Wednesday 20 August

[Cinders]

Good Morning Abbers,

Wow. What a great topic today!!

Thanks for starting this Loppy. Good food for thought.

Love,
Cindi

[4theboyz]

Loppy,

I could throw out all sorts of 'ideas' for feeling better, but not knowing you better, I saw things in the words you chose to describe your thoughts and have this to offer up to you.

There are many contributing factors as to why we feel crappy (like rubbish), PMS aside, sleep, diet and exercise are all "constructive" ways to influence ways for us to feel better. These 3 elements most likely have been severely neglected by our drinking habits and in my opinion offer the most potential to make improvements in our 'happy meter' readings.

Emotions are also very real components in how we feel and drinking alcohol was a consistent way to "feel" better about things or at the very least make us forget why we feel like crap (rubbish). External forces too can have an affect, as we just got done with the full moon routine here and I saw many people out of sorts.

Like you, a sour day at work is a guaranteed mood killer for me and most of the reason a double martini was part of my after work routine.

So what is one to do??

Physical, health and sleep issues aside, I believe much of how we feel is all in our heads. My mom told me this once and it really can work if only temporarily. I noticed many years ago, when I would ask her how she felt, it was always "I feel *Great*!". After hearing that day in and day out I said how is this possible. She worked in a professional career that left no room for less than a 100% "feel good all the time" persona. She told me that her mentor told her that no matter how you felt, you always reply "I feel great" to the question on how are you. She said it was amazing that it would always pick her up and I'll tell you it works for me as well. I still may not "feel great", but at least my mental state gets a boost and it makes the day go much smoother often with a smile I didn't have at the start of the day.

So, Loppy, how do you "feel" today?

[louise]

Determinator, you've given up garlic? (sorry, off topic, I couldn't resist)

[retteacher]

Hi Again Everyone: I am finding this thread so very informative & hopeful. This is just what I needed as I anticipate my trip to the parents. I have a lot down there to keep me very busy & will not be drinking at all. I want so much to do this sober.

I again must realize that I am my mother's helper (not keeper). I wouldn't want my kids to be intrusive...even if what they are saying makes perfect sense. I have to realize that my parents (particularly my mother) are not about to change at this point.

I have Smart Recovery in my favorites & like their suggestions about relapse prevention.

Take care everyone. I try to post ASAP after I get back.

Mary

[on my way]

WOW, what a great discussion today. Like so many of you, I seem to be able to collect a nice string of sober days, but never address my issues or make a plan for permanent sobriety, I will certainly check out the WFS site. I know al is not an option for me. I just cant stop once I start.

Allergies and shoulder are killing me today (rag weed has arrived) so I did not sleep well. Meri the Merciless came yesterday to work on my bum shoulder, it always hurts worse after she grinds out the knots. Gotta love a massage therapist who makes house calls.

Hope I can keep the sobriety going, it is so tempting when al is in the house, husband still drinks (responsibly), I have thought about requesting a no al in the house rule. This is the second day of school for the kids and the stress is building. Would love to sit on the deck with 1 nice glass of white and fill out the 10,000 papers they’ve brought home. The problem is not the 1 nice white….it’s the next 4. Kids have soccer, so that’s my saving grace tonight.

DG & 4tb, have you ever made fresh salsa?? We eat a lot of it while we have fresh tomatoes and cilantro, yummy

Keep up the good fight!!

omw

[Determinator]

given up garlic? who would spread such unthinkable rumors!!?? no way

OMW, if you can have hubby help get the al out of the house it can only help. just my 2 cents.
enjoy soccer.

I'm at "farmer boys" hamburgers in las vegas at the moment. oink.

busy busy day.....zoom

[Doggygirl]

4tbz, I too am a big believer that at least to some degree, we CAN choose our moods. Sort of like the old saying about the cup being half empty or half full. Or which side of the bed you get up on - the right side or the wrong side.

I don't know where I learned it, but have always been a bit of a "sunny side up" kind of gal. That got lost a bit in my last few years with the excess drinking and also the GRUMPTACULAR giving up of the smokes. A wise woman on my not smoking board got after my butt about how negative I was being and just reminded me that we CAN find things to be happy about and we CAN choose our moods to a great degree.

Mr. Doggy went through a really bad period of moods where he was just acting grumpy in general all the time. Not over anything in particular. It was MISERABLE. We had a heart to heart and he agreed that he could make a different choice under the circumstances. Life is a whole lot more pleasant when both of of can and do choose to be positive.

Anyway, just wanted to throw in a word (well, as usual many words!!) as I'm a believer in that concept. Someday I will try to learn how to make a long story short.

Dg