What do you love about your AF Life? (Inspired by Cindi)

[Cinders]

I love being sober and able to handle very difficult personal situations with a clear head and a strong heart.

And all my friends at MWO who stand behind me and offer their prayers and support!!

Love,
Cindi

[Aunty Mame]

Last night I was happy to be able to carry the recycling to the gate - in the past I have had to take the car because there were too many bottles!

[Mags]

I've read this whole thread and can totally relate to every single word.

I guess my favorite thing about being sober is not having to live a lie anymore.

Thanks DG for this great thread.

[july232007]

AF is an honest and direct way to live.

Directly & honestly with those who matter most in your life. Real experiences as they happen to be experienced --good and bad-- clearly and presently.

July

[retteacher]

I want to preempt this by saying I love my husband very much (36 years worth). He is, however, a typical male in that he doesn't think very deeply about showing &/or expressing appreciation or love. I had a brief but meaningful discussion w/him about it this morning. I wasn't judgmental & spoke from my heart. He really heard what I had to say & wasn't the least bit defensive. As he was walking out of the house, I said I hoped he didn't think I was being whiney (wingey to you Brits)...he said absolutely not. I do count my blessings (of which I have many)!

This type of heartfelt expression is not something I would have done if I was drinking. Even recovering from drinking (somewhat sober), I hold myself back from expressing myself, because I feel so guilt-ridden. I really feel that in talking about my feelings, I'll better be able to stay away from alcohol. There are no hidden incentives to push me into a binge.

Thanks for being here everyone.

Mary

[Cinders]

July,

Thank you for reminding me about how honesty and dishonesty has affected me this last year.

Prior to going into rehab in November, I was at least always open and honest with my husband about my drinking. I never hid it or tried to varnish it as less than it was. Once I went into rehab and then subsequently relapsed, I suddenly felt the need to hide my drinking.

This made my relapse even worse. Hiding bottles, sneaking around; this all added to my feelings of self-disgust and worthlessness. That was already bad enough.

Being AF is an honest way to live and means I no longer have to face those horrible feelings.

I have also resolved that if I ever slip, I will not lie and I will hide. I know this sounds as an "out" but it isn't. I simply cannot ever let myself get back to that dark place of beating myself up and hating myself. If I do, I know I will never be able to stay sober.

Love,
Cindi

[Doggygirl]

So many great posts, and so MUCH we have in common! I'm planning for this thread to be one of several "life lines" here to refer to in a pinch. Wonder if we should have another one for "What I LOATHE about drinking" just to have the opposite side handy, and in our face when we need a refresher course??????

I love the honesty of AF too. There really is a lot of hiding - both literally and figuratively - when I'm drinking. FREEDOM!!!!!!! Love it, love it, love it.

DG
*******

[retteacher]

The hiding was the absolute worst part of my drinking life.
-Drinking wine out of coffee cups.
-My favorite hiding place under the sink...w/all the cleaning stuff...a place my husband rarely visits.
-Pouring wine when he was in the bathroom or on the treadmill.

I absolutely won't go back there. Yes, Cindi, I know what you mean by saying you won't hide it if you ever slip (which you probably won't do). Coming to MWO & admitting the truth is very, very difficult, but if I didn't do that, I'd be off & running into my old life FULL FORCE.

DoggieG asked me to mention that sober sleep (even if it's abbreviated) is much, much better than drunken sleep. I began problem drinking (alone in the middle of the night) when I started to experience sleep difficulties due to the natural aging process & a high stress job. I can't imagine how I ever got up for work w/the hangovers...somehow I managed to do it.

Take care everyone. Again, DoggieG, this is a marvelous thread.

Mary

[charlee]

It still amazes me as I read these posts about things I thought I was the only one to do and/or think of. The old treadmill.... Mary, once I heard that baby start up, I knew I had 15-30 minutes of sheer bliss with no interuption....A brief, but nice ahhhh moment.....

[meditation mama]

Oh, boy - I could go on forever, too..

spending time laughing with my daughter
not feeling guilty because I smell either like fresh wine or stale wine
smiling when I wake up
working out
having conversations with people and actually listening to what they say
being 20 pounds thinner!!!!!!!