The Sober Squad- Alcohol Free Living

@RubyRed427, 42 days is HUGE! 6 weeks!!! Yay, you! I hope you do something very special for yourself to celebrate. I'm still all about the rewards. Pavlov would have loved me. Give me a milestone and I instinctively buy lotions, books, and on Day 100, a bracelet. No joke, though, it is one of my motivators. Well done, you. Enjoy your hike.

I saw this quote today, "One reason people resist change is because they focus on what they have to give up rather than what they have to gain." Rick Godwin

Focus on the benefits of an AF life, they are many, many, many as we have seen enumerated on this thread.

Evening thought: "Wish I could drink just one glass to unwind."
Morning thought: "I am soooo glad I didn't drink last night."

@RubyRed427 I didn't watch the video due to it's length but AGREED!! People do not respond to treatment unless they want to...that's why I don't think it matters what program a person chooses because they have to be ready for the change first....Whatever works for a person works because they want it to...although different strokes for different folks applies also...AA wasn't my thing, but YouTube videos were very helpful and this awesome group. You also referred in a previous post different things you enjoyed while drinking eg playing euchre etc but then in a further post that you can enjoy any activity without alcohol. So true!! I think we tend to get into a limited mindset when we attach drinking to previous activities we enjoyed...but as you stated, we can still enjoy them AF, perhaps even more cause we will have our full senses.

Hope everyone has a happy, healthy AF week.

"one glass to unwind" wasn't a thing I said to myself for decades. It was enough to stop the shakes so I wouldn't spill filling #2 glass and beyond.

Just having my evenings free sober is liberating. I can do something involving tools or fine motor skills if the mood strikes. Just knowing that's possible has become awesome

As undisciplined as I was about actual consumption, I had hard rules about driving or power tools combined with alcohol. Which meant I often didn't go anywhere or do anything productive.

Now I don't go anywhere because of COVID, and that's ok. But the shop/project list is always an option. And best of all, I can remember what I read the night before. I wasted so many hours re-reading books because I had no memory of it the previous night.

Many more upsides to sobriety than missing the lost hours of the constant haze and fog.

I'm having a pity party over here. My thinking is so depressing. I cannot get it into my head that I am not being deprived when I don't drink. That it is normal NOT to drink. But this brain is so used to alcohol as a reward, that's all I think about after work. There is so much more suffering going on in this world, so why am I dwelling on this.

Anyways, Day 45 AF over here. Time is crawling. I know from what I have heard, after being sober for a period of time, you dont think about alcohol anymore. I cannot wait until that day, because right now I could cry, because I want a glass of wine. It sounds so ridiculous that I am upset and depressed over a liquid. Grrrrr.

Love reading your posts. @jent304 My sympathies on the death of your friend.
@nuffer I have to think like you. Evenings sober can be liberating. I went to dinner with my son who called out of the blue. I was happy I wasn't drunk or drinking. I could just get my keys and meet him at the restaurant.

@Beka3695 Very interesting narrative. I'm proud of you for sticking to it.

@lorrainequiche59 I totally agree. Any program that works is great! My therapist also suggested Smart recovery. I just haven't checked it out yet. My cousin is drinking so excessively that his wife just can't understand why he does it. I said you cant understand, because you're not addicted. He is addicted to alcohol. An addicts brain does not function like a normal brain. She wants me to talk to him about reducing. I told her I have tried, and if he doesn't want to quit, no words from me will make a difference. I just pray he doesn't have to hit rock bottom (although he is close) to realize alcohol is causing all of his problems. He recently smashed in the side of his new BMW convertible; he told his wife, "someone must have hit me in the parking lot". But I figure he was driving drunk and smashed into something.

This week was a good week for me. I did not drink and I am not drinking this weekend. I was able to get a lot done. I've gone to the gym every day this week. I am getting the entire first floor of my house remodeled. So my mind is not wandering off thinking about my child. I feel much better not drinking as it was increasing my depression to the point I did not want to get out of bed.

This was a good week.