Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

[Chillgirl]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Evening Guys

:welcome: back Cyn! We need more details, hows the new house, are you loving the new area? do tell.....

Lav - That photo is amazing! Lily is adorable and it captures her beautifully.

Star - I really feel for you not liking your job, its such a large part of our lives and I really hope you manage to find something new. How long have you been there? Sometimes just to have a fresh start is enough to regain our enthusiasm.

I really dont like what im doing but luckily my Boss is an adorable man who is completely eccentric and makes a dull job more interesting.
Actually I wanted to share this story with you all:-

I had quite a stressful afternoon today and as soon as I got home I went and walked my dog. I realized that in the back of my mind there was a drinking trigger going on.

Whats amazing at how long the habitual memory is. I can remember in my 20's after a taxing day in the office Id go straight to the bar on the way home as way of a reward for the hard work but also as a release mechanism for the tension which had built up. This continued and developed into me opening a bottle of wine to unwind every night at home. And of course the rest is history. But what struck me tonight was how deep seated that pattern of behaviour is. I havent had a proper job in years yet today that same feeling triggered drinking thoughts in me.

As I walked I realized it still felt appealing to go home and open that bottle because I saw it as a way to relax and disperse the tension that work had caused me. Then I started to look at it for what it was, would AL release the tension? Yes is the answer but very temporarily and I would be left with a whole host of new issues in the morning and added stress of having to go to work hungover.

Then I thought of more positive ways to create the same effect. What relax's me? I could go home and soak in a bath, I could listen to my favorite chillout music, I could do a meditation and light some candles. I came home and called my Mum, we chatted for an hour and then I had an early dinner to ensure I wasnt hungry I also realized that without doing anything I would have automatically unwound anyway, our bodies are clever and when we feel tired its easy to find that switch off button and relax naturally. It was an interesting insight and I am now aware of it and determined to change that brain pattern so that next time my 1st thought is the soak in the bath

I listened to this interview earlier today and thought some of you might be interested in hearing it.

Addiction Freedom with David Roppo on Life with Direction with Sharon Quirt 3/16/2011 - VividLife Radio | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio

[Rusty]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Chill-I was amazed by your story. WOW....but I know what you're saying....and I agree as I have felt that way. AL at the end of the day becomes our routine and changing that routine...changing our thinking about that routine....is really hard to do. So glad that you did not give in. Thank you for your marvelous, magnificent, marching, honesty.:h

Cyn-it's great to see you back here. I have missed you. I'm proud of you that you have remained AF.

A cheery hello to all my Marching Mates. I am in Michigan for the day. I fly home tonight and fly out again on Monday. Flying has gotten very old.

Have a wonderful AF Friday, everyone!

[mario]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Morning march marchers & rusty :-),

Great story chill and one that i can relate to,

[Rusty]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Mornin' Mario!

I re-read some of your previous posts! So much wisdom there and your posts have a soothing effect on me. You have your own subfolder in my MWO folder on my laptop. Pretty prestigious, huh? Even more prestigious than having your name in the phone book.:H How was your St. Patrick's Day? Mine was spent working and flying. One of my closest male friends likes to do his best Irish brogue, and he called me yesterday and said, "Top 'O the Mornin' to ya, Rusty! Erin Go Braghless!":H My friends are naughty, too.

[Stargazerlily]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Good morning all...

St. Patrick's Day was lovely weatherwise, sunny and in the 70's. Yay.

Chill, loved your story, drinking after work became a habit, and a bad one at that. For a time, it seemed that all I did was work because I drank in the evenings, and fell asleep early, not remembering TV, conversations, etc. So much better now with evenings that I fully remember. habitual memory is always there for me too. It is tough when it is nice out though, even for smoking, but I am determined to keep up my clean lifestyle. I feel so much better, I do not think I could bear feeling the guilt and bodily ills, it would put me over the edge.

PAguy, thanks for your thoughts about micromanagers and work. I assure you that I am highly efficient and competent, I have worked there 5 years and never had management treat me like this. This particular manager has had many people leave in the past in another position,and I am sure this will happen again. It is clearly time for me to move on, I want to make more money, I just have to be cautious and smart about it, and I will be. Thank goodness I am AF and thinking clearly and feeling healthy and confident.

Cyn, great to have you back, let us know what is going on in more detail when you are ready.

Rusty, you are so much fun.

Mario, your AF journey has been amazing, a wonderful story, I have followed your posts too. Good to have you on our thread.

To all, a fabulous, AF Friday.")

[rustop61]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Good morning marchers

Chill - thanks for sharing your story. I think a glass of wine in the evening became the habit for most of us here. It started off ok but then gradually got out of hand. Well done on fighting off the thought. Personally I have a lot of work to do on riding out the cravings. Unfortunately wine is always there as hubby still has it every evening. Most of the time now it does not bother me but when the cravings occur it is more difficult.

It is a beautiful morning here and I was up in the woods at 8.30 am walking the dogs. I was just thinking on the way back how good it felt and how a lot of people would not be waking up this morning feeling so good! Another reminder on why AF is the only way to go.

Both my girls had nice nights out and kept away from the crowds. One of the 18year old's friends had a barbeque at her house and then they went to one of the guys houses after and I picked her up around 12.30. Even though alcohol has become such a problem for me, we never brought them to pubs growing up and now I am glad.

Hard to believe it is week-end again. Have a great Friday everyone.

Rustop

[dill]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Hello Marchers,
Star, I hope you can find other work. You have been talking about it for some time now. I have a supervisor like the manager you were talking about. Lucky for me, I can minimize contact. My job has variety and some flexibilitly. I get tired of many aspects of it , but over all, I like it.

Lav, that picture is precious.

Sunbeam, your post a few days ago got me excited about the return of gardening weather. I too have an herb garden, but have never grown lovage or tarragon. I wonder how they would do in southern Ohio. I'm going to check it out. Is your tarragon French or Russian?

Cyn, it is good to see you posting again. I rememer before you stopped posting you were in the middle of two big moves, one for a client and your own. I was overwhelmed just thinking about it! It's wonderful that you stayed AF throughout. Did you and Mr. Cyn move far, or are you still in the dessert?

Thank goodness it's Friday! And the weather is supposed to be mild. Our daffodils and croci have come up but are not yet blooming. This may be the weekend for that.

Rusty, I do think it is time to take down the Christmas decorations, dear.

Have a wonderful AF weekend, one and all. If we put the effort into AF, the wonderful will follow.

[Rusty]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Hi Everybody,

Star-I just wanted to add that my management style is just like Paguy's, and I've had managers like yours. :-( I think you are wise to look for a new job. Just the fact that this micromanager causes people to leave their current positions is very telling. The last time I had a manager like that was right before I entered my current career. I was so on edge and so nervous all the time, I couldn't eat and lost 20 pounds in 4 months not even exercising. Drinking was the least thing on my mind.

Rustop-you set a good example by not taking your kids to bars when they were little. I knew someone a long time ago whose father owned a bar and he had no problem with his little kids coming in all the time. Well, you can just imagine what happened...2 out of his 3 kids are total disasters.

Dill-you must be anxious to get on your boat.

Ok, ok, I'll take the Christmas decorations down. I give in. It's time.:H

[Dewdrop]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Hi everyone and :welcome: to all the new folks joining us, we are a very optimistic and supportive group. I am having a quick check in as I am still in London, however our meeting this afternoon has been cancelled yaaaayyyy which means I will be able to get a flight home just after lunchtime and be home earlier than midnight on a Friday. Rusty and John I know you will appreciate my happiness at this, travelling is the pits.

I have lurked a few times this week and have managed to keep up with all your news I just haven?t had the time to contribute so I have been here in spirit if not in person. Everyone seems to be moving through Marvellous March with determination and purpose, with plans for gardens and work opportunities, and I find it quite uplifting to read all your posts. I am tired today and a little weary and I have woken with a head cold, what with my virus thingy the other week I am feeling like my body is telling me to slow down and take it easy. I have looked at my diary and although it is very busy I have a couple of long weekend in April and I have booked two weeks off in May so I have that to look forward to. Star I have a micro Manager and could write a book on his terrible management skills, my way of coping is to avoid him like the plague

I have attended a couple of evening nights out while here and I am so glad that I am sober, the rubbish that is spoken over a few bottles of wine is quite illuminating and the interpretation of conversations of who said what is quite funny the next day. Clearly people forget what was said and have little recollection of who said what, there was a heated argument that I listened to and the next day both parties were angry and annoyed but completely forgot the content. When I reminded them they both denied saying certain things and wouldn?t admit their part and blamed the other when in fact they were both at fault.

Okay need to get moving if I want to catch this flight, speak to you all over the weekend.

Dewdrop :h

[Lavande]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Goods morning Marchers!

We've been promised sunshine & 75 degrees today - Yay!

Don't know if any of you are familiar with Quit Net but I joined there when i quit smoking. They keep track of your days quit & money saved - today I'm at $5000 saved!!!! You know I've spent most of it on the grandkids Can you imagine if MWO kept track of our savings here as well?
More than the money saved, I'm most grateful for the freedom from the chains of addiction!

Dewdrop, Rusty & anyone else traveling today - take care

Time to go out in the nice Spring air & check the status of my daffs & tulips!
Wishing everyone a wonderful AF Friday!

Lav

[Chillgirl]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Good evening Mad Marchers :waving:

Dewdrop your description of your colleagues drinking capers sounds very familiar, I was never argumentative with AL but I certainly had many conversations I can't remember. Looking back at the sheer pointlessness of these evenings, I find it hard to recognize myself as someone who thought that was fun.

Enjoying a quiet night in front of the fire, our weather is a sunny 21c/70f and I'm looking forward to a healthy weekend of cycling and walking. I have been sticking to my "no chocolate" for lent and taking my L-glut. It's been relatively easy but I have to admit that chocolate on Easter Sunday is going to taste awesome.......

[sooty]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

hello folks, i've just written 2 posts and lost them both! grrr so this is now a brief hello in case it disappears again.

I'll be back tomorrow take care all. Lav I'll let you in, you don't even need to knock!

Love sooty

[spedteach]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Hey all,
Greetings from NM, that the southwestern desert of the US. LBH is here with me somewhere. Just can't find her right now.
Lav, you've got weather in the 70's; me too. You love it and I of course hate it. Spent most of my winter in Indiana and never got tired of the cold and snow and gray. Each to his/her own I guess. Baby pics so sweet.

Dill, think it would be easy to grow tarragon. I have a large herb garden and tarragon has always been easy here. Just make sure it has a lot of drainage, add a little sand to the soil.

Star, hope you get a new job soon. Know this has been weighing on you for sometime now. How is your son?

Chill, going back a couple of days, about apres work. A hot bath, candles, videos, nothing never was quite as good enough for me as a glass/bottle of wine. Just have to think of the consequences, the long run. How trapped one feels when you have to do that everyday.

Plan on working everyday next week. Will be nice to have that financial buffer my meager income brings in.

[Rusty]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

SHELLLLAYYYYYYY! Great to see you here! You sound so positive!

[cyntree]

Marvelous Magnifcant March - week 3

Evening, Marchers! I somehow have visions of Alice in Wonderland going through my head...maybe a residue of the March Hare, or the Mad Hatter (easter bonnets). Anyway, trying to hold onto some spring thinking, despite that fact that we have had already 2 days of 90 degrees....as you can tell, I am still in the desert, and will be probably until November (different house, though). I'll tell you more later. In the meantime, keep sending me descriptions of the tender green shoots bounding up out of the icy earth...I miss seeing them.

Great to hear everyone's stories - I read the posts for March week 2, so am getting a little caught up. Welcome everyone new to this thread, and congrats on your AF days. Shelley - so great to hear from my winter-loving soulmate, I have been in your shoes so many times, I wish you peace. Thanks so much for coming back to post. Where is LBH?....

PA, so good to hear about your run, and congrats on 8 months - bravo. Thanks for posting here Mario, and can't wait to hear about your easter suit decision, Mr G.

Lav - now I know the derivation of 'cooped up' -- hens!!! I loved your writing about them in the rain. Chill, thanks for the link, I'll try to check it out. Thanks everyone for the welcome back, and hope you travelers are getting home safely.
Wishing you a peaceful, sweet, new-green Friday.