Lucky or Unlucky?

[Clarity]

There was once a man who lived on a farm.
He had a son who was the apple of his eye. He also was the proud owner of a fine white stallion horse which everyone admired. One day his horse escaped from his grounds, ran to the mountains, and disappeared. The villagers came to him one by one and said: “You are such an unlucky man. It is such bad luck that your horse escaped.” The peasant responded: “ Who knows. Maybe it’s bad, maybe it’s good.”
The next day the stallion returned down the mountain followed by 12 wild horses. The neighbours visited him again and congratulated him on his luck. Again, he just said: “Who knows. Maybe it’s good, maybe it’s bad.”

As it happened, the next day his son was attempting to train one of the wild horses when he fell down and broke his leg. Once more everyone came with their condolences: “It’s terrible.” Again, he replied: “Who knows. Maybe it’s good, maybe it’s bad.” A few days passed and his poor son was limping around the village with his broken leg, when the emperor’s army entered the village announcing that a war was starting and they were enrolling all the young men of the village. However, they left the peasant’s son since he had a broken leg. Everyone was extremely jealous of the peasant. They talked about his sheer good luck, while the old man just muttered: “Who knows. Maybe it’s good, maybe it’s bad.”

When things happen it is important to keep a neutral attitude. Not to get too elated and not to be brought down by the situation. No one knows the true reasoning behind what happens and why. So always stay stable and unperturbed.

This story really resonated with me! We are all so lucky to have found sobriety.
Feel free to share some ideas of times when you felt unlucky but one day realized you were pretty damn lucky!
Day 300 today…. Gotta say, I am feeling lucky today.

[Clarity]

When I contemplate how bad, dark, and destructive my addictions were I wonder if I was unlucky? Or was I lucky?.. because I found sobriety. I will never live my life in limbo anymore where its bad, but not bad enough to stop.

When I think about the “love of my life” who left me, was I unlucky? It took me 7 years to get over him but had he not left me my daughter wouldn’t exist. Also, maybe I would still be in “limbo”?

[Dan531]

I love this Sarah. I believe we walk the path we are suppose to. Congrats on 300 days, you’re amazing !

[Nordique]

Congratulations on 300 days Sarah, that’s an amazing accomplishment. Proud of you!!

[anon74766472]

Wow, I love the story and your 300 days! I am glad you are here. Have a nice and sober day and a good weekend

[TMAC]

Most know the story by now, and I’m fairly certain you do too.

I spent the better part of the past year mourning the loss of my relationship, my best friend (also my ex), and my house. I was left with nothing afterwards – the majority of my friends had moved or were tied up with babies and never got back to me, I had cut myself off from the American side of my family (this was a good thing), etc. So I was alone (aside from Chief), in an unfamiliar town, in an apartment that suuuuucked when compared to my old house, all during a global pandemic. I had nothing in the present to occupy my mind, nor could I see a happy future for myself – let alone fathom how to start to build one. I went through a lot of anguish, self-loathing, guilt. A lot of mornings I wished I hadn’t woken up. I spent most of this time convinced I had made a mistake, like I had majorly fucked up my “one shot”. And truth be told, I could’ve stuck around in the relationship and likely had a very easy life…financially secure between the two of us, beautiful home in a great town, steady work, etc.

But over the past few months I’ve connected a lot of dots.

I am so fortunate and grateful to have gone through that year of what I call my “purgatory”. I wasn’t happy anymore in that relationship, although I really thought I was. I had totally assimilated to my ex’s way of living and thinking, lost touch with my true self. If I had moved ahead with getting married, having kids, etc…gone the “safe” route, and the route I was “expected” to take…the breakup likely would’ve happened further down the line anyhow, only more complicated due to the marriage and kids. Either that or I would’ve been stuck being unfulfilled and depressed, trying to make something work that just wasn’t there anymore. I couldn’t see it at the time, because I still loved her so dearly as a friend and as a person. I’ll always, always cherish what we had. It just wasn’t meant to be a romantic relationship anymore, but I had a tough time differentiating in the moment (in retrospect, it was the obvious and correct choice).

Through the grieving and healing process I have learned to trust my instincts, to believe in myself and my abilities, to be self-assured that I can do absolutely anything. With my cross-country move coming up, I’m not so sure I’d be able to handle the stress and issues that come up during a process which requires so much planning (and no matter how much you plan, there will STILL be shit that goes wrong) had I not gone through all that grief and soul-searching. I went through that awful year so that I could emerge strong and brave enough to pursue a dream. And wouldn’t you know it, the opportunity to go after that dream just kind of fell into my lap perfectly, just when I became ready for it. Funny how that works out.

So to this I say, you are lucky. You have your daughter, who you clearly love so much. The destructive nature of your addictions led you to make a healthy and firm decision to live a better life for yourself and those you love. A commitment to being the best you can. Personally I don’t regret my past issues with drinking one bit – again, because I emerged stronger, better, and smarter.

[Lisa07]

Congratulations on 300 days!!
You’re doing amazing! Thank you for sharing your journey.

[Clarity]

Well said!! 100% these struggles mold us and shape us into who we are meant to be. We don’t see how much we are growing during the process till we look back and are like “Holy shit!”
You are right, if you had stayed the course in your relationship you could have ended up super unhappy or feeling lost. Now you are a better version of you with the great big open road ahead of you! I am SO excited.

[Its_me_Stella]

You are such a beautiful being, welcome to the 300 club!!!

[TMAC]

P.S.

I missed the 300 days part! Congratulations and GREAT work!

[TMAC]

“Gummy worms or gummy bears?”

“Worms: happy, bears: sad, jeez c’mon Erin”

[Clarity]

@Dan531 @Nordique @anon74766472 @tmac @Lisa07 @Its_me_Stella @everyone

Thanks everyone! You guys are really like my family away from my family.
So thankful to have found this place. So… LUCKY …

[Blondie1x]

This is a brilliant share, just what I needed tonight as I get into my bed. Thank you! And congratulations on 300 days!!

[Mno]

300 Sarah!!! Happy dance!!!

[Desire2ChangeToday]

God! You are so inspiring. I resonate with much of what you have shared. I love this thread @Clarity and congratulations on 300 days beautiful lady!

[Dazercat]

Thanks Franzi.
@anon74766472
Congratulations Sarah on your 300 days.

[Clarity]

Aww you’re the best and so thoughtful!

[Phoebe]

Love that story.

[M-be-free49]

yay! i was lost too @Dazercat! but now i found this post.
Congrats on your 300 days, lovely! Beautiful story.
For me, simply knowing you, let alone sharing this journey with you, makes me one of the lucky ones

[RosaCanDo]

Sarah (aka Spartan, as my phone wanted to autocorrect my spelling issue), you have been so supportive and uplifting for me, to me, and I’m just so gall darned grateful! Thanks for being an inspiring person, dealing with stress and getting through it sober. You are one of the select few that I look toward for inspiration and also who offer a helping hand unsolicited. Thank you for being you.