Checking in Daily to Maintain Focus #22

[CATMANCAM]

@Robketts wow congrats on 3 years!
@Yomomma oh my goodness they are the cutest goats thanks so much for sharing some photos
@Sanuk congrats on double-digits
@anon89892515 congrats on 600
@RosaCanDo that’s lovely to read, congrats on 80 proud of you!
@DanielleRose congrats on your sober holiday
@anon89207786 congrats, it must feel good to.hit this milestone
@Dazercat happy sober Thanksgiving to you!
@Figgie congrats on your honesty and for coming right back here to go at it again
@CapriciousCapricorn congrats on 11 months substance free!

77 days.

I always feed the cats around 4:30am, but usually can fall back to sleep til around 6am, this week though, I’ve been waking up around 8/8:30am, today I did wake at 6, contemplated getting up, but as it was still dark outside and I felt tired, I went back to sleep and didn’t wake til 8:50.

Had DBT group on Zoom 10-12 which was okay but I find the group dynamics very challenging at times. This comes as no surprise to me as I have struggled in groups my whole life.

Really battled with myself and actually managed to get out for a walk today, didn’t want to turn around at my usual spot so I carried on to.the bridge at the next town and in total I walked for almost 2 hours. I am really paying the pain price for it, so much so that I have been considering taking a pain med for it, but a big part of me doesn’t want to because it’s been atleast 1 month, maybe closer to 2 since I quit them all as they were ineffective. Perhaps I’ll try some Biofreeze first and only take something if I can’t get to sleep because of it.

Mentally, today is a better day, the long walk really helped. I do wish it didn’t come with pain consequences, but it is what is it. I called the doctors and explained the steroid injection hasn’t been successful, and asked for the referral to a podiatrist as that’s what the doctor said the next steps would be, so atleast that’s underway.

I also emailed the housing department at the council to see if they can offer any support to find suitable housing for me when I have to move on completion, won’t hold my breath though but thought it was worth an ask.

This weekend I plan to do some cleaning and decluttering, and to prepare some notes for the interview next Tuesday. Hopefully I’ll be able to do some shorter walks too.

[cwak]

@Girlinterrupted Wow! Six months!! Amazing!

[kat261]

Checking in, want to become more active on TS.

Doing well, almost 4 years clean from IV opiates, 6 months clean from stimulants, and 2 months from alcohol.

I am fighting it with all I have. I have a bit of a mantra that is helping:

1. I am Clean and Sober
   2.I walk 10000 steps a day
   3.I eat healthy food
2. I Pray to God

[Sanuk]

Bought my first Christmas tree in my life on day 11! I figured to start with a modest size Don’t have much nice or warm memories of Christmas from my childhood and avoided it for a long time when I was older. Just fled to Thailand or another place abroad. But with building a family I feel obligated to create a Christmas sphere in the house. I see it as if this comes along with my new identity:)

[Maria]

sorry to hear. I am with you on this on day 88… shitty situation over last weeks I thought I powered through… but all of a sudden I did not. Time to find another way to deal with the demons from the past. I am so fed up with it, with feeling like this, with the powerlessness and the way it pushes me apparently. we are in the same boot starting over with new knowledge. hang in there!

[Rockstar24777]

Day 178 clean and sober today. My old counselor brought over a guy who had over 3 years sober but relapsed. He had 5 days sober and my counselor asked if he could stay for awhile because he needs to be in a safe place. The guy was really cool and after getting him some food he decided to leave. Not sure if he’s coming back or not but at least he knows there’s a safe place for him if he needs it. Hope everyone has a great day today, love you guys!!!

[Dazercat]

Sorry to hear that you slipped up on Thanksgiving. Glad you’re back right away. You didn’t waste 89 days of sobriety even though you have to reset and you came clean. I wish you would have checked in here first. Easy for me to say. And hindsight and all. You got a great son there. I’m wondering why you didn’t talk to him first. Not sure I would have either. Just thinking out loud here. No blaming whatsoever. Not that I can prevent people from picking up but my DM or PM is always open if you ever get the urge again.
Today’s a great day to be sober. One day at a time.

[Dazercat]

I love your tree. And the way it looks attached to your bicycle. That would make a great Christmas card with the tree all decorated. So cute!!!
Congrats on day 11

[Dazercat]

Thanks for the acknowledgement for my job well done on me being sober for Thanksgiving. I really enjoyed it.

You know I been watching a lot of your posting. I know how important it is to be able to walk for exercise. I really do, it’s my favorite form of exercise and I must do it too. But you got to let that plantar fasciitis rest. And you might have to let it rest a long time. You could be doing more damage. Has any one gotten you orthotics yet? Do you have any stores or companies that just sell orthotics over there like we do? You really need to get a good orthotic to put in your shoes to take the pressure of the plantar fascia. I know it’s a real miserable situation you’re in but what you’re doing doesn’t seem to be working. I just hate to see you in so much pain.
I wish I could do more for ya.

[Tryingtogetitright]

133.45 Days

Hope everything had a great day of thanks & mindfulness.

[TSan]

Day 62. Max and I had a quiet and sober Thanksgiving at home alone. I made a bunch of soup and pumpkin cornbread and chocolate mousse for dessert. It was delicious! This morning, I got up and started making bread (it’s taking forever to rise so I can pop it in the oven). Another quiet day at home, which I really need. Tomorrow, Max has his annual vet exam, so we’ll see how this goes.

@anon89207786 one year! Congratulations!
@PinkyP one month! Great job! Keep going!
@Briella glad you’re still here with us, fighting the fight.
@Figgie, sorry to hear about your relapse, but I’m glad you’re back and starting fresh. It sounds like you’ve learned some important things.
@Tomek, I just watched your video! Oh, my goodness, I was so impressed! What a beautiful piece of music!

[Sanuk]

Haha yes, it had to fit in my bike bags. I also bought very tiny Christmas balls. Very cute indeed

[Beachy]

Today will be easier then yesterday!

[Harold]

231 here.
I was thinking about what sobriety really means. Abstinence from alcohol isn’t sobriety. It’s only the start. Its like having tomato sauce and cheese and calling it a pizza. I have to have other ingredients/aspects, like changes to friends, habits, hangouts and beliefs. Once I get those put together it starts to take shape.
This time I choose to make the Supreme pizza. I’m going for all the ingredients I can.
Kinda corny but I have to make things simple for myself sometimes

[Hazy]

WOW, that’s so beautiful, that’s a talent right there, I love piano,…my niece plays,she’s 20, I’m so proud of her when she plays,…
@Tomek that was a lovely waltz!
I tried to put an awesome gif but apparently doesn’t support, so massive thumbs up

[Charlesfreck]

Day 1462!
I was going to post 2 days ago (on 4 years) but was sidetracked by a job going wrong. 4 years of sober, of this great app and the truly amazing people in this community.
It DOES get easier, just have faith in yourself, your higher power, whatever you need.
And never have that first drink.
Thank you all.

[cwak]

You’re an inspiration, @Charlesfreck!

[Sanuk]

That’s beautiful! It totally calms me down. Keep posting more pls!

[anon28001181]

I woke up to some minor annoyances this morning, that I was allowing to dictate my mood. I was feeling super pissy. I hopped onto my RD meeting. The meditation was focused on gratitude. It’s hard for me to stay completely irritable when I take a look at, and acknowledge, what I’m grateful for. I’m still a little pissy today, but it’s taken the edge off. Most things are good. Some things are annoying. I can change somethings. I can’t change others so I learn to accept them.

I remember sitting in group at my IOP in 2014, stewing about something (of course looking back I have no idea what it was exactly). The counselor could read my face, see that I was upset, and asked what was going on. I opened up and spewed what I’m sure was a bunch of toxic negativity and hopelessness for the future. The counselor smiled at me and said “Sometimes, when I’m feeling like this, I like to make a list of everything I’m grateful for.” The smile pissed me off. I said that it sounded like a bunch of “kum ba yah bullshit” and walked out. Of course, I promptly drove to the liquor store and got hammered alone in my condo. I thought the counselor’s answer was ridiculous, but that was my solution…

Years later I’m finally beginning to grasp the concept of gratitude. It’s about a perspective shift for me. I’m not benefited by looking at the world through a lens of constant anger and dissatisfaction. It doesn’t serve me at all. I always had contempt for these simple solutions. I thought everything was more complicated. I thought I was more complicated. I thought the remedy couldn’t have been so simple.

I’m not really that complicated. My struggles aren’t so unique and different than others. If these simple (not necessarily easy) solutions work for a lot of other people, why wouldn’t they work for me. It’s finally sinking in for me.

[Yomomma]

Day 12.
I was totally tempted to have a cranberry and vodka drink last night to go with dinner. Instead, I had a cranberry and ginger all. We had a low key, non traditional dinner with a pot roast. It was delicious! Today we are trimming and cutting the fallen trees on the property and having a fire. It’s nice after the rainy day we had yesterday to sit by the dry, warm fire.

I hope everyone had a great and sober Thanksgiving! Love and Light friends!