@juli1 I’m glad you found your sense of ease after a very overwhelming day. Sorry you couldn’t get in the pool though. 
Good Luck with your interview 
@ReeBee28 congrats on 4 years smoke-free and 3 years speed-free 
thank you for sharing the miracle 
@Coolcatssober @Sobersam15 welcome both 
congrats on your days so far
@Mali welcome back
@JDHealing congrats on 30 days
@Butterflymoonwoman sorry to hear your son is struggling a little, but school must be a whole new world for him, lots of adjustment and pushing boundaries is definitely common for some children in new environments, keep communicating with him, I’m sure you’re doing a great job
@SadMemeQueen none of it was your fault I’m so sorry you feel this way about yourself and your life, but you will find a way out of these circumstances, maybe not today, tomorrow, or the next day, but one day you will be able to look back at this time in your life and be glad you stuck around
@Ktorres love your list
@SassyBoomer I’m so happy for you about connecting with your half brother, how wonderful. Stay safe 
@chey.o congrats on 4 months
@Miranda congrats on 70 days
@Sabrina80 congrats on 40 days AF and your other numbers too
@BLOODSHOTJOKER congrats on 150 days
822 days no alcohol.
287 days no cocaine.
Had a weirdly long sleep last night with a bad dream. Took me longer than usual to start and complete my morning routine, but I still did it.
Supported my WhatsApp friend on the day of his grandmother’s funeral.
Watched an episode of Peaky Blinders.
Meditated lots.
Spent time with my cats.
Had therapy online. Back to in-person for the next 4 remaining sessions.
There were days when I would dream that things could be this simple.
Check in on Day 45 
It is my day off today and my children get home from their dads place this afternoon after spending the week there. I can not wait to see them. They are 16 and 8 years old. Isaac and Stella. We share custody of them 50/50. I miss them terribly but it works for them so I make it work for me. We have been doing it this way for 7 years now and have a reasonable co-parenting relationship. My step daughter lives with us full time now instead of 50/50 since her mother became so unwell mentally and Maddy asked to live with us. This has been stressful considering I am in early days of sobriety but I am truly happy she is safe and love how happy it makes my husband to have her here.
Today I go to yoga which i attend every tuesday and friday and I really do love it so much. The calming effect is has on my brain is remarkable. My brain is always a busy place with so many tabs open like a computer. Yoga is the only thing I have tried since getting sober that has been able to quiet that constant noise. I leave feeling so much lighter, calmer and more capable to deal with things.
After yoga I am going to visit my friend that was didscharged from hospital yesterday and make her some lunch and maybe do a tidy up for her while her children and hubby are at school and work. Her mum will be over this morning and afternoon and I will take the lunchtime shift to ensure she is looked after. Only 6 weeks til her baby is delivered by c section due to her health conditions. I am so excited to be adopted Auntie Ree!
This afrernoon I have an educational workshop to attend that will go towards building my skills as an ICU nurse to enable me to work towards becoming an educator. I am very excited about this new step in my career. I have been a nurse for 22 years this year and I have always wanted to teach. Now I am sober working slowly towards educator qualification is my goal. When I drank I barely got through my shifts at work and worked full time only to come home and get pissed. On my days off I would be drunk by lunchtime. That left no time or brain cells for the extra study it requires to become an educator. Now I am sober, that dream seems entirely possible
Have a wonderful and sober day my friends.
Much love
Ree 
Love this! My sister just had a baby a month ago and hey named her Stella 
enjoy your time with your kiddos!
Many thanks @CATMANCAM I often forget to be proud of myself for those achievements because my addiction to alcohol has been by far the hardest to battle. When i gave up smoking and using that was it I never touched them again. This is my 3rd attempt at sobriety from alcohol and it is so much harder for me to achieve. This time is different though because I am not just going through the motions I am actually engaging in therapy, I am taking my meds, I am attending meetings, I am focussing on things that build my self worth and resilience. And this time I wasnt forced to do it by an abusive partner who then offered me no support but threatened to leave me if I failed. Last time I didnt want to do it because it was my only escape from the life I was living. My life is so different now. I have a loving and safe relationship. This time I wanted to get sober. This time I did it for me first and foremost. And then I did it for my children, husband and friends. I have finally set myself free!
Thank you Jamie! Congrats to your friend on the birth of her little Stella. I love her name too. She was named after Stella McCartney as I loved her perfume and of course the scene out of Seinfeld where Elaine yells “Stella”! very drunkenly at a party lol. I always love kid Friday
Wow, 70 days, great news.
I loved reading this 
Thanks Ree for the encouragement! I really hope the headaches improve soon. That’s been the hardest to deal with. I have a new therapist so just getting started on addressing the underlying issues. I spend a lot of time here reading. I’m hoping once the headaches ease up I’ll be better able to exercise.
I just gave some advice on a new thread about headaches in the early days of sobriety. It might help you to try some of my suggestions
I was just wondering about you the other day…70 days is incredible, especially after such a long time!! Congratulations!! If you can get this far you can get as far as you want
I’m really struggling this afternoon. Nothing is helping this headache today. Usually my coffee and a couple Advil are enough to ease the pain. It’s stayed horrible all day. I was really needing a productive day at work but I’m barely getting by. Everything is making me want to say fuck it and get drunk. I won’t. But I want to. Feeling really depressed and unable to cope. Technically have 2 more hours of work to get through if I can. 
Day 7
Today I’ve made a big positive decisions in my life. I walked away from buying a flat as, deep down in my gut, there were things about the management company that runs it that I didn’t agree with. Massively over charging for documents, unresponsive and in the 4 1/2 months that I’ve been going through conveyancing I’ve seen lots of flats in the block go up for sale which makes me wonder what is up with that particular block?
What helped with this was the support of my friends who have been great sounding boards and seeing a rental flat not far from where I am now that is super affordable. It will give me a chance to get back on my feet, have my own place, have some independence and crucially my boy will have his own space when he comes to visit me and not just a fold up bed in our one room at this house.
It felt good to take a decision that was the right one for my mental health as the last four and a half months have been really stressful.
What was even more positive was the feeling of release and weight off my shoulders. Even though it was a big decision that may or may not be the right one financially it was the right one for me and my boy and that is what matters.
All through this hectic full on day I’ve not felt the urge to use my DoC once. I struggle to take a step back sometimes, always pushing forward no matter how I feel on the inside. Today showed me it’s ok to make a decision that’s not ploughing on regardless.
I go to see my parents tomorrow with my boy which will be lovely. I’m so excited to spend time with him and I love it when he gets to see his grandparents as it hasn’t happened often enough in the last couple of years.
Sending all my best wishes to everyone I hope you have a great sober day.
Hi, I’m checking in. Day 34.
As I’m starting to build up the days, I think to myself of how many times I’ve made it past a month. A LOT. Too many to count. Watching others move ahead and move on while I’m stuck on the relapse wheel. How will this attempt be any different than all of the other 100’s of failed attempts throughout the past 30 years?
I’m going to share why. Because it’s not enough to clean up the outside of my cup while my inside is still dirty. My inside is not going to automatically get clean by choosing to abstain from outwardly behaviors. God is working on cleaning up my inside. My lust, my fantasy, my messed up mind, eyes, and heart. If the inside is clean, it’s natural that the outside will follow.
Have a good day, folks.
Thank you Catman…
These days I am so happy to share it here and spit out without being ashamed… And always receive some support and understanding.
Yes Wednesdays it is bad in the evening at the pool. Tuesdays I have group therapy regulary and Thursdays Yoga.
Today I had the 90 minute yoga class and tomorrow i will hit the pool again! Yea 
Did you have a swim or are you planning to have one?
Hope @Twizzlers can book a swim soon again too 
@Miranda Congratulations 
@BLOODSHOTJOKER Hreat job! 
@KarenKW Drinking has never helped with headaches or a build up of work. Could you take a walk outside? Do some stretching?
Day 822
Friday morning for me, TFIF. I am chipping away at work that has built up and needs to get done, plan to do more over the weekend. My son has exams next week so I am going to need all my patience to help him study for them. Going to try to get him to take some initiative, aware that that is an oxymoron. Food is not so great right now, but it is a week before that joyous time of the month. Precarious peace with the husband, but better that overt sniping.
Stay sober, peeps. 
Day #5 and i wont lie i want to smoke, but i wont!! Cause i am stronger. I am sitting here coloring a picture of a penguin 
, waiting for time to pass so i can check in to my recovery meeting. I do 3 recovery meetings a week and one AA meet and one NA meeting a week. Today is meet #4 for this week. Have to stay strong.
Day 250
Did 15 minutes of tidying that includes laundry.
Waiting to go to bed after i put the things in the dryer.
I will be on time to work tomorrow. I have a little card Ill put a sticker on every time I have a whole week of being on time. Tomorrow is the second sticker. A little silly but im proud. 2 weeks straight of being on time…idk if its ever happened in my life.
Have goals for the weekend as well.
Remembering where I was when I was about 50 days sober. It felt so long to reach that milestone. I was never happy at milestones. Now ironically I want more time.
Its nice knowing what I need to do at work tomorrow - i know generally what will happen and when. Please let this job work out well.
Tomorrow is an important day. Rooting for everyone to stay sober one more night.
Evening Check In
Day 270
Day was really good. I made some good changes today. I just want to thank those that showed support to me today on my post earlier. It was definitly me stepping outside of my comfort zone. I went and did some xmas shopping. Got my hunny Jordan Aura 4 shoes. He loves his shoes. And got my son a car racing video game for 1 of his presents. Im really grateful for the extra 3 hour shifts ive picked up during the week recently while my son is at school, to be able to buy these. I got myself a new preworkout for the gym and then once I got home I did a workout. I am really trying today to be more present with my family. Just to be more attentive. Im finding that the evening is better today bcuz im changing my perspective and my focus. I do think that i have to put my phone down more. Im on it alot some days, especially when im stressed. I think i use it for an “escape”. But i will work on that 
Hope everyone is having a good evening/day.
I’m really having a rough day mentally.
Not tempted to get high.
But i am having a hard time resisting the urge to SH.
I really need to find a way to calm myself.