Some people expressed concern because in other threads I had stated that I was not interested in believing in god or in going to meetings. I appreciate the concern and I am always grateful to hear your opinions but I find it off-putting that so many AA'ers (here and in the meetings) seem to feel there is only one path or one way to defeat an addiction to alcohol...I respect that this may have been what worked for you but I have tried that route many times and it hasn't worked for me.
I have chosen to treat my problem purely as a physical and psychological addiction. I am going to use the same techniques I used to quit smoking, eating junk food and using party drugs, etc. Lifestyle changes, exercise, introspection and will power...I will replace my drinking with positive healthy activities and I will weather the bad times and force myself to abstain.
What on earth is wrong with that? Seriously, I would like to hear why I am "detsined for failure"...I'm sure that's what many of you believe so please educate me.
Well I for one, certainly do not see you as "Destined to Failure", I see you in just the opposite Light, the changes in you, well for me, they are all so positive. The whole Program of AA, is a Program of Loving suggestions only, and I personally apoligize to you, if any of my words were part of that collection of thoughts you have this morning.
The true beginning of knowledge for this Alke, for SURE, is to understand, that I know nothing, to have an opinion about what is in someone else's heart, is just about the dumbest thing I can think of. Never go there, at least that is always my goal.
"Live and Let Live" is what keeps me going, I believe that, with all my heart, hope that whatever made you feel this, will not keep you away from this Site, unless, of course, that is what you want.
I have just enjoyed all your thoughts, they are yours.
Respecting other's Paths is something I really try so hard to do, and that certainly includes yours.
I hope so much that this Post was not a "being turned off, and leaving Post".
HOPE, HOPE, HOPE, that is something I am free to do.
A Big Hug to You, Toni
No one has someone else's answers, and I hope that you see that in most of us.
No one out be offended by anything you care to think. This is YOUR life, and ultimately, you will answer for yourself, and me, for myself. But this deal is a two way road, if you come looking, dont be offended when someone tells you what worked for them. The buffets set, take what ya want and leave the rest. And when you learn to cook for yourself, add your own dishes. Let me grab my two by four and lovingly smack one more thing through your steel plate skull. There is an entire chapter of the big book wrote just for you. It starts on page 44, 4th ed., and it's entitled 'We Agnostics.' I'll stop pounding now, or I'll end up keeping on just for good measure. With love, Ryan.
oh well, here's a little more for good measure. I'm really worked up. There was a simple concept, which for me, forget the 2x4, it took jackhammers and heavy machinery to get it through. It was that open mindedness meant teachability, and it was a long hard road to understand that. Wanst something I was able to just conjure up. Still not able to.
I would like to hear why I am "detsined for failure"...I'm sure that's what many of you believe so please educate me.
Gladly. If some of us can be a little overbearing, bear with us. We're people too. But what we have found, is the 2x4 that alcohol bears does not stop with pounding sense in our heads. It will continue until we are beat senseless, and proceed to KILL us while we lay helpless. If you have had enough licks to be here in the first place, maybe you can put two and two together, and come to the conclusion from our experience that those licks will continue unless you do something about it. So, let me go out on a limb here. A harsh word from a friend is better than kind words from an enemy, so what I'm saying is this. The hell with take what you want just for once. Take what we have dumped on your first step plate, choke it down, and repeat after me- "Thank you sir, may I please have more.", whether you meen it or not. We are the Iron Cheifs and you stepped into our kitchen. Now Eat, and stop your bitching.
Good luck to you my friend and i mean that from the heart.I can only share how it was for me.For two years i tried all these other methods and i would get two maybe three months sober and then drink again.To be honest when i wasnt drinking i was not very nice to be around anyway.I did the research and found that NO HUMAN POWER COULD RELIEVE ME OF MY DRINKING.Yes ive stopped drinking for a while now BUT it is much much much more than that.I really do look at life differently now and my whole personality has changed.Can you see what im trying to say is..i can do the stopping drinking,sweat it out,a few pink elephants and some claw marks in the wall four days and im brand new but i needed to change and that has been the hard bit.i knitted the steps into my life and i started to change with gods help.If you have another way, go for it my friend,if it dont work come back and share it for the newcomer.........shaun
