About Time Too is 1000 DAYS

[about time too]

Thanks Neil and everyone.

Yip, still here on my sober journey - not a drop. Sure, I"ve thought about it sometimes, but not a drop. Its a serious thing for me this journey no laughing matter. Hardest and toughest thing I"ve done. My mum tells me I"m stubborn and I'm stubbornly doing this my way.. all the way. Its the only way for me to be.. perhaps a bit 'terse'.. I"m not sure, but it has worked for me thus far. I"m so determined not to slip.. so determined. I dont want to be someone who can talk about it with clarity and not DO it.. I want to be alive.. I want to be at peace. It will be my life's work, for sure.

Darling/Star, nearly a year. That is so great. It feels like so few get that far it feels sometimes but it is possible. I found when I thought everyone couldnt make it that the website women for sobriety was good cos people on there post a lot after many years of sobriety. I never posted on that site but it did help me too. This site seems more for the beginners and thats fine but with a bit of time under my belt and losing touch with this site it makes it harder to either keep up or abreast of what goes on here anymore for me. And to think I used to know EVERY post on the site.

You know, I"ll never as long as I live forget my first week sober. Never. I'll never fool myself that it was easy or I could do it again. I"m over fooling myself.

I actually think there are many paths to happiness. It can be God.. crystals.. it can be essences.. it can be craniosacral therapy. What matters to me is intention and application. So, its my intention to heal myself. To do that I have to be sober. Its my intention to be healthy so I apply myself to my health.

To those of me that dont know me I did not do RJ's program, but mine is similar.. so my program was
honesty
luck
cold turkey sober
no meds
organic diet
meditation
exercise exercise and sweat
determination
oh.. and more honesty
counselling and personal growth
search for meaning

Tawny.. g'day. hows it going?

Thanks everyone for your kind words... and Neil.. you are next.
Brigid

[Heavenly]

WELL DONE...I like your style...

and me too followed a very similar plan to yours (and still am of course) ...

WOW YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION ...

[lovecarps]

Hi all!
It's been a long time since last I posted. I come to read now and again. Usually to catch Neil's 100 day counts and the solar orbiters. Love that!!
Anyway, I'm an olllllldddd timer along with Brigid. Through fate, fortune, luck, coincidence what have you, she and I bumped into each other on this site at about the same time. She's about a week farther along than I, but we really started our sober journey together. We connected on so many levels and I finally knew that it was time. No more denial, no more moderation nonsense (sorry monthly mods), no more lies, lies, lies. Alcohol is a poison and it was ruining my life, loves and relationships. Dare I say, it was ruining my soul. It's not that way for everyone, though. Some can handle moderation and I envy that brain chemistry. Not I, and I take responsibility only for my brain cells

Anyway, it's amazing to me to remember the day I came to this site. I have a flashbulb memory of laying on my couch in my living room, sobbing. I came to this site and immediately had hope. I read stories from people who sounded just like me. I knew I wasn't alone. And then I met Brigid. I knew I wouldn't be walking alone. I had an alternative to treatment, rehab, AA, etc. In my small community and as a professional member of that community, those approaches simply weren't available. I'm also an extremely private person, who at the time, didn't have the confidence to publicly admit my problem. You know what? I still really don't. My immediate family are the only ones I've shared this with and I still have trouble wrapping my arms around them knowing.
Brigid and I have had many a conversation about, "should I tell?"

I'm screaming up on 3 years and I still feel insecure about the labels. Alcohol is not an option anymore, nor is it much of a thought these days. I have inklings (is that a good word?) now and again of "wonder if I could just have 1," or "a glass of wine would alleviate this stress." But I go right back to that couch and the thought is extinguished.
I'm focusing now on assuring that I don't forget that couch. I've read that sober alcoholics plan to drink long before they actually do, so when I start planning I hit my support resources hard. This site, my husband, my sister, Brigid.

I, like Brigid do have some strategies that worked for me. I modified RJs program, but absolutely will stand behind the philosophy of holistic healing. Just removing alcohol is not going to solve everything and in most (all?) cases, it opens up thoughts and feelings that were so long anesthetized and you have to deal with 'em!

My program was, and continues to be a Mind/Body approach:
Mind--
DETERMINATION. Set the goal and DO IT! It is hard. The hardest thing I've ever done in my life! (and I've done a lot of difficult things!)
Honesty- stop lying to yourself first, and then it will be easy to be honest with others, later
Meditation-- I tried the MWO CD. It's OK, but I prefer simple relaxation CDs
Books-- read anything you can get your hands on, but don't obsess on self help. Read the paperback romances and enjoy!
Body--
I don't do meds, but I never skip on the vitamins. Never, not one day. I'm a proponent of All-One, but I hated the taste, so now I do liquid vitamins in a protein shake every morn
Exercise, exercise, exercise

And always have hope in your heart. It strengthens your determination and is a lifeline to make sobriety possible.

Congratulations my dear friend, Brigid and I wish success for all who come to this site. Thanks also, Neil for letting me peek-a-boo on your words of wisdom. You're amazing.

Take care,
Kel

[Finding My Self]

Brigid - well, done, brilliant, fabulous and all the 'hype-y' words.....! But also a deep warm smile from the heart to you for your journey. Thank you.

And to Neil and Kel too.....

Honesty, yes, honesty.....then there is the path...! Walking it every second takes courage - good on you!

Blessings
FMS xx

[july232007]

Brigid- you are a fine example to follow. 1000 days AF, wonderful.

July

[hippie37]

Brigid Many congratulation on reaching quadruple figures!! This whole thread is truly inspirational to read this morning.

Love and Happiness
Hippie
xx

[irishlady]

What a fantastic achievement and what an awe inspiring thread. Brigid, 1000 days!! I'm so happy for you.

Love, Louise.

[A Work in Progress]

Fantastic! AT and LC, I really resonate with what you are saying... my own program is very similar to what you are talking about, and it's great to hear about your approach(es)... It's got to be multi-modal, and it's got to address mind/body/spirit, every single day. Honesty, determination, commitment, support (asking for, and accepting) from positive others, meditation, exercise, proper diet... for me, those are the core elements.

I hope to be where you are in just under 3 more years... I did 3 years AF once before, in AA, but now I think I have found a way to do this, for life. In all senses of that phrase. I hope you both will come around more often and post, for the benefit of all of us who are just getting started, and all the others who need to stay connected...

wip

[Carmac]

Wow, wow, wow.......so many wonderful inspriations in the post for those still working to get there.

THANK YOU....please keep posting those milestones.

[Cinders]

Lovecarps,

Thank you for posting about your progress, too.

I am sure you, Brigid and Neil all have some idea how extremely helpful this is to those of us who are in the early stages.

Congratulations on your almost 3 years, too!!

Love,
Cindi