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UP / Thumb of Michigan | Good for you Tommy. Stay the course- its sometimes tough to stay focused on the big picture when you encounter something that used to trigger your desire to drink. And they'll come along, too, its just that when you were drinking you didn't notice them. It really stood out to me when I quit smoking. Nothing better than a cigarette after eating for me. Or with coffee in the morning. Or when I was drinking in a bar. Back when you could do both that is.
My Dad found great support in AA. He went to meetings a lot, met many great new friends, and I believe it gave him many more productive and happier years than he would have otherwise had. He'd help anyone who had issues with alcohol and wanted help, but I never saw him offer help if not asked.
I decided myself one day that I'd had enough. I don't remember why that day was different than the other 100 times I woke up and said that was enough. But it was. I went to a counselor, learned some things, enough to keep me sober today after a lot of years. I also attended a couple AA meetings. Not at all knocking the program, I know its life saving for most. I guess I couldn't find the right group for me. First one was full of people who had to be there. A judge said so. They weren't really interested in not drinking, they were interested in staying out of jail. Nothing wrong with that, other than they all had ways of still drinking without breaking probation. I wasn't there because anyone said I had to be, so I decided that group wasn't one I wanted to be around. The next group was full of people on a mission. They got sober, and decided it was now their calling to preach to everyone who'd listen about the evils of the demon rum (or whatever else someone might be drinking). Some were convinced that my new job was to sit all my friends and family down and intervene on their drinking. Couldn't do that, and wasn't going to even if I could. I'd always heard that sometimes the worse drunk is an ex drunk, and I was in a room full of them.
I was extremely fortunate that I had a friend who had quit drinking a few years before me. He and I had in fact cut a pretty wide swath together in our younger days. Wrecked pick ups, got in a few scrapes, had some pretty epic drunks. I was very fortunate to have him to lean on. And, many times, I was getting thirsty and I decided to just stop in and see him on my way to the party store. An hour or 2 later, I was on my way back home. Sans anything to drink. And drinking usually didn't even get mentioned.
Each of us is different, and no matter what it takes, keep your eye on the prize. Its worth it. | |
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You fellow drunks
