Great topic! I agree with you that there is no price for my sobriety. It's the most precious thing I have, because without my sobriety I would have nothing.
The first thing I do every morning is to remind myself that I'm an alcoholic. I thank God for the previous sober day and ask for another one. Then, I either read some AA literature, log in here or 'phone another recovering alcoholic.
The key to my recovery is not to forget where my alcoholism was taking me and to know that it is still there waiting for me. I know that I couldn't have got sober or stay sober one day at a time without AA and my wonderful friends. I genuinely look forward to my meetings now and know that they are keeping me sober and the key to my sobriety.
Take care,
Carol
__________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
The first thing I do in the morning is decide how I want my coffee--espresso or regular mug-o-coffee? Black espresso with nothing added? or with an ice cube and/or cream? If it's a mug of coffee, do I want flavored coffee or regular coffee wtih flavor added after brewing it? Ice or no ice? Dark bean and straight black? I really don't have to think too much about it--it just comes to me. Once that's going I turn the computer on.
As to recovery--I tell myself I'm an alcoholic. I just know it in my heart--strange place to keep the knowledge but not so strange when I think that it's coming from a place of self love.
When the craving pops into my head or when the thought, oh, well, maybe one day I can have a glass of wine pops into my head I feel this gentle loving caring maternal like voice saying 'no, sweet girl. You are an alcoholic. Alcohol is not bad. You are not bad. It's just the way of things. You cannot drink just one drink and remain the same' and sometimes she chuckles a bit at the foolish little thought of not being an alcoholic. And that thought about being able to drink, it really just sort of pops in--I don't sit around and ruminate on the subject and thank goodness the good fairy godmother always instantly appears and I feel so right after she speaks to me. I feel like 'oh, yes. I DO know myself . . . at least that much.' I find it helpful then to think about what probably triggered the idea of drinking and assess my psychological relationship with the trigger. That way I'm dealing wtih the problem. I don't have "the key" but I believe I'm where I need to be right now. Thank you for presenting these great questions, wantneeda. :) Laura
The first thing? I thank HP simply for being alive and awakening to another day, a sober day. I then usually gaze upon the miracle of my children and reflect on the loves in my life: family, friends, colleagues...
The secret to my sobriety? His will, not mine - in all I say, think, or do. Do I manage to actually accomplish this all of the time? Heck no! But its a great way to aim, none the less.
I think, oh wow, is it time to get up already? Can't I just sleep in for once? Then I get up, and at some point, during either my meeting or my morning gym, it dawns on me to reflect on how the thought that I am a recovering alcoholic was not the first thing that crossed my mind is such a blessing, but that I am equally lucky that I have not lost the awareness of my problem.
Wagon