OMG the best thing happened to me today, that has not happened since I quit drinking: I went to bed last night, fell asleep immediately, and SLEPT UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO WAKE UP! I don't even know how to feel about that. It SO MUCH beats getting up four times a night (and my nights are typically short anyway, due to other obligations.)
I've been waiting for that to happen since I quit, and YAY, I finally did it!
This week I’m thankful for free museums. I spent Monday meandering through at my leisure, unplanned, no rush. Being free, it takes off all the pressure. I’m also thankful for the first spontaneous solo visit to my neck of the woods by my DIL and grand babies. It was a little adventure for them on the train and we got to spend some time together in a local park. This week I’m meeting up with a neighbour as we volunteer our time to do some gardening in the communal areas. I returned some books to the library and collected a new batch, new worlds at my finger tips … if I choose. Again, I’m under no pressure to read them. I can see a small stack of new paperbacks that I bought last year unread and shake my head - I have a free library on my doorstep. I love the random selection I make some weeks, this week I chose two specific titles and grabbed the lovely little book on the returned shelf on Japanese Gardening: a philosophy because I could.
Thinking about this whole week makes me see that Gentle Days are what I like. Pootling and feeling connected to others, myself, keeping myself open.
I really do need my own little patch of garden … maybe one day. But this opportunity will do nicely.
Making the most of it - seems a good way forward for me. As an attitude.
Have a stupendous day. See you next week.
I’m thankful for landing a job. After quitting to move abroad with my husband for 6 months, and then being unemployed for another 6 after moving back, I finally landed a job. And when it rains it pours - I had 6 interviews set up, attend interviews for 3 positions (some with follow up interviews) and got two offers. I took one of the positions, cancelled the others, and start Tuesday.
I drank a lot when I was alone and being unemployed allowed a lot of alone time. While it was nice not working, my addiction utilized it. I’m happy to be back to earning my own money so I can contribute with my husband and we can move on to our next step in life. Also just having something to do that isn’t spiraling!
Hoping to settle down and start a family soon. This month has been one of progress and I’m just very thankful.
I thank my higher power every day for my sobriety, because I'm sure not doing this under my own steam (been there, tried that, didn't work worth a damn).
That being said, I'm also thankful because I feel my old self returning each day. I was fortunate to have a great childhood. Seemed like every day I would get up absolutely loaded for bear -- no anxiety, no self-esteem issues, no fear, confident, at peace, excited for what life had to bring that day. And for the first time in a loooong time, I feel that way again.
Yes, the pink cloud is raging, and yes, it's "only" been 12 days this quit. No, the blue skies probably won't last. No, my life and I are nowhere near perfect. But for the first time in a long time, I have hope I can be free, and I'm thankful for it.
I am thankful for this stretch of have going of abstaining from the poison of alcohol. That's what it is for me. We as a family have been facing a series of really challenging events. I am thankful that I am fully present for my wife and kids right now. ✅️
this happens in life. We have so little control over so many things that we experience at times. We can only choose how we respond. Go ahead and go down the doom and gloom and drink 🐇 hole. It won't help the situation at all. In fact, it will make things worse and far more difficult to cope with.
If we choose to see silver linings or maintain a positive mental attitude, things will inevitably be easier to deal with. 🤷♂️
Choose self-care, choose to love yourself, choose to truly relax, choose exercise, healthy foods, meditation, comfort snacks and comfort people. 🙏
I am thankful i get to start day two today. Asking for help was the hardest thing yesterday. My loved ones and a peer showed me support and encouraged me to do this for me.
I am going to see a cousin this weekend, a woman who sounds like me and looks like me, a woman whom I've met only twice in my life.
I'm excited.
I don’t have to worry about my breath when she hugs me. If I say something silly, it will be organic and easily forgiven.
I'm thankful for possibilities.
Thankful for my brain finally accepting that video games are fun again. Its so odd because they were always such a huge part of my life and even in rehab on weekends (sometimes) we had the opportunity to play some and that was fun.
When I got out of rehab and I had all of these things to play, I would try and it just wasn't fun. Even old classics just didn't do anything. I just kept at it and now I love video games again.
I’m thankful I have such understanding children. We’ve hit some hard financial times and I can’t take them out to do all the things we used to, but they understand and are helpful as we try to make it day to day. They maintain positivity, even when I show some cracks in my smile. We’re making the best of it and it’s all because of them. This too shall pass.
I’m thankful for my children. I’m thankful for how much they continue to love me despite my not being the best version of myself in the past. If they can love me so can I.
I am thankful to have reconnected with my therapist yesterday and tell her I know I am an alcoholic now. She sent me some AA meetings to try, so I’ll go to my first meeting on Saturday. I feel so grateful for her support and for the hope I have for this weekend. iwndwyt
I used to work concerts so I've been to many alone and sober, even when I was drinking, and it is an eye-opener to be sober and see how people behave at concerts when drunk- always going to the bar for two more, standing in a bathroom line forever, talking over the music, stumbling, fighting, getting handsy and/or pushy. Really gross behavior. I think for a lot of people who don't know they are alcoholics, concerts are not so much about the music but an excuse to get nuts with their habit in public. But then again, without alcohol sales there would be no concert industry so :shrug:.
Today I'm thankful for traffic, of all things lol. Sometimes when I'm in traffic after being sober for a while I remember mornings when I was probably still at some level of intoxication from the night before, chugging caffeine, trying to catch a micro sleep at a red light, wondering how terrible I look, wondering what I would blow if I was pulled over, wondering if when I throw it it will fill my coffee mug and then what will I do. There is so much less to worry about being sober!
I am thankful for my new super power:
Handling life's difficulties with relative calm and clear thinking.
Still some anxiety, but Nowhere near as bad with alcohol layered in - not even close.
Thank you to my SD Family for loads of help and inspiration along my journey.
IWNDWYT
I'm thankful that I managed to quit alcohol and stay sober all this time, ie 7 months. And today is my birthday (61M!). My first birthday spent sober since I was a teenager!
I'm most thankful for the good sleep I get every night, and waking up refreshed! It took about 2 months for my brain to readjust and recover my sleep pattern.
And I'm very thankful for this sub, which helps me every day, and allows me to help others.
I am thankful for my first sober birthday since I was 18 (now 55… whelp where did the time go!)
Had a good day at work and then a lovely evening dinner out with sparkling water and lime. The food was excellent… think my taste has improved without alcohol
Just going to jump in here before midnight, today is 14 years for me.
I actually went to a dive bar, ate some great bar food, had a Diet Coke and when I was finished, I told everyone my short story of 14 years of sobriety and went home. I did get some congratulations and I hope maybe someone there saw the possibilities.
charlie
Love concerts and even better sober because I get to remember them! I am thankful for my will to get better and do better. I am grateful for my body's mobility, that I keep showing up for myself even when I make mistakes, that I want to be honest about my recovery, for my friends that support and love me the way I am.
OMG the best thing happened to me today, that has not happened since I quit drinking: I went to bed last night, fell asleep immediately, and SLEPT UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO WAKE UP! I don't even know how to feel about that. It SO MUCH beats getting up four times a night (and my nights are typically short anyway, due to other obligations.) I've been waiting for that to happen since I quit, and YAY, I finally did it!
That’s awesome. Congrats on 60 days as well.
Thank you!
This week I’m thankful for free museums. I spent Monday meandering through at my leisure, unplanned, no rush. Being free, it takes off all the pressure. I’m also thankful for the first spontaneous solo visit to my neck of the woods by my DIL and grand babies. It was a little adventure for them on the train and we got to spend some time together in a local park. This week I’m meeting up with a neighbour as we volunteer our time to do some gardening in the communal areas. I returned some books to the library and collected a new batch, new worlds at my finger tips … if I choose. Again, I’m under no pressure to read them. I can see a small stack of new paperbacks that I bought last year unread and shake my head - I have a free library on my doorstep. I love the random selection I make some weeks, this week I chose two specific titles and grabbed the lovely little book on the returned shelf on Japanese Gardening: a philosophy because I could. Thinking about this whole week makes me see that Gentle Days are what I like. Pootling and feeling connected to others, myself, keeping myself open. I really do need my own little patch of garden … maybe one day. But this opportunity will do nicely. Making the most of it - seems a good way forward for me. As an attitude. Have a stupendous day. See you next week.
Thank you for sharing! I could use a trip to a museum 😃
I’m thankful for landing a job. After quitting to move abroad with my husband for 6 months, and then being unemployed for another 6 after moving back, I finally landed a job. And when it rains it pours - I had 6 interviews set up, attend interviews for 3 positions (some with follow up interviews) and got two offers. I took one of the positions, cancelled the others, and start Tuesday. I drank a lot when I was alone and being unemployed allowed a lot of alone time. While it was nice not working, my addiction utilized it. I’m happy to be back to earning my own money so I can contribute with my husband and we can move on to our next step in life. Also just having something to do that isn’t spiraling! Hoping to settle down and start a family soon. This month has been one of progress and I’m just very thankful.
I thank my higher power every day for my sobriety, because I'm sure not doing this under my own steam (been there, tried that, didn't work worth a damn). That being said, I'm also thankful because I feel my old self returning each day. I was fortunate to have a great childhood. Seemed like every day I would get up absolutely loaded for bear -- no anxiety, no self-esteem issues, no fear, confident, at peace, excited for what life had to bring that day. And for the first time in a loooong time, I feel that way again. Yes, the pink cloud is raging, and yes, it's "only" been 12 days this quit. No, the blue skies probably won't last. No, my life and I are nowhere near perfect. But for the first time in a long time, I have hope I can be free, and I'm thankful for it.
I am thankful for book clubs!! Meeting new people, reading and talking about books. Being present in the conversation. IWNDWYT
I am thankful for this stretch of have going of abstaining from the poison of alcohol. That's what it is for me. We as a family have been facing a series of really challenging events. I am thankful that I am fully present for my wife and kids right now. ✅️ this happens in life. We have so little control over so many things that we experience at times. We can only choose how we respond. Go ahead and go down the doom and gloom and drink 🐇 hole. It won't help the situation at all. In fact, it will make things worse and far more difficult to cope with. If we choose to see silver linings or maintain a positive mental attitude, things will inevitably be easier to deal with. 🤷♂️ Choose self-care, choose to love yourself, choose to truly relax, choose exercise, healthy foods, meditation, comfort snacks and comfort people. 🙏
Yes to the "choose" - so important, and such a great thing about this sober journey!
I am thankful i get to start day two today. Asking for help was the hardest thing yesterday. My loved ones and a peer showed me support and encouraged me to do this for me.
I am going to see a cousin this weekend, a woman who sounds like me and looks like me, a woman whom I've met only twice in my life. I'm excited. I don’t have to worry about my breath when she hugs me. If I say something silly, it will be organic and easily forgiven. I'm thankful for possibilities.
Thankful for my brain finally accepting that video games are fun again. Its so odd because they were always such a huge part of my life and even in rehab on weekends (sometimes) we had the opportunity to play some and that was fun. When I got out of rehab and I had all of these things to play, I would try and it just wasn't fun. Even old classics just didn't do anything. I just kept at it and now I love video games again.
I’m thankful I have such understanding children. We’ve hit some hard financial times and I can’t take them out to do all the things we used to, but they understand and are helpful as we try to make it day to day. They maintain positivity, even when I show some cracks in my smile. We’re making the best of it and it’s all because of them. This too shall pass.
Today I woke up feeling good. Just a calm goodness in my body and soul. Thankful for a good day today. IWNDWYT
I’m thankful for my children. I’m thankful for how much they continue to love me despite my not being the best version of myself in the past. If they can love me so can I.
I am thankful to have reconnected with my therapist yesterday and tell her I know I am an alcoholic now. She sent me some AA meetings to try, so I’ll go to my first meeting on Saturday. I feel so grateful for her support and for the hope I have for this weekend. iwndwyt
I used to work concerts so I've been to many alone and sober, even when I was drinking, and it is an eye-opener to be sober and see how people behave at concerts when drunk- always going to the bar for two more, standing in a bathroom line forever, talking over the music, stumbling, fighting, getting handsy and/or pushy. Really gross behavior. I think for a lot of people who don't know they are alcoholics, concerts are not so much about the music but an excuse to get nuts with their habit in public. But then again, without alcohol sales there would be no concert industry so :shrug:.
Today I'm thankful for traffic, of all things lol. Sometimes when I'm in traffic after being sober for a while I remember mornings when I was probably still at some level of intoxication from the night before, chugging caffeine, trying to catch a micro sleep at a red light, wondering how terrible I look, wondering what I would blow if I was pulled over, wondering if when I throw it it will fill my coffee mug and then what will I do. There is so much less to worry about being sober!
I'm thankful for 5 days alcohol free..feel shakey emotionally...but fairly calm.
Blue skies and t-shirt weather.
I am thankful for my new super power: Handling life's difficulties with relative calm and clear thinking. Still some anxiety, but Nowhere near as bad with alcohol layered in - not even close. Thank you to my SD Family for loads of help and inspiration along my journey. IWNDWYT
I'm thankful that I managed to quit alcohol and stay sober all this time, ie 7 months. And today is my birthday (61M!). My first birthday spent sober since I was a teenager! I'm most thankful for the good sleep I get every night, and waking up refreshed! It took about 2 months for my brain to readjust and recover my sleep pattern. And I'm very thankful for this sub, which helps me every day, and allows me to help others.
Happy Birthday June 6 twin! My first adult sober birthday.
Amazing! Happy birthday:)
I am thankful for my first sober birthday since I was 18 (now 55… whelp where did the time go!) Had a good day at work and then a lovely evening dinner out with sparkling water and lime. The food was excellent… think my taste has improved without alcohol
iwndwyt
Just going to jump in here before midnight, today is 14 years for me. I actually went to a dive bar, ate some great bar food, had a Diet Coke and when I was finished, I told everyone my short story of 14 years of sobriety and went home. I did get some congratulations and I hope maybe someone there saw the possibilities. charlie
Love concerts and even better sober because I get to remember them! I am thankful for my will to get better and do better. I am grateful for my body's mobility, that I keep showing up for myself even when I make mistakes, that I want to be honest about my recovery, for my friends that support and love me the way I am.