Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
July 31 - Triggers
Triggers are things we see, hear and people we come into contact with, in other words: people, places and things. Triggers initiate cravings to drink and/or use. It could be driving or walking past a favorite bar or friends house, arguing with our spouse/partner, getting mad at a boss at work or just plain old rejection of just about any kind.
July 30 - Weight gain in sobriety
My weight stayed between 175 and 185 almost my entire life till I hit 55 years of age. This was about a year and a half into recovery. I wasn't always in the best of shape physically, as towards the end of my active career in addiction, I was in pretty sad shape. But the weight still stayed about the same. I did drop to 165 while in the program in prison, but gained back to 185 about 6 months after hitting the streets.
July 29 - When are we "hordes"?
The following was a post I shared a couple of years ago. The moral: Nothing changes if nothing changes. At the end of that post is one from today.
(About 2 years ago) I was cleaning up in the garage and the backyard this morning and came across a whole lot of stuff the wife had bagged up to throw out. My first instict was to open the bags and go thru them to see if she is throwing away anything useful, lol. That's what I generally do, and the results are, in the long run, they generally get thrown out anyways.
(About 2 years ago) I was cleaning up in the garage and the backyard this morning and came across a whole lot of stuff the wife had bagged up to throw out. My first instict was to open the bags and go thru them to see if she is throwing away anything useful, lol. That's what I generally do, and the results are, in the long run, they generally get thrown out anyways.
July 28 - Freedom
What does freedom mean to you?
Freedom can mean being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint, Economic freedom, political freedom, and it can also mean physiological freedom. I’m sure we could find many other types of freedom, but for me, I’ll stick with these for now, as they are most important to my life as I see it.
Freedom can mean being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint, Economic freedom, political freedom, and it can also mean physiological freedom. I’m sure we could find many other types of freedom, but for me, I’ll stick with these for now, as they are most important to my life as I see it.
July 27 - Sleep in sobriety
I don’t know about anyone else, but when I got clean and sober I had one heck of a time falling asleep. I got sober while I was in jail and prison. It took about 13 or 14 months before I finally got more than 4 or 5 hours of sleep at a time. I’m sure the stress of being locked up had a lot to do with it, but I’m told that it can take many months before all the alcohol and drugs leave our system.
July 26 - Court Ordered Meetings
Many of us in the 12 Step Rooms were ordered by the Courts to attend meetings because of "mishaps" we got ourselves into with the law generally caused by our addiction. For a lot of us, it gave us an insight to what we probably were, powerless over our addictions. For some of us it gave us hope and sobriety. Prayers to those still out there that it didn't work for. There IS still hope for them and they know where to go when they are ready.
Here's a short story by one of my former members in regards to court ordered meetings. For those still out there........ This could be YOU.
Here's a short story by one of my former members in regards to court ordered meetings. For those still out there........ This could be YOU.
July 25 - Take what you need and leave the rest
As with most things in life, there is usually more than one way to look at something, this expression being one of them. I’ve heard this expression many times, generally said to those that complain about something in the program (12 steps). I view this as a way to maybe “shut them up” for the time being about their complaints. The 12 step programs can be selfish (Concerned chiefly or only with oneself) or selfless (the act of sacrificing ones own interest for the greater good).
July 24 - Observe, Listen and Be Quiet
The other day I was in Target in line waiting for a gentleman (somewhere about 65 yrs old) to make his purchases. He had a six pack of O'Douls "near beer" and the young girl asked to see his ID. He got offended at the idea of being asked for an ID and they called one of the head cashiers to help. He told the man that there was alcohol in the O'Douls and he would have to show an ID, as these were the store rules. The man said "I refuse to show my ID". The young head cashier took the O'Douls (the six pack) and said "No ID, no purchase" and walked away.
July 23 - The Promises
I can't speak for anyone else about what these promises say, but for me, most of them have come true.
July 22 - Relapse Happens Before It Happens
Relapse is a process, not an event. The relapse process reactivates the symptoms of our disease, ultimately bringing us back to using/drinking. If all it took to recover was to see and admit to having the disease, then relapse would not be a problem. Unfortunately, the disease of addiction is more complicated than that. We have denial, which doesn't leave us overnight. To uncover denial requires that we be honest, open, and willing. Willing to admit our faulty/distorted thinking and see the real truth.
July 21 - Trust the Process
When we are new to recovery it can be a very scary experience. We come into the program and find ourselves in rooms full of people that we have never seen, openly talking about things that have been bottled up in us for years and we wonder how these people can possibly be sharing things like this with another human being, let alone a room full of strangers. We may be setting in the back of the room squirming in our seat and feel that everyone is looking at us and it is very common to feel alone in a room full of people, for many of us.
July 20 - Pain or Pleasure
Posted by a member
So why do so many people stay on the tracks when they see a train coming? I think it's because individuals inherently despise change! As an example, when employees are informed months in advance that their company is about to be merged and layoffs will be in the thousands, many employees do little to prepare for the inevitable. They are so comfortable in their daily routines that they go into denial with the hope they will be the fortunate one who avoids a pink slip. These resisters then discover that the approaching train arrives right on schedule as they are standing on the tracks, and runs them over. Those who were proactive, anticipated change, and acted quickly, got off the tracks and were passengers on another train.
So why do so many people stay on the tracks when they see a train coming? I think it's because individuals inherently despise change! As an example, when employees are informed months in advance that their company is about to be merged and layoffs will be in the thousands, many employees do little to prepare for the inevitable. They are so comfortable in their daily routines that they go into denial with the hope they will be the fortunate one who avoids a pink slip. These resisters then discover that the approaching train arrives right on schedule as they are standing on the tracks, and runs them over. Those who were proactive, anticipated change, and acted quickly, got off the tracks and were passengers on another train.
July 19 - Family Get Togethers
Some of the posts and replys on the daily check in got me thinking about my first couple of family get togethers, SOBER. For over 35 years, I never attended a family function or get together, sober. Everyone was used to seeing Mike, DRUNK or very near it. Still, I was accepted by them. That's what I call unconditional LOVE. Or maybe my family has so many alcoholics/addicts in it, that it was just considered NORMAL, LOL.
July 18 - The Paths we take
There are many paths that we take in life, and the paths are generally chosen at young ages, some at about the time we enter puberty, some after public education, and some a bit later. Our family, friends, environment, education, tragic events and other events in life have a big impact on which roads we will travel in life. For a large part of the young, paths of higher education is chosen, for others they follow the paths of their parents in securing an occupation, marry and have children of their own and lead what we in recovery call, “normal” lives.
July 17 - Open Mindedness
Open-mindedness can mean a lot of things to ME. I started thinking back about 35 years when I became a first line supervisor for box plant. They put us through a lot of management training which was ongoing. One thing that really stuck in my mind was when one of the instructors said that everyone has something to say.
July 16 - The Years the Locust has Eaten
A lot of people don't enter their alcoholism or addictions until later in life due to different circumstances but for many of us it is there waiting to "attack" us. Here is a story posted by a member awhile back that might relate to folks in that category.
July 15 - Repetition in Recovery
I'm sure some of the members that have been with me for a few years might have noticed that I've gone back and brought up threads that we had in the past on various discussions boards we had. Some may call it being repetitious, and I would have to agree. BUT...........repetition of living clean and sober is just what I need for ME to stay that way.
July 14 - Acceptance
Acceptance, in spirituality, mindfulness, and human psychology, usually refers to the experience of a situation without an intention to change that situation.
Acceptance does not require that change is possible or even conceivable, nor does it require that the situation be desired or approved by those accepting it.
Acceptance does not require that change is possible or even conceivable, nor does it require that the situation be desired or approved by those accepting it.
July 13 - Change
I picked "Change" as a topic for today, because I guess I'm seeing a lot of it in my life. Things are changing in several
different parts of my life, some of it I like and some of it I don't. There’s change in my home life, change in my work life,
spiritual and in my life in the program
different parts of my life, some of it I like and some of it I don't. There’s change in my home life, change in my work life,
spiritual and in my life in the program
July 12 - Isolating
Isolating
"The less people tolerated us,
the more we withdrew from society,
from life itself.
As we became subjects of King Alcohol,
shivering denizens of his mad realm,
the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down.
It thickened, ever becoming blacker.
Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand."
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 151
"The less people tolerated us,
the more we withdrew from society,
from life itself.
As we became subjects of King Alcohol,
shivering denizens of his mad realm,
the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down.
It thickened, ever becoming blacker.
Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand."
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 151
July 11 - Conditions in sobriety
Conditions in sobriety
I was told by my first sponsor early on that if I ever put conditions on my sobriety I would drink agian someday, somewhere, and somehow. I took what he said to heart thank God. To date by the grace of God I have been a survivor, not a ''victom of'', family members passing, people in the program going back out, some returning, some not, and a divorce of five years. Nowhere in the Big Book did I read that sobriety would be easy but I was told it would be worth it, and today I believe it to be true.
I was told by my first sponsor early on that if I ever put conditions on my sobriety I would drink agian someday, somewhere, and somehow. I took what he said to heart thank God. To date by the grace of God I have been a survivor, not a ''victom of'', family members passing, people in the program going back out, some returning, some not, and a divorce of five years. Nowhere in the Big Book did I read that sobriety would be easy but I was told it would be worth it, and today I believe it to be true.
July 10 - Alcoholic or other?
Posted by a member
"Someone very close to me is convincing himself that he's one of the 'other' types of drinkers the Big Book talks about. How can you be certain you're an alcoholic, and not just a heavy drinker, or occasional drinker?
"Someone very close to me is convincing himself that he's one of the 'other' types of drinkers the Big Book talks about. How can you be certain you're an alcoholic, and not just a heavy drinker, or occasional drinker?
July 9 - What about the Good Stuff?
What About the Good Stuff?
A member shares:
"The hand is always reaching out. The newcomer is always arriving. I want to always be here. Nothing ensures my sobriety more than intense work with another alcoholic/addict.
A member shares:
"The hand is always reaching out. The newcomer is always arriving. I want to always be here. Nothing ensures my sobriety more than intense work with another alcoholic/addict.
July 8 - Relationships in sobriety
Relationships in sobriety
(A member shares)
“I have been sober for eleven years now and have done fairly well in this time, as far as I can tell. About a year and half ago I made some big life changes by moving in with a woman I didn't know very well, but who was fully aware of my alcoholism. However, since then, I've found myself dealing with intense angry episodes that have put myself and her in a tense situation often. I am aware that this is no doubt unhealthy and I likely need to seek outside help.
(A member shares)
“I have been sober for eleven years now and have done fairly well in this time, as far as I can tell. About a year and half ago I made some big life changes by moving in with a woman I didn't know very well, but who was fully aware of my alcoholism. However, since then, I've found myself dealing with intense angry episodes that have put myself and her in a tense situation often. I am aware that this is no doubt unhealthy and I likely need to seek outside help.
July 7 - Attitude
Attitude
Attitude has a lot to do with how we feel, and how we deal with whats going on around us. If I wake up with a good attitude, more than likely, things are gonna go good for me that day.
Attitude has a lot to do with how we feel, and how we deal with whats going on around us. If I wake up with a good attitude, more than likely, things are gonna go good for me that day.
July 6 - Step Two
July 6th - Step Two
Step Two: Was there really a power greater than myself? But I was invincible; there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do if I set my mind to it! Anything I tell ya, anything but not drinking or taking drugs. I tried so many times to quit drinking and drugging, but could never manage more than a couple of days at a time unless I was incarcerated.
Step Two: Was there really a power greater than myself? But I was invincible; there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do if I set my mind to it! Anything I tell ya, anything but not drinking or taking drugs. I tried so many times to quit drinking and drugging, but could never manage more than a couple of days at a time unless I was incarcerated.
July 5 - Step One
Milkman’s Reflections in Recovery – July 5th Step One
Step One: Admitting that I was an alcoholic/addict was very simple to do. The tough part was truly believing I was.
Step One: Admitting that I was an alcoholic/addict was very simple to do. The tough part was truly believing I was.
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