Getting Started

[Ken1]

Look to this day,
For it is life,
The very life of life,
In its brief course lie all
The realities and verities of existence,
The bliss of growth,
The splendor of action,
The glory of power---

For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision,
But today, well lived,
Makes every yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day.
---------------------------------
Sandskrit proverb by Kalidasa,
Indian poet and playwright, 5th century

[Ken1]

"There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either in or out. There's no such thing as a life in-between. "

-- Pat Riley, basketball coach

[_Erin_]

Awesome quote, Ken, thank you. I can learn a lot from that one.

[Ken1]

Erin, good morning! I should have included these related quotes as well:

"This is as true in everyday life as it is in battle: We are given one life, and the decision is ours whether to wait for circumstances to make up our mind or whether to act and, in acting, to live."
-- Omar Bradley, General

"One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. "Which road do I take?" she asked. "Where do you want to go?" was his response. "I don't know," Alice answered. "Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter.""
-- Lewis Carroll, author

[nicolelee]

Good morning, I am feeling pretty good this am. Thanks for the quotes, I love them! I am reading Living sober sucks(but living drunk sucks more), it is interesting to say the least, I hope it helps me. I like the simplicity of it so far, it is a choice and just choose NOT to drink. I'm not saying it is easy, but life is what we make it, what choices we have made in the past are a direct result of where we are today. It is interesting to read someone else's story and that not everyone uses the 12 step program. I love my Kindle, I never read when I was drinking, now it is a good distraction.

Day 8! I am mentally preparing myself for this weekend, Friday night is always a challenge.

[Ken1]

Nicole, I have been to the living sober website, but did not buy the book yet. Would you recommend it? I'm with you, I love to read and you are right, it is a great distraction. I like books on CD for the car also; if you spend as much time driving as I do, you can get through a couple of books a month just driving. I have not been able to get into the Kindle, I like the feel of hardback books, plus you build up a library that you can show off. I guess I'm just old school.

[nicolelee]

No shame in being old school, I know what you mean about the hardback books, now you make me want to go back to books! It is the convenience of it for a mother of 4, just easy to throw it in my bag! I will check out the website, didn't know there was one. It is a good read so far...

[marky mark]

got day two beat and feel confident about day 3

[James G]

Mark...one day at a time. Good for you... Work on changing for the positive. Besides not drinking do other things that are positive for your life. This forum has been a hug strength for me. Whether its reading other post or airing out my own thoughts to others. At 40 plus days for me I am starting to feel a transformation within. Need to stay the course to keep this transformation an ongoing reality.

[Sarah]

Hey team. I am new on here. I got to day 4 on Friday, then drank yesterday. Savage hangover today so had a bottle of wine to ease it. Good one Sarah. NOT! Day 1 tomorrow........

[marky mark]

thanks James, 40 days is huge, I feel very strong today!!!

[marky mark]

Sarah, I do the exact same thing.....drink to ease the hangover, the same insanity......i am on day 3 for the 1000th time but feel really strong about today......I am brand new to this site but really like it

[Ken1]

I found this article from Psychology Today on relapsing, perfect timing since that is the subject of today!
http://www.psychologytoday.com/artic...he-new-quitter

Hi Sarah and Marky Mark, welcome. If you get a chance, you should spend some time on the main site reading through some of Patrick's articles. All are great, but start with the titles that speak to YOU. Come back here and post when ever you feel the urge as well, my friend Billy calls it "keyboard therapy" and it helps a lot. Good luck to you and hope to see you around.

[marky mark]

thanks Ken for reading material....it is early morning day four and I feel strong, I Will not drink today. The reference to keyboard therapy is very true for me. Good Luck to everyone today

[mikeinitaly]

Hello everybody,
Day 13 and I'm feeling pretty good. I have the usual 6 pm jitters as the happy hour bell rings in my head, but so far so good. Getting back to work has been great to keep me busy and focused.
I can't express how much going to the gym has helped. Though I must admit I used to go, work out, then stop at the bar for a few on the way home. what an idiot!
Good luc to all of you, your posts are truly inspirational!!!
Ken 1: thanks for the great quotes...
Michael

[marky mark]

Day 5 begins........I still dont feel 100% but clarity is sinking in. I do feel so much better again and feeling determined about today.

[Jules]

Hi,I seem to do fine during week but come weekend my husband likes a cold one.I tell him ask him lets quit he says ok then by next weekend he offers me one and I cave.We have usually 4 and then reality hits, here Im doing the same old thing.We quit about 10yrs ago for 7 years then we fell right back to weekend drinking Im frustrated.We live in the country and he loves staying home on weekends because he works in town a hour drive to and from work.Farming is his passion raising black angus bulldozing new fields he is happy as is.

[nicolelee]

mikeinitaly - I am on day 13 too, congrats! markymark - good job on day 5! Just take it easy for the first week, don't push yourself too much. Hi Jules, I replied to your post on the other thread.

Yesterday was the day from hell, I was so exhausted, could barely get off the couch! I am feeling a little better today, but not pushing it. I have been sleeping a lot. I think the holidays really wore me out and then stopping alcohol on top of it made it worse, as well as female hormones. That is my theory anyways. I have 2 sober weekends under my belt, yay! Just trying to take it easy and let my body heal, eat healthy yummy food and drink a lot of water.

[marky mark]

Nicolelee, thanks for the words of encouragement.....sorry u had a day from hell. The holidays can wear anyone out. 2 sober weeks are awesome. Keep up the good work

[marky mark]

Early morning as Day 6 begins, i will not drink today.....i have started back at the gym and making sure that i dont get hungry which is a huge trigger for me to start drinking. I feel confidante. Thank you to all who post. I hope all stay sober today