I didn’t like it either 
Nice gratitude list my friend. I’m sorry, but happy you set or had to set some boundaries with your friend. I can picture your work at the beach. I like how we can stay pretty calm and collected. I wish I could have been on your team in person for that. Enjoy those stars and the cottage Buddy.
I m glad your here.
Thanks Eric. It has been emotional and tiring to say the least regarding the lady friend, the rest of life I seem to handle easier/better? I am so grateful you are sticking with your al anon. Keep moving forward 
Glad you are here too 
I’m grateful to be up bright and early sober.
I’m grateful to be in the safety of my alcohol/drug free zone.
It’s my bunker. My safe retreat from a world filled with booze and drugs and all the people who use them. I’m grateful to have a place filled with tools and reminders of how fortunate I am to have escaped.
I’m grateful to read everyone’s gratitude. So much of everybodies shares resonates with me.
I had a crazy vivid dream this morning. It woke me up and put me in a bit of a funk. Reading here snapped me out of it.
I was still married in my dream. It was a flashback to when things were good. I woke up when things started going bad.
It got me feeling a bit lonely. Old wounds felt like they were bleeding again.
Reading Brian’s share about not wasting his valuable time with the wrong person hit home in a good way for me.
This year I closed the door completely on the girl I relapsed in Hawaii with. It was the most lonely, unfulfilling relationship I have ever been in. I kept the door cracked.
It reminded me that I’m single by choice. I don’t need to settle for toxic.
Toxic relationships are alot like drugs. They start out fun until problems start to surface. I chase the beginning, but can never get it back because just like drugs. The beginning was an illusion. You can’t get what never really existed back. I’m grateful to recognize that today.
That dream took me on a ride.
The dock was a busy place yesterday when we got in. I got offered a beer everytime I turned around. It was easy to say no thanks. I am grateful to not feel like I’m missing out on all the “fun”.
Chasing the beginning of what drinking was caused me alot of unnecessary suffering. I’m grateful that I don’t do that anymore.
Happy sober 4th!
Ahhh, Eric, you are so loved. 
I’m grateful for you, and I know everyone else is, too. You’re a rock and a lighthouse for us all. I promise to hang out on the patio with y’all if you ever visit the San Juans again. What a party that would be! I’m grateful you are here. I look forward to seeing your thoughts and gratefulness every day. 
Dear Brain. I know you can’t make sense of, nor put words to, the swarm of swirling thoughts right now, the turmoil and turbulent feelings. But, don’t fret. Be patient. @JasonFisher will post soon.
But seriously? All. Of. It.
The “old wounds were bleeding again”.
The huge part about toxic relationships being fun in the beginning, but the beginning being an illusion. Chasing the beginning (whether relationship or alcohol or both) being the same as running further and further away from “fun”, further into the mess of suffering, into addiction.
Mostly? This. 
When I was contemplating, Saturday night, going to “wash my car” beside the liquor store (that used to sell - maybe still does - those craft single ciders), thinking I’d get just one or two to take the edge off the break-up convo, you came to mind vividly. Something you wrote about two beers keeping you in the drinking ring for some number of years. I shuddered. Changed my course and went outside to take in the night air and sky. Let my tears fall. Let the mosquitos drink. (Turns out they don’t moderate so well either!)
I’m deeply, deeply, grateful to you, for you, and for your words. 
I’m grateful for my coffee and now my hot tea this morning.
I’m grateful to have such a beautiful deck in the pines to sit on every morning and or afternoon. Weather permitting.
I’m grateful for all the camaraderie and support on TS.
I’m grateful to try and remember and realize my life has ebbs and flows, if that’s the correct phrase 
. Right now I guess I’m stuck in an ebb and I’m trying to be grateful for the down time and rest after all the moves from spring. I’m grateful there is a major current of excitement and anxiety ahead with a granddaughter on the way and a European vacation, and a rise in COVID, and the general state of affairs. But I guess everything in life is uncertain. So I’ll gratefully rest my body and soul another week as I can see the rapids ahead and there is nothing I can or have to do about them today. I’m grateful for One Day At A Time. I’m grateful I have Al-Anon meetings I get to go to. I’m grateful when I get back to Scottsdale I’ll have 2 a week because I might need them.
I’m grateful if I think about all the shit going on in my life or about to happen and the “what if’s,” I’ve learned, I can think about it. And then let it go. Thanks to working a program, TS, meditation, daily devotionals, and my gratitude list. And my God
I’m grateful for the little things I do for people. I’m grateful I can choose those things and I’m not forcing myself to do those things or forcing myself not to do those things. Whatever they are. I’m grateful for my alone time at night and in the morning. Almost a little too grateful but I do enjoy it now.
I’m grateful for another day to be able to hunker down on my deck away from the hordes of people in my neighborhood one more day.
I’m grateful for y’all.
I’m grateful for gratitude
”Because gratitude is the key to happiness, anything that undermines gratitude must undermine happiness. And nothing undermines gratitude as much as expectations. There is an inverse relationship between expectations and gratitude: The more expectations you have, the less gratitude you will have."
Dennis Prager
So much of this hits home! Chasing the beginning of a toxic relationship is so much like the beginning of drinking or drug use. Thank you for that analogy.
I’m glad you made it past getting the cider at the car wash.
Trying to take the edge off is a challenging thought. As a drinker way before I ever wanted to quit that was my classic go to. It’s socially accepted.
Business deals are discussed over cocktails. Pretty much everything we do has some sort of edge that alcohol is socially accepted for taking the edge off.
It’s a habitual thought for me.
The cunning baffling and powerful side of alcoholism loves these kinds of thoughts. Mine does.
Mine loves to play the “nobody will know” card. I’ve been single for a while, I don’t really have anyone to answer to, or check in with.
My brain throws that one at me all the time. It’s been easy to shoot down, it didnt use to be.
I’m glad you stayed strong. You remained true to yourself twice! In regards to drinking, and freedom from a toxic relationship! That’s awesome!
I’ve been on/off on this thread, even though I’m frustrated today, I want to think positive.
I’m grateful for Max always waiting for me on his bed (couch) to go outside in the morning, even when I’m struggling. I swear he understands ‘Give Mama a few minutes’ and he does.
I’m grateful for my coffee warming my insides and my AC keeping my house cool.
I’m grateful I have the day off of work. I’m grateful I’m sober today and plan on staying that way. 
Good morning 
I am grateful that yesterday was recovery Sunday and that step group and book study had impactful shares. I am grateful that I stood up for myself yesterday. You know… expectations will ruin a person, and I guess I can’t even expect another addict to understand addiction. I am grateful that I finally after many months of a person pushing food and particularly candy on me (with the added bitchy comment " of anyone you’re the last person who needs to stop eating sugar…") I let it be known I was sick of her shit. I am grateful that although I am living a spiritual program I can still get my point across in a very direct way. I am grateful I was heard and that this morning I woke up to a text message from her saying she thinks she understands now… We will see, this wasn’t the first time I had explained things to her, if I have to again I’m not sure it will be very spiritual.
I am grateful that I have been taught how to deal with conflict, how to communicate clearly, and not to take things personaly.
Good morning,
I am extremely grateful I am sober today
My history would have been me hung over today
Waking up late
Procrastinating this day with my kids because I needed more time to feel better
Getting to my families house only to get another beer bottle in my hands to make me feel better and continue with the celebrating of the long weekend
I would most likely be drunk mid day and assume I was having fun all the while my teen boy would see his mom get drunk
But that is not my day today
I am sober
Woke up early and getting things done at home before we start our holiday
Being sober is showing me how much time I have waisted in the past and how the kids and I weren’t enjoying holidays to the fullest
That will be my biggest gratitude today
Hope everyone enjoys a sober 4th
Good afternoon y’all!
I am so grateful to be apart of this community.
I am grateful for my Army family and my military friends. I am grateful for my boyfriend. He is the best I could ask for.
Have an amazing day my loves
Happy Independence day Americans!
Gosh, I woke up this morning and the anxiety of the past few days leading up to this anniversary was gone. The day has come and I can remember my son fondly and with great joy for having him in my life. For that I am grateful.
I was to chair the noon meeting today and while I “assumed” I would be the only one to show i told my husband I had to be there in case even 1 other person showed up because it could be someone in dire need. 16 people showed up and for that I am grateful.
One lady shared experience with death that hit close to home for me and I was able to share my experience with her in a positive light. For that I am grateful.
A fellow member who has battled making it past day 29 without a drink was there and has successfully made it past day 30!!! For that my heart jumped for joy and I am so grateful!
For these things my soul needed today. My higher power put me right where I needed to be right when I needed to be there. While we aren’t supposed to act selfishly its ironic how much we ourselves get out of helping others, witnessing others succeses and simply being of service.
The last few days I have wanted to drown out my feelings. And today was the biggest reward for holding fast and not listening to my sick mind in its desperation.
Thank you all for the kind words of support. It has meant a lot.
Mid day gratitude time
Im so very greatful for…
My sobriety, 60+ days free from weed and alcohol
My parents, they provided the fireworks last night and a huge, epic finale
My hubby and boscoe
Mid day naps
Able to afford all the groceries on our list
Paying off a huge medical bill from my hubbys visit to the er
Paint by numbers
Family fun, sober
All of your shares
Still time to slay the day soberly
So bloody beautiful. Where do you live? I just want to swim in that water!
Hi CJ (can I call you that?),
Glad you’re here
Curious, do you get your paint by numbers from Amazon? I’m always looking for a new hobby that sits in my closet. 
I’m hoping one day soon, I will be able to relax for a period of time and do some project/hobby or read a book.
Hey @maxwell yeah you can call me cj. I bought this paint by number on amazon. I havent had a hobby in years due to drinking in my down time so this is my first attempt. Its very intriquite.this is how far ive gotten so far…
I live in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. 
Wow, it looks huge! Or is the pic of what is supposed to look like small. I was trying to gauge it on the paints too.
I’m the same, I’ve done nothing in the way of hobbies or anything to keep me busy, drinking was all I did. It’s a different world, but plan on staying in this one sober. Or Soberly 
