Hi Jerry, I am glad to see that there is a recovery group. I sobered up in Feb. of 1996 (right after a super bowl game). I had a year of drinking though from the summer of 2001 - 2002 and then three days of drinking over Christmas of 2002. Sober since. I have a group that I very sporadically attend and have been comfortable in sobriety. The one thing that relapsing did for me was to humble me because before that it was too easy. I had just decided to quit and I had an aunt in AA who I talked to and she encouraged me to go. Ironically when I made the decision to drink again it was because my husband and I were going to work on our marriage and he drinks so my rationale was drink with him(course that was a big source of our dating going out and having beer...wierd!). Anyway I do not miss alcohol at all. Sometimes I will fondly think of a brandy manhattan but there is never any doubt in my mind of the trouble that will lead to for me. So good riddance!

So good to hear some one's story here on TBD. I came into AA in 1998 didn't really work the program, just changed my addiction to .....dah...men....I married a guy from the program and that was a living hell of decision. They said don't make any big decisions the first year. Well I did and it bit me in the ass. We both relapsed and suffered through another year of hell and finally divorced. He got back into AA a few months before me, now I have over 61/2 years. In fact I saw him at a meeting the other night. What a miracle this program is. It didn't come without a lot of work but I don't hate him any more or myself for that matter.

I was just talking with a normie last night as he sat there and nursed 2 light beers. He said it would take at least 4 more to really catch a buzz. My reply then why bother???? I think about it now and again but God has removed the obsession for booze. My life is just so much better without it. After relapsing and ending up in detox I knew I'd hit the lowest bottom I cared to hit. So I know it just can't be a fantasy for me. What a gift to awake every morning instead of coming too and to fall asleep every night instead of passing out.

I hope we can encourage each other along this journey.

Remember a while ago jacquin when I was responding to a spiritual discussion about how I'd thrown out all I knew about God. It was through AA that I got to reconstruct that relationship.

Peace to all

Nice to find a new home.

Lynda

Yes, I agree with you on the spirituality issue. The AA family makes me feel very comfortable with spirituality and it is the only place I have ever felt comfortable with it. I will never forget my first meeting. There was this hilarious group of people that were having such a great time and I knew so deeply that I was at home with these people that I just cried.

For me, sprituality has little to do with my understanding (or lack thereof) of a higher power. My spirituality today came from letting others know about Todd. It came when my head cleared up from the alcohol and drug induced haze and I was able to notice the beauty that lay all around me, particularly in nature. It is about my daily inventory and striving to be more honest, open-minded, and willing to go to any lengths to help others. It is that feeling that I am actually a part of the human race today and not existing outside of some invisible boundary that seperated me from the rest of the world. Spirituality for me today comes when I use "gratitude" as a verb and not as just so much lip service as it was in the past. There are many facets to my sense of spirituality today, like a beautiful diamond, but, as I said, little of it incorporates a god (un-capitalized on purpose). This is just my take on the subject. It probably doesn't match with other peoples and that is the joy of being ourselves today. We can express our understandings, experiences and hopes; receiving feedback with an open, unaltered mind. Peace.

An attitude of gratitude! Yes!

If "attitude" is a action then you betcha!

hi im Suzan,

i have ben recovering from my alcohol and drug addiction for 21 years-one day at a time.

i will absolutely give A.A. credit for saving my life. wen i walked in the door the first time i could not stand who i was becoming any longer. i ignored my inner voice that is there to guide me in my outward actions.

i had major reservations about the guilt inducing,punishing, God that i was spoonfed on. simply put i did not believe in a wrathful god.

especially as my mind cleared it was, and is easy and natural to "feel" my higher power('s )in nature. i eventually came to my

essential spirituel peace by allowing myself to accept my pagan heart.

when i hear of a teaching of someones faith and the rightness of some aspect of it resonates inside me i accept it. no matter if its a teaching from mother nature.american indian,from my Irish heritage,buddhist thought,wicca,goddess or the green man. IF it feels loving and true in my gut then i no that i have something to learn from and give back to it.

thank yuo,

suzan/dodger