Post by Dana on Aug 30, 2015 12:06:18 GMT -5
From the old forum:
angelina1512
7/5/15 7:40 AM
angelina1512
Posts:3391
Hi All,
I saw a lady today at work and on her t-shirt she had on it " stronger than yesterday".
And I thought about alcoholism. I thought about when you give up and do one day at a time, you are stronger than yesterday. So with the newbies here, they are stronger today than yesterday.
So each day it gets a little better. It gets a little easier, not that it's easier, but you get my drift.
So I thought that is a good thing to have on your desk, or near your computer.
STRONGER than YESTERDAY
Angelina
JFDI
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Petuny
Replied to: angelina1512
7/5/15 8:14 AM
Petuny
Posts:175
I love that! It's a good reminder, like the idea of sober equity, that I don't want to lose what I have gained so far. Thanks, Angelina.
Petuny
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angelina1512
Replied to: Petuny
7/5/15 5:05 PM
angelina1512
Posts:3391
Hey petuny,
Glad you liked it. Keep reminding yourself, each day. Your on your way to sobriety.
Angelina
JFDI
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blueskye
Replied to: angelina1512
7/16/15 12:22 PM
blueskye
Posts:11039
Beautiful Angelina Ballerina,
I'm still catching up with threads .........
Remind me, have you set a quit date for smoking as August 1st? Maybe you can make your own t-shirt with those words, or write them on your mirror so you see them every day.
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kklove1
Replied to: blueskye
7/16/15 7:42 PM
kklove1
Posts:243
Hi Blueskye
I believe she did say August 1. Maybe I will join her in that effort.
I wanted to send you a message and tell you that I have been reading older threads where you were posting more actively. I enjoy your perspective and particularly like a couple of things you wrote. 1. The story. The brain doesn't really care. Just restore balance. 2. ****-it-itis. Yes. I have that. Not overwhelmingly at this moment, but it comes and goes.
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achilles1957
Replied to: angelina1512
7/17/15 7:03 AM
achilles1957
Posts:1495
Hey Ang and All,
Love that .. "Stronger than yesterday" ... I like the concept of movement, even if it's two steps forward, one step back. Sometimes, I guess, it can be one step forward, two steps back, perhaps three ... yikes ! Movement/change as opposed to bogged down/stagnant, one can become a tad smelly. When I feel as though I'm not developing in my sobriety, not progressing along my journey, I only need to be still and listen to my heart. It's not pounding in anticipation of my next drink, not racing with adrenalin at the thought of "getting caught", not thumping with anxiety as I fight yet another "illness". It beating steadily and quietly, stronger everyday ... I like that. :-)
I've been so busy and decided to take a break from the forum only to return to find a hive of activity. How joyous is that heh (never going to catch up though). The few threads that I've managed to peruse have such depth and wisdom .. honesty, hope, willingness to share ... I fear a bout of eye strain may be in store for me. ;-)
Good job to All for some truly insightful, helpful dialogue.
Way to go all of US !!
Jenn
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gwampa69
Replied to: achilles1957
7/17/15 7:12 AM
gwampa69
Posts:1900
Hey Jenn
Great to see you again. It's amazing what a couple of newbies can do for this place huh? J, Petuny and KK are all active bees and doing really well. I love the sight of everyone rallying around the new folks. Of course, it helps solidify things for the longer term people and that includes me. They are a huge help. Welcome back around. Take it easy on those eyes.
O and U
Brett
JFDI
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gwampa69
Replied to: 18684.7
7/17/15 9:11 AM
gwampa69
Posts:1900
J Petuny and KK
I just read my post above and saw that I called you "active bees". Haha sorry about that. Auto correct on my iPhone. I meant to say "active members". As the papers always say, I regret the error.
O and U
Brett
JFDI
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kklove1
Replied to: gwampa69
7/17/15 9:22 AM
kklove1
Posts:243
No problem Brett. I thought active bees worked with Jenn's post. I'd rather be an active bee than one who's floating on top of the pool water...childhood memory. Always dead bees in the pool.
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Petuny
Replied to: gwampa69
7/17/15 10:05 AM
Petuny
Posts:175
I thought "bees" worked well with Jenn's "hive" anology, too. Not bad to be a bee--busy, productive, gathering pollen. And I'd rather be a bee than a slug.
Petuny
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angelina1512
Replied to: achilles1957
7/17/15 7:29 PM
angelina1512
Posts:3391
Hey Jenn,
So glad you are back posting and you sound good. Hope the weather isn't too hard for you:-) well the saying stronger than yesterday, so true, each day it's easier. Life isn't perfect as you know but I'm making the best of what I have rather than what I don't have.
So make sure you keep posting, we have some newbies who are really opening up and I'm sure they will win this battle with the help of the forum.
Good to see you Jenn.
Ang/tutu
JFDI
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
blueskye
Replied to: kklove1
7/19/15 10:38 AM
blueskye
Posts:11039
Quitting smoking is arguably the best gift I've given myself. It was about 16 years ago. I was a very light smoker, often going for days without, but I was addicted nonetheless. I couldn't quit completely. But once I got pregnant, I quit cold turkey and have never looked back. There was nothing good about it, so I was motivated.
Drinking has been much tougher for me, because despite the dreadful after effects of a drinking session, there were parts of it that I loved. Truly loved. So I have a memory problem to add to the mix when it comes to drinking. I forget the bad and after a period of sobriety I feel nostalgic and believe I can drink sensibly. Faulty wiring in my 'rememberal'.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
kklove1
Replied to: blueskye
7/19/15 11:53 AM
kklove1
Posts:243
Hi Blueskye
I am similar. I'm not a super heavy smoker. I am on day 3 and didn't even think about it this morning until Brett mentioned he had tried to quit smoking in another thread. I'm not really craving. Strangely, however, my breathing seems more heavy right now, as opposed to clearing. I am trying to incorporate deep breathing to help my anxiety and I was coughing a bit. Strange.
I have the same experience. Drinking is much harder to quit. No comparison. I have heard people say that quitting smoking is harder, the hardest. I guess that just depends on the person. The DOC and level of addiction. For me, alcohol is my largest nemesis. I've heard the term here 'built in forgetter' now remember-er:) For me I think it boils down to completely eliminating denial. It isn't that I forget, its that I choose, through denial, not to remember. That is what I'm trying to figure out now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
blueskye
Replied to: kklove1
8/5/15 11:28 AM
blueskye
Posts:11039
Hope your non-smoking is going well!
I've often wondered about the different parts of my brain involved in addiction and motivation to quit. They are at odds with each other! The reptilian brain craves and over rides my conscious, motivated, clear thinking brain.
It's tough to recover and heal when the very organ that I need to utilize in recovery, is dis-eased from soaking in alcohol for decades.
On another note, I posted a poem (which I wish I had written) on another thread, called 'She Let Go' - it describes me to a T. Not so much the letting go part, because I still struggle with that, but rather all the other bits.
-------------------------------------------------------------
just_another_critter
Replied to: angelina1512
8/6/15 5:03 AM
just_another_critter
Posts:57
Hello All,
I just woke up this morning for the first time visiting at my parent's house after 18 days sober. The sun is shining and the garden looks terrific in that sunshine. The birds are chirping away and the air smells of summer. I can take all of this in now with a clearer mind and a fitter body than before. Stronger than yesterday!!!
Wishing you all a good and sober thursday. It's so worth it. j_a_c
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
angelina1512
Replied to: just_another_critter
8/6/15 5:41 AM
angelina1512
Posts:3391
Hey JAC,
That is so great that you can enjoy simple things. Enjoy it. It's great to be sober.
Angelina
JFDI
angelina1512
7/5/15 7:40 AM
angelina1512
Posts:3391
Hi All,
I saw a lady today at work and on her t-shirt she had on it " stronger than yesterday".
And I thought about alcoholism. I thought about when you give up and do one day at a time, you are stronger than yesterday. So with the newbies here, they are stronger today than yesterday.
So each day it gets a little better. It gets a little easier, not that it's easier, but you get my drift.
So I thought that is a good thing to have on your desk, or near your computer.
STRONGER than YESTERDAY
Angelina
JFDI
---------------------------------------------------------
Petuny
Replied to: angelina1512
7/5/15 8:14 AM
Petuny
Posts:175
I love that! It's a good reminder, like the idea of sober equity, that I don't want to lose what I have gained so far. Thanks, Angelina.
Petuny
----------------------------------------------------------
angelina1512
Replied to: Petuny
7/5/15 5:05 PM
angelina1512
Posts:3391
Hey petuny,
Glad you liked it. Keep reminding yourself, each day. Your on your way to sobriety.
Angelina
JFDI
---------------------------------------------------------------------
blueskye
Replied to: angelina1512
7/16/15 12:22 PM
blueskye
Posts:11039
Beautiful Angelina Ballerina,
I'm still catching up with threads .........
Remind me, have you set a quit date for smoking as August 1st? Maybe you can make your own t-shirt with those words, or write them on your mirror so you see them every day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
kklove1
Replied to: blueskye
7/16/15 7:42 PM
kklove1
Posts:243
Hi Blueskye
I believe she did say August 1. Maybe I will join her in that effort.
I wanted to send you a message and tell you that I have been reading older threads where you were posting more actively. I enjoy your perspective and particularly like a couple of things you wrote. 1. The story. The brain doesn't really care. Just restore balance. 2. ****-it-itis. Yes. I have that. Not overwhelmingly at this moment, but it comes and goes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
achilles1957
Replied to: angelina1512
7/17/15 7:03 AM
achilles1957
Posts:1495
Hey Ang and All,
Love that .. "Stronger than yesterday" ... I like the concept of movement, even if it's two steps forward, one step back. Sometimes, I guess, it can be one step forward, two steps back, perhaps three ... yikes ! Movement/change as opposed to bogged down/stagnant, one can become a tad smelly. When I feel as though I'm not developing in my sobriety, not progressing along my journey, I only need to be still and listen to my heart. It's not pounding in anticipation of my next drink, not racing with adrenalin at the thought of "getting caught", not thumping with anxiety as I fight yet another "illness". It beating steadily and quietly, stronger everyday ... I like that. :-)
I've been so busy and decided to take a break from the forum only to return to find a hive of activity. How joyous is that heh (never going to catch up though). The few threads that I've managed to peruse have such depth and wisdom .. honesty, hope, willingness to share ... I fear a bout of eye strain may be in store for me. ;-)
Good job to All for some truly insightful, helpful dialogue.
Way to go all of US !!
Jenn
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
gwampa69
Replied to: achilles1957
7/17/15 7:12 AM
gwampa69
Posts:1900
Hey Jenn
Great to see you again. It's amazing what a couple of newbies can do for this place huh? J, Petuny and KK are all active bees and doing really well. I love the sight of everyone rallying around the new folks. Of course, it helps solidify things for the longer term people and that includes me. They are a huge help. Welcome back around. Take it easy on those eyes.
O and U
Brett
JFDI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
gwampa69
Replied to: 18684.7
7/17/15 9:11 AM
gwampa69
Posts:1900
J Petuny and KK
I just read my post above and saw that I called you "active bees". Haha sorry about that. Auto correct on my iPhone. I meant to say "active members". As the papers always say, I regret the error.
O and U
Brett
JFDI
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
kklove1
Replied to: gwampa69
7/17/15 9:22 AM
kklove1
Posts:243
No problem Brett. I thought active bees worked with Jenn's post. I'd rather be an active bee than one who's floating on top of the pool water...childhood memory. Always dead bees in the pool.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Petuny
Replied to: gwampa69
7/17/15 10:05 AM
Petuny
Posts:175
I thought "bees" worked well with Jenn's "hive" anology, too. Not bad to be a bee--busy, productive, gathering pollen. And I'd rather be a bee than a slug.Petuny
-------------------------------------------------------------------
angelina1512
Replied to: achilles1957
7/17/15 7:29 PM
angelina1512
Posts:3391
Hey Jenn,
So glad you are back posting and you sound good. Hope the weather isn't too hard for you:-) well the saying stronger than yesterday, so true, each day it's easier. Life isn't perfect as you know but I'm making the best of what I have rather than what I don't have.
So make sure you keep posting, we have some newbies who are really opening up and I'm sure they will win this battle with the help of the forum.
Good to see you Jenn.
Ang/tutu
JFDI
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
blueskye
Replied to: kklove1
7/19/15 10:38 AM
blueskye
Posts:11039
Quitting smoking is arguably the best gift I've given myself. It was about 16 years ago. I was a very light smoker, often going for days without, but I was addicted nonetheless. I couldn't quit completely. But once I got pregnant, I quit cold turkey and have never looked back. There was nothing good about it, so I was motivated.
Drinking has been much tougher for me, because despite the dreadful after effects of a drinking session, there were parts of it that I loved. Truly loved. So I have a memory problem to add to the mix when it comes to drinking. I forget the bad and after a period of sobriety I feel nostalgic and believe I can drink sensibly. Faulty wiring in my 'rememberal'.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
kklove1
Replied to: blueskye
7/19/15 11:53 AM
kklove1
Posts:243
Hi Blueskye
I am similar. I'm not a super heavy smoker. I am on day 3 and didn't even think about it this morning until Brett mentioned he had tried to quit smoking in another thread. I'm not really craving. Strangely, however, my breathing seems more heavy right now, as opposed to clearing. I am trying to incorporate deep breathing to help my anxiety and I was coughing a bit. Strange.
I have the same experience. Drinking is much harder to quit. No comparison. I have heard people say that quitting smoking is harder, the hardest. I guess that just depends on the person. The DOC and level of addiction. For me, alcohol is my largest nemesis. I've heard the term here 'built in forgetter' now remember-er:) For me I think it boils down to completely eliminating denial. It isn't that I forget, its that I choose, through denial, not to remember. That is what I'm trying to figure out now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
blueskye
Replied to: kklove1
8/5/15 11:28 AM
blueskye
Posts:11039
Hope your non-smoking is going well!
I've often wondered about the different parts of my brain involved in addiction and motivation to quit. They are at odds with each other! The reptilian brain craves and over rides my conscious, motivated, clear thinking brain.
It's tough to recover and heal when the very organ that I need to utilize in recovery, is dis-eased from soaking in alcohol for decades.
On another note, I posted a poem (which I wish I had written) on another thread, called 'She Let Go' - it describes me to a T. Not so much the letting go part, because I still struggle with that, but rather all the other bits.
-------------------------------------------------------------
just_another_critter
Replied to: angelina1512
8/6/15 5:03 AM
just_another_critter
Posts:57
Hello All,
I just woke up this morning for the first time visiting at my parent's house after 18 days sober. The sun is shining and the garden looks terrific in that sunshine. The birds are chirping away and the air smells of summer. I can take all of this in now with a clearer mind and a fitter body than before. Stronger than yesterday!!!
Wishing you all a good and sober thursday. It's so worth it. j_a_c
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
angelina1512
Replied to: just_another_critter
8/6/15 5:41 AM
angelina1512
Posts:3391
Hey JAC,
That is so great that you can enjoy simple things. Enjoy it. It's great to be sober.
Angelina
JFDI