new girl on the block

[kelly k]

good morning...brand new to this sight, spent the morning reading about you all- as typical in AA, how cool are you guys! drinking really beats us into honesty-too cool. i was sober 15 years, then drank again for 7 months- been sober now for almost 3 years,and am working on quiet, living amends to my husband and kids every day.I sought you all out because my husband travels quite a bit, so I dont get to as mant meetings as i should,as i am home with the kids alone. Hes been sober21 years,and , god bless him, has really done a great job of letting me have this journey. unfortunetly, insanity splatters, and for the 7 months i drank,i got alot on him and the kids. any way, glad to be here with you all as we trudge together...any meaningful thoughts for the day out there?

[CarolD]

Meaningful thoughts? Sure!

:D Congratulations on your sober years!

Welcome to AASL...Blessings

[MIKEYBEEF]

Tomorrows my 90th day and life has meaning now. Its all the little things that we took for granted as drunks,such as getting up in the morning that is special to me. The nice thing about being an alcoholic for me is that im realizing that life doesnt have to be that stressful and complicated.The cause of all the nonsense for me was strictly my drinking. As the saying goes "get busy living. Or get busy dying" I WANT TO GET BUSY LIVING ;D

[samf]

Good Morning, Kelly K!
Am so glad you are here, and glad that you survived and made it back, too!
You sound grateful!

Mickey, yah. It is wonderful to wake up in the morning!

Neat to be able to remember, too, and to not need a drink, this morning.

Love yas!

Samf

[kelly k]

I read this morning that Elenor Roosevelt when asked what words she lives by said "I empty whats full, and fill up whats empty" This is very interesting to me, as AA has taught me to empty whats full(yuck....step 5,10) , but I cant seem to figure out how to fill up- the closest I can get to that feeling is after a meeting, or when I exercise...what do you all do to replace the time,energy,ect. associated with drinking?

[MIKEYBEEF]

Fantastic question. Your right we spend so much time drinking that we,after we quit have so much time to fill. Well like you I do alot of exercising in the morning. I added a couple hobbies like fishing and tennis. The one thing that I love to do as silly as it might sound is thrift store shop for clothes,furniture,dvds,cds,records,nick nacks,etc. Its almost like your on a treasure cause you never know what youll find. I also go to the beach,bookstores,hiking,mountain climbing etc. Its funny,when I drank a few months ago my life consisted of sleep,work,tv,eating and drinking. Good luck it takes time to find new things you like to do ;D

[WolfM]

Dear friends,

Excercise, hiking/jungle jogging, reading, movies, organzing sporting events. Most imporantly lots of AA meetings and service.
I was given the gift of sobriety many years ago, and I was told I can not keep it unless I give it away. Prison meetings, DUI classes, talks at schools (elementary, High School, and Colleges) talking about the program. This is all part of filling up what is empty.
Today self gratification has been replaced by gratitude.

Wolf M

[samf]

HP, for lack of a better explanation...one of those dealies I don't understand...filled up lots of the empty places...like when I did four and five, or even eight and nine...more room due to forgiving...more room due to not having to hold on to so much guilt and shame...

Felt kind of freer. Started actually feeling like maybe I could just live, too. Before I was the worst scumbag that ever walked the earth, in my mind.

So feeling a little freer, it became fun to experiment and see what I enjoyed.

And the more I get away from being as self-absorbed, the more I find time just to play and to live.

I keep going to meetings and doing what I know to do, program and HP wise, because it helps me keep keeping on and growing and learning.

When I don't, things go backwards for me.

Loved Mickey's analogy to a tresure hunt, btw!

Still a real thrill to watch other people learning and growing and doing, too...really inspires me and makes me feel full inside.

Hope that makes some sense.

Samf

[oberon]

Don't worry Kelly theday will come soon enough when there are not enough hours in the day, comes with the territory eventually, whatever your going to do and I won'tadvise there being a complete loafer, enjoy the hell out of it while its good and when its bad find someone deeper in the hole than you and that can be anyone a hunnert years sober or five minutes.....I'm doing it right now because I'm feeling like hell, but going onthe look out for someone asking questions...see I did'nt thinkabout myself for the time it took to write this........quick I'd best go find another one. Marche on sweetheart.......... ;)

[moon]

Thank you for sharing, it helps me to be reminded that I too am just one drink away from a drunk,congrats on your 3 years and keep doing the deal,it is to bad you can not get to a lot of meetings isn't there some people in your home group that could help you get there or if you have children maybe they could help there also,I just worry about not going to my regular meetings,thanks again for sharing.

[mike]

Meaningful? thoughts?? ? Sure!

:D? Congratulations? on? your? sober years!

Welcome to AASL...Blessings thanks for your little story it really inspires me i have only 2months sober and with people like you i want to stay sober
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[moon]

:)thanks again for sharing