Conscious Living after Four Long Years

[Tipplerette]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

Stargazerlily;1523673 wrote: Hey Tipplerette,

Hope you are doing well. I was thinking about the actual practice of meditating and realize that sometimes it goes well and other times it is too easy to get distracted. Practice is what makes it get better and better. I am able to practice a few days a week as I am not often alone at home and need peace and quiet. You are doing fantastic with you AF time accumulating.

Sorry I wasn't here for a while... funny you should bring up the meditation aspect of meditation... last night I found a quiet spot in the shack at the riverside and even though it was barely dusk, I lit a candle and for the first time meditated without a timer. I actually felt really into it and not a fake for the first time. For the deep inward breath I prayed for a strong heart (physically as I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure recently) and on the outward breath I send my love flying out the windows. I actually used my hands and arms to bring in the strength and send out the love. I don't know how long I did it but it was wonderful. I, then went down to the river and scared a big, fat beaver and he loudly plopped in the water a few feet from the path I was on. I continued my deep breathing for a little while longer and was joined by my husband shortly (they always find you . We watched a pair of beavers swimming around and that was it. Try it without a timer if you use one...

[Tipplerette]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

NoSugar;1523709 wrote: I really enjoyed this thread, Tipplerette, and was sorry when you stopped posting.
Your post in the nest over the weekend explained what had happened.

You can get back to feeling as good as you did during the period documented in this thread!

I hope you get actively involved in the nest - getting and giving the support we need to get this job done. Even though it is busy there sometimes and can take time and effort to keep up, it is a great way to spend your former drinking time .

:h NS

PS your shrimp curry is a new 'staple' in our home - thanks!

You are right about the nest... I have to learn to give more and expect less. I am such a navel gazer when I am working on my sobriety. I have a hard time keeping up with everything, it gets overwhelming over there but the people are so welcoming and kind that I agree it's an awesome place to be active and communicating.

[Tipplerette]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

I went away after 30 days of abstinence after I decided I "deserved" a glass of wine to celebrate my accomplishment. I am not a horrific drinker but still have come full circle in realizing that the reasons to stop FAR outweigh the reasons to continue drinking. Crazy enemy this booze!! It sneaks up on you and convinces you in a nano-second that it's harmless, you can control it and that it is a once in a while pleasure. I am on day three now and am never going to let my guard down again.

There is a book you might be interested in called Addiction and Grace. It is one that ties meditation and spirituality to being able to control whatever addiction one might have. That is why I have really been making sure to find the time to breath, bask in nature and live consciously.

I have been mesmerized lately by the songs I am able to teach myself on the keyboard. It is so gratifying to play by ear. I actually did not know I had the talent. Giggle inserted.

News: I made a bucket list of over 50 'things' I want to do in the next year. One per week or so. They include stuff like: swim naked in the river, sit in the dark alone outside, meditate in the deep woods, kayak around a lake, make a new friend, get to know my neighbors (we are in the country so this is important), start a book club, learn my French tenses (live in Quebec; can speak the language but all in the present ..tee hee), learn to operate the machinery: boat, pontoon, lawnmower (ride-em), etc., Some are educational, some are self-nurturing, etc. I've accomplished a few already...

Until next time.

[NoSugar]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

Tipplerette;1523756 wrote: You are right about the nest... I have to learn to give more and expect less. I am such a navel gazer when I am working on my sobriety. I have a hard time keeping up with everything, it gets overwhelming over there but the people are so welcoming and kind that I agree it's an awesome place to be active and communicating.

Hi, Tipplerette

I don't think you should lower your expectations! MWO has a lot to offer!!! But, I think looking up from your naval (now THAT cracked me up :H:H:H!) and trying to help others is powerful.

We all "know" deep inside what we need to be doing -- I logically knew much of this before I found MWO. BUT -- reading it in different words and typing out for others what you believe needs to happen makes all of it REAL. I think it changes the brain in a good way, while AL just damaged it.

Another key thing is that if you have suggested to someone else that they do something, it makes you very motivated not to behave differently and have to come on here and admit you couldn't follow your own advice.

I promised myself I would always tell the truth here. That said, I have worked hard to make the truth be something I want to tell.

Glad you're back, T!

[Tipplerette]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

NoSugar;1523772 wrote: I promised myself I would always tell the truth here. That said, I have worked hard to make the truth be something I want to tell.

So eloquent! Thinking of stealing this one as my by-line. Did I say that out loud???:H

[NoSugar]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

Tipplerette;1523844 wrote: So eloquent! Thinking of stealing this one as my by-line. Did I say that out loud???:H

I haven't noticed any copyright protection around here :H ! I'd say we should liberally borrow any phrases that can help keep us ON TRACK!

[free at last]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

Tipplerette, I, too, have followed your journey and enjoyed reading this thread. Your bucket lists sounds wonderful.

[Tipplerette]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

I am tempted to go down to the river right now to cross off one of the scarier items: sitting alone at the river in the dark. This challenges my fear. I went out for dinner tonight to our favourite sushi place where the wine is cheap and good quality. We drank Jasmine Tea. I am starting to feel high on life lately and I was worried that I would never get that "laugh out loud" feeling again without booze.

I feel empowered by the bucket list especially since I manage to cross at least one thing off each week. There about ten items that will really be scary... hope I can confront my fears and conquer them.

Hope you are all having a serene evening without our little faux friend... Rest well.

[MossRose]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

Tipplerette, I don't know how I missed this, but I did. It is so good to see you back. I love your bucket list. I'm on the right side of 50 and have at least 50 things on my list too. Guess I better get moving, right? So, I have been knitting up a storm lately. Find myself going outside at night just to gaze at the moon. Practice loving-kindness meditation daily. And signed up for a class to learn metalsmithing. It's a start. And I have you to thank. I would never have joined MWO if it hadn't been for this thread. So thank you for bringing it back. We all fall down. I did recently, and I'm not proud. But, we can do this. Stay strong

[SoberSoul]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

It's me, the former, Tipplerette: I've changed my user name to embrace my new outlook and to get away from Tippling... hope it's not a problem. I needed a fresh start after stopping and starting so often. So glad to hear about your bucket list Moss Rose. Since I've written mine down I've accomplished a few things on my list... I've kayaked around a large island, I've swam in the dark in the lake, I've gone skinny dipping, I've begun learning to operate the ride em tools around here: 4-wheeler, pontoon, fishing boat, etc., let's see what else ... saw a live performance, I have lots more simple, yet challenging items to cross off... but it give me great satisfaction to accomplish even one item a week.

No wine or booze of any sort tonight and I'm past the witching hour so I think I'm out of the danger zone.

The responses to this thread remind me that we all want serenity, peace, conscious, intentional living, the presence of mind to appreciate the beauty that living fully brings. Keep coming here please and we'll encourage each other.

My husband said recently that the two best things in life are free: sex and nature !! Life from a man's point of view but hey, he's right.

Sweet dreams.

[MossRose]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

SS - you're husband sounds like a wise man Love your new name. I think it more closely reflects who you are. What's the next thing on your list? Keep posting, my new friend. I look forward to it.

[SoberSoul]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

Today might be a good day to swim to the island and back. Hubby will paddle along beside me in case.... but I am a strong swimmer... the weather has cooled but is still pretty warm: around 24 degrees celcius.. maybe in the low 70's. What are you going to accomplish today Moss Rose.

[NoSugar]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

Hi, SoberSoul

I'm so glad you told us your former screen name because I was sad about Tipplerette's disappearance. Please stick close and get it done this time -- compared to the constant struggle, the not drinking is easy. The trick is deciding way down deep that you are a nondrinker. You need to be a nondrinker just like you are a nonmurderer and a nonstipper (well - maybe that is on your list of things to do before you die :H). You get my point - it has to be a key part of your identity. It helps to be proud of it. I am. I actually like ordering my soda water and lime (which always makes me think of Free at Last, which is a nice thought). I used to think it made me more sophisticated and mature to order a glass of red wine. Now I feel empowered by my AF choices.

Keep posting!! :h NS

[SoberSoul]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

NoSugar;1535303 wrote: Hi, SoberSoul

I'm so glad you told us your former screen name because I was sad about Tipplerette's disappearance. Please stick close and get it done this time -- compared to the constant struggle, the not drinking is easy. The trick is deciding way down deep that you are a nondrinker. You need to be a nondrinker just like you are a nonmurderer and a nonstipper (well - maybe that is on your list of things to do before you die :H). You get my point - it has to be a key part of your identity. It helps to be proud of it. I am. I actually like ordering my soda water and lime (which always makes me think of Free at Last, which is a nice thought). I used to think it made me more sophisticated and mature to order a glass of red wine. Now I feel empowered by my AF choices.

Keep posting!! :h NS

That darn Tipplerette never stuck around long did she... Thanks No Sugar for caring. I loved what you said about feeling sophisticated when ordering soda and lime. It really does taste better than that red shit. The key to my success lies largely on my coming here and reading and actually reaching out to help others so I plan on sticking close.

I really do know at a gut level that there is nothing to gain from drinking including taste, buzz, ambivalence, laziness, headache, insomnia, stinky breath, weight gain, poor role modelling, dangerous distraction when children are near the water (we live and cottage by water), etc.

As part of my conscious living practice, I am trying to capture the romantic ambiance that I was tricked into thinking only a long stemmed glass of red ethynol could provide. This takes some quiet, intentional stillness and concentration on being in the moment; that's all.

I believe we have it within us to provide ourselves with the 'perks' that alcohol supposedly gave us including being the life of the party, having romantic dinners, being a beach partyer here at the lake. When I think of my drunken girlfriends with mascara running down their faces cajoling me into joining them for just one, it makes me laugh to think I envied them.

Again, thanks guys for showing I belong here and am missed when I bolt .. or should I say when that unpredictable Tipplerette bolted.

[MossRose]

Conscious Living after Four Long Years

Hi SS. I just wanted to tell you about my wonderful day. Nothing special, but good on so many levels. When I was deeply depressed and drinking heavily, I didn't always take care of business like I should. So today, i took the day off work and I checked a bunch of stuff off of my practical "to-do" list. Some of those items were biggies too. Things I had been neglecting for ages. So I will probably sleep well tonight.

I know it's not very romantic or creative, but just getting my life back in order is so cool. I feel much calmer already. Tomorrow, I'll get back to knitting :} Hope all is well in your world. What's up with you? Oh and btw...I've added "visiting Australia" to my bucket list.