual, not religious program.
I haven't.
I was too busy being the loud mouth drunk that knew everything.
It works like a charm. Oddly, they usually thank us the next morning. That last drink is the one that causes the hangover.
I went on a bachelor party weekend a month or so ago. One of the single guys stayed up until 2AM drinking. I got up to cook breakfast at 6:30AM and he staggered in at 8AM asking if everyone hurt as bad as him. Nothing but stares and a unison "Uhh...no".
LOL! You and I would have gotten along just fine!!!!
Thanks, Laz!
But some of us exclaimed, "What an order, I can't go through with it!!!!"
Ohhhhh AppyPappy your so funny. I laughed so hard at this one!!!!!!!!!!!!
....and I decided I didn't want to eat the rest of my breakfast after that vision you placed in my head!!!!!!!!
In trying to pick up babes in bars, I've been everything from a brain surgeon to a helicopter pilot, whatever fit the occasion.
Some people's IQ's double when they drink. Even better are those who call people on the phone. I had one friend who would call me at 2AM screaming "COME ON OVER. WE'RE DRINKIN". I would always respond "Ok, I'm coming right over". That ended the call and I'd go back to sleep. I never argue with a drunk.
in 1991, about the time of the first Gulf War, I had this conversation with an old friend. He told me that he and a mutual friend were watching the war unfold and when the news that Israel was being attacked by scud missles was discussed, the mutual friend exclaimed, "Hey, speaking of Jews getting bombed, anyone hear from Hildy lately!!!!" (True story).
Don't be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.
(wide, accepting grin)
So what are you saying? Are you saying I have a problem? Because I don't think I have a problem. How would you know? You don't know me, you don't know the pain I go through. If I drinks a bit, well thats understandab....
Just Kidding! Three Years, Nine Months Sober and Fat (: but reasonably happy. Seasons Greetings.
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