Thanks so much for the lovely intro post @REP22 and for taking over the helm.
And thanks so much for your marvellous hosting of the last two threads, @lavrander !
@Becky3825 you're coping with so much, I hope you feel better soon and that one of your job applications finally bears fruit!
@ThatCleverFox congratulations on your first day. That's fantastic. Reading your post brought a smile to my face.
I'm on day 6. Am really thinking of getting an AA sponsor again because I can't seem to go more than a week or ten days without relapsing. I'm just going to a few AA meetings on a regular basis at the moment and looking for someone who isn't too focused on religion-based recovery. That said I went to a meeting tonight and there was a reading from the Big Book about God, and then virtually everyone who shared, shared about their religious faith. I have nothing against religious faith, I respect it a lot, but I know it's not the right path for me. So it's tricky.
Anyway I really appreciate these threads, because there is so much support and practical wisdom here. And I think I really am making progress despite the relapses. I can see from the Reframe app that I've had many more sober days than drinking days since I joined the threads last summer.
Part of what has made me want to drink are feelings of shame/guilt/inadequacy. These threads have helped me feel those feelings less. Thank you all and do keep going, whatever stage you've reached!
And oh yeah @ShyMaryEllen that woman at your gym class is a twat (sorry, but she is). If she tried to mess with me I think I would tell her politely that I prefer to be left alone, thank you very much! I can't stand bossy people.
That said my book group has a couple of bossy members, and one rang me this week to complain about something book-group-related (I won't go into detail because it's boring, but she was unhappy about the order we were reading the books in over the upcoming months ... yes, really! ... and wanted my support). I was very polite but kept repeating, 'My preference is...' and 'I think the majority preference is... but you're welcome to propose your idea to the other members if you want to', etc. etc. I felt that because I was sober and clear-headed, I was able to be both firm and kind. I felt quite cross though about how bossy she was being. Lo and behold, later that evening she texted me and said talking to me had been helpful and she had decided to go with the group consensus! I was pleasantly amazed... small victories! I normally find it difficult to disagree with people, but sometimes you CAN disagree with them and it turns out all right. Like @lavrander 's story of the bloke without headphones!