Pics of Morocco Trip....

[Cooter]

you're whippin' that ass, Chris

I've been alcohol free since Aug of last year, and while I've been dry for longer, I've never really felt like I was truly through with alcohol.

I'm still taking it one day at a time, but there really haven't been any major challenges/temptations. I mean, there have been PLENTY of challenges, but not with booze. It doesn't even smell pleasant anymore. It's amazing how your smell sensitivity to the stuff changes.

I'm not saying I'm through, but it sure feels like it right now

[Big A]

This thread is worthless without pics (of hot bitches).

It's been a little over two and a half years for me, and I don't regret a single minute of it. I hope to follow in your footsteps soon, and land a dream job of my own.

Keep livin' the dream.

[93LXHORSE]

you're whippin' that ass, Chris

I've been alcohol free since Aug of last year, and while I've been dry for longer, I've never really felt like I was truly through with alcohol.

I'm still taking it one day at a time, but there really haven't been any major challenges/temptations. I mean, there have been PLENTY of challenges, but not with booze. It doesn't even smell pleasant anymore. It's amazing how your smell sensitivity to the stuff changes.

I'm not saying I'm through, but it sure feels like it right now

Good job man. You know, nothing about any of that shit sounds appealing to me either. Except for every once in awhile. Its when that every once in awhile happens, and I'm not spiritually fit, that I am without defense.

I do the work to stay that way. Not really much to do with sitting around in AA meetings, much more to do with action. Ammends, carrying the message, and constant review of my daily actions are the key.

Otherwise my brain will trick me into thinking I got it licked. And when I'm on top of things in career and finances and the sun is out, it seems like a nice tasty speedball would top things off real nicely!

That's the mental obsession.

Then the vicious cycle starts when the phenomenon of craving is kicked off. Then I can never get enough.

Then things get real fucked up. Takes awhile with a giant bank account but nonetheless the bottom comes eventually. Along the way death is right there waiting. In fact I should have been dead on more than one occasion, so I'm grateful for every day.

Its a gift.

[Big A]

Sounds familiar. Hell, even after I got the call that I'm coming back in for a "final" interview, the thought crept into the back of my head that it'd be fun to go celebrate the little victory with a few drinks. Nothing bad could come of that, right?

Daily inventory and amends are key, but let's not forget to add a big dose of humility, that and working with others is what keeps me grounded.

Thanks again for lighting the way man, I'm truly happy how life is unfolding for you.

[Rick Modena]

you're whippin' that ass, Chris

I've been alcohol free since Aug of last year, and while I've been dry for longer, I've never really felt like I was truly through with alcohol.

I'm still taking it one day at a time, but there really haven't been any major challenges/temptations. I mean, there have been PLENTY of challenges, but not with booze. It doesn't even smell pleasant anymore. It's amazing how your smell sensitivity to the stuff changes.

I'm not saying I'm through, but it sure feels like it right now

Wow, some of the biggest partakers have changed for the better. I'm included in that group, I gave up beer and haven't had one since the Superbowl (I drank a 12 pack of Dos XX's that day). Its been real hard for me, especially at the last two poker games, I was really feigning for a cold beer. Everyone was drinking aluminum pints of beer and it was killing me. I'm still holding the pattern but these beer commercials suck!
I'm also not eating like a 24 year old either, no more fast food, no more fried food, no candy and I've only had a few drinks of bourbon with water and ice, just enough to catch a buzz, but not drinking to get drunk and to help me with giving up da beerz.
My reasoning had to do with my health, all of my numbers at my last check up 2 weeks ago have subsided to normal and below. It's hard but I guess we can all do what we want giving the bigger picture...a healthy life...

[Big A]

Yep, life requires sacrifice sometimes 'H,' and though it may not be as "dangerous," unhealthy food can surely degrade quality of life. Long-term happiness is very much dependent upon what we do today. Keep it up, and a have a bourbon and water for me.

Talking about beer commercials, try walking through the grocery store, and getting to the liquor aisle with only a few days/weeks sober. Multiply your angst by a factor of 100. It get's easier with time if you're truly committed to the fact that you're better off though.

[dsrtuckteezy]

buncha junkies up in here!

[Cooter]

I understand that struggle and the temptation for that every once in a while... 2-3yrs in, got it licked, going out with some old friends? have a beer, it won't hurt anything... see, I had one, and it didn't hurt anything. I can totally do this.

3wks later, it's a half pint and 8-10 beers every night.

I'm DEFINITELY focusing on the positive, taking inventory, getting rid of the bad, focusing on moving forward/getting healthy/etc.

one day at a time

Good job man. You know, nothing about any of that shit sounds appealing to me either. Except for every once in awhile. Its when that every once in awhile happens, and I'm not spiritually fit, that I am without defense.

I do the work to stay that way. Not really much to do with sitting around in AA meetings, much more to do with action. Ammends, carrying the message, and constant review of my daily actions are the key.

Otherwise my brain will trick me into thinking I got it licked. And when I'm on top of things in career and finances and the sun is out, it seems like a nice tasty speedball would top things off real nicely!

That's the mental obsession.

Then the vicious cycle starts when the phenomenon of craving is kicked off. Then I can never get enough.

Then things get real fucked up. Takes awhile with a giant bank account but nonetheless the bottom comes eventually. Along the way death is right there waiting. In fact I should have been dead on more than one occasion, so I'm grateful for every day.

Its a gift.

[Big A]

buncha spiritual mutha fukkas up in here!

Fixed, junkies are currently on dope, thus not a correct statement.

[93LXHORSE]

You know, the things we learn in recovery about helping others, unloading resentments, and giving selflessly in order not to return to active addiction are the same things that normal or non problematic people do naturally. It just never made sense to me for a long time that a structured way of doing that shit was the solution. It works-it really does!

[93LXHORSE]

I understand that struggle and the temptation for that every once in a while... 2-3yrs in, got it licked, going out with some old friends? have a beer, it won't hurt anything... see, I had one, and it didn't hurt anything. I can totally do this.

3wks later, it's a half pint and 8-10 beers every night.

I'm DEFINITELY focusing on the positive, taking inventory, getting rid of the bad, focusing on moving forward/getting healthy/etc.

one day at a time

We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality - safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee - Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will.

From the AA Big Book.... So true.

[Big A]

Indeed.