OKaysez

 

Greetings …

I have begun another book project, so I no longer have as much free time available for this blog.

I will continue to write one every week, but new entries will be less than 500 words and therefore not as lengthy as those written previously.

Hopefully they will still offer something of use in your recovery.

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Made a Decision

 

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Living Sober Takes Practice

 

When we have turned to mild-altering-chemicals for dealing with life over the years - with alcohol being our big one - we don’t jump ship into sobriety easily.

 

It takes time and practice - Slowbriety - to become comfortable with the very different lifestyle sobriety offers us. 

 

In the beginning we have no idea how to even live a life without high drama. We will even create situations to produce it just to elevate our comfort level.

 

 We’ll start fights with our neighbors, gossip at work, shake our fists (and fingers) at other drivers, and angrily exit meetings - with or without leaving tire rubber in the parking lot.

I know this, because I’ve done all of this - and much more.

 

As long as we don’t drink over any of the above, it’s all OK. 

We’ll learn over time that a life without high drama contains serenity. And serenity will truly - eventually - become our goal!

 

Newcomers often speak of the beauty in life they are now just noticing … of the butterfly on the neighbor’s window, the magical full moon, the sparkle on the sea water … things never noticed when lost in our disease. 

 

But it can still be hard to see the butterfly when we pick a fight with our neighbor. Nor will the full moon shine as brightly when sleep eludes us because of our quarrel.

As for that sparkle on the water? Silver quickly turns to pewter when our minds darken in anger. 

 

Our happier sober lives are built with new attitudes - step by step. When we develop - with practice - the daily use of the 10th step and begin to examine our part in our problems, we’re on our way.

Was I intolerant, impatient, self-centered, afraid? Did my own confused emotions cause this problem to escalate? 

 

These are the kinds of things we learn to identify and correct as we trudge along our sober path. Don’t be impatient with yourself. If you didn’t drink over a situation that would have once sent you to the bottle, pat yourself on the back and promise yourself you’ll try to do better next time. 

 

AA's co-founder, Dr. Bob, himself said, "I don't think we can do anything very well in this world unless we practice it.

And I don't believe we do A.A. too well unless we practice it … That was not easy for me, and I assume that it is difficult for everyone else."