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Small Triumphs
by Brenda H. in Montreal No, I don’t post that often, probably because anything I have to say has already been said far more eloquently by someone else. When I reply to other people’s posts, I do it personally, probably because I think if I’m too far off the mark at least only one person…
Day One Again
By John E. I have had so many “Day 1, Agains” over the past 15 years. The first Day 1 found me physically exhausted and weakened beyond reasonable imagination. The next to latest Day 1 found me emotionally and intellectually broken and scarred. The latest Day 1 found me coldly angry and determined to recover.…
At First You Fall Down a Lot
By Craig M. [Jan wrote: I sure am having trouble staying sober….] Jan – You don’t really sound like you enjoy drinking at all anymore. I remember the last months of my drinking – hating every drop of vodka I poured down my throat, yet sneaking out and buying another “last” bottle….every single day. Once…
The Fuckit Switch
By Lin L. C.W. posted: My last relatively lengthy abstinence ended while I was standing in Rite-Aid. Suddenly, I happened to notice the beer display and The Cloud descended over my head. “Why not?” “Who cares?” “What difference does it make?” These were my thoughts. Ah, the infamous “fuckit switch”. As in, “Aw, fuckit, I’ll…
Focusing On Sobriety
By Steve B. There has been a lot said here lately about sobriety and relapse. A lot of this takes the form of confessions, explanations, and remedies. The remedies I am reading here seem to involve pharmacology, psychology, or the distraction of keeping busy in one way or another. At the present time, I haven’t…
Recovery Is a Process
By Ron C. The state of recovery isn’t an end state of not using … it is a process of sobriety, relapse, success, failure, joy and pain… and a lot of work If we could all realize that we are addicts and that not using was the answer … and could do that … this…
Laying the Past to Rest
By Pippa M. This evening my husband and I came home from 3 days in the north of the country on a game farm. It was a strange thing, being there, not 100 km from where I spent most of my childhood, riding through the Kalahari bush that I had not seen in nearly 30…
My Sobriety is a Treasure
By Lisa P. Well, who said the exhilaration was going to wear off? I still get a particular thrill out of being sober. I heard something about “rose colored glasses” and similar nonsense at AA meetings. When it didn’t wear off for me, people in my aftercare class did their standard — told me I…
Exulting in That Feeling
By Kate M. Liz wrote: I have just read two emails in a row that mentioned the exhilaration of the early days of not drinking. That’s where I am now, and am very disappointed that it will wear off. Kind of like a new love, I guess…. The exhilaration is what’s keeping me in there…