You can believe or think whatever you want. And truthfully I respect your honesty and how you stay true to your beliefs. Anybody that gets bent out of shape because you don’t do AA or they have a problem with your beliefs is because it makes them question their own thinking or makes them wonder if maybe they want to explore other ways to stay sober. There is many ways to stay sober or help with sobriety. AA does not have a monopoly on Recovery and it actually says that in the book..There is a lot of things in the book that people overlook or forget about. but Unfortunately there is people in this world that want to stir shit up because they are bored And dissatisfied with their own life and choices. Always grateful for your shares and posts and glad you are here menno!!
Thanks for this, I hope I didn’t come across too higher power pushy in my post!
I totally get that everyone is different and what works for some won’t work for others.
For background, I had already been sober for 3 months before I first went to SAA, and only started trying to do the steps when I got to about 10-11 months of sobriety.
I’m still not 100% sure it’s the right thing for me as I do feel like I keep getting stuck on the amount of Him/Higher Power/God chat that’s thrown around, but I’ve been trying to interpret it all in a way that sits right with me. For example, connection as you mention could be interpreted as a “higher power”. (That’s not me telling you that’s what it is, just trying to think about it from a 12 step angle)
I think the steps, broadly speaking, seem to be a good way to work through our issues, so I’m giving them a crack. If I get to the point where I feel they just aren’t working then that’s okay, but we’ll see how it goes!
I definitely agree with you though, that connection and support from other addicts is hugely important.
I have been wondering whether the higher power thing is just a bit of a tool to take some of the pressure off recovery, let some of the stresses & anxieties go and focus on doing some good in life.
Hi
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I also believe that alcoholism is specific to each alcoholic. Personally, I know that it´s up to me to manage it. The AA community isn’t right for me. However, the Talking Sober platform really gives me that extra boost I need, which has helped me reach the milestone of one week sober. I’ve known for years that I needed to stop drinking, but I couldn’t do it. I tried self-hypnosis and mindfulness exercises, but each time I succumbed to the urge to drink. I couldn’t let go of the idea of being carefree. Drinking alcohol wasn’t such a big deal after all. In fact, I didn’t dare face the seriousness of quitting drinking completely.
Reading the testimonials here from alcoholics who have been abstinent for years, always vigilant, showed me that alcoholism is really serious and that I will never be safe from it again. For me, stopping drinking means stopping being a coward. It means moving forward in life without necessarily knowing what is holding me back, but just courageously moving forward and not caring if my weaknesses are exposed. It means choosing to overcome my own shame, choosing to live my life. With alcohol, I was clearly missing out.
Tonight is my 16th day sober. I like the ODAAT principle, as AA has some very good ideas. I want to be able to make more ambitious plans and be able to carry them out. But I need to feel better to do that.
Enjoy a good sober evening, everyone!
Day 8 and feeling fantastic, upbeat and ready.
I have accomplished so much these last 2 days up at the allotment.
Ive seen the last of our swallows that were nesting in our shed leave to go off to warmer climates.
From the allotment alone Ive had cauliflowers, cabbages, potatoes, sweetcorn, carrots, swedes, french beans, runner beans, broard beans, onions, shallots, spring onions, lettuces, tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, beetroot, parsnips, apples, pears, peas, sweet peas, dahlias and brambles.
Its hard to believe that I carried most of these up there way back in the year as tiny seeds.
Overall its been a good season and being up there especially on a morning just makes ypu appreciate nature.
Hope you all have a good day today.
Day 15
Feeling good about being sober.
Filling the hours I previously spent drinking up with gardening, reading, hot baths, dog walking, reconnecting with family.
Listening to quit lit audiobooks and planning for the weeks/months ahead.
Constantly reading on here.
Ive found that Im listening to people better.
Im consciously eating healthier and seeing positive results.
I have a lot going on in my personal life at the minute and stopping drinking enables me to handle that better and to be there for others.
Best wishes everyone.
Hi there, everyone. So I’ve just discovered image-creating apps, and I thought, “Why not type in ‘sober without god’?” So I did, and here it is.
Hope you are all okay. I’m going now to catch up on gardening while listening to an audiobook, probably The Omen.
This one wasnt an image created by AI.
This was taken this morning. There is definately something warming and a feel good feeling when you look to the centre of our universe on a morning and see this magnificent star.
Makes me think of how lucky we are to take part in this story of life.
Also I cant help but think we as humans have devastated this beautiful planet of ours.
We do have a rather big negative impact on our mother planet yes. I’m pretty sure though that Earth will survive and will harbour life for another couple of billion years. It’s just us (and those that we’re dragging down with us) that will be gone.
Any and all of us are to walk our own, but this is the path.
Hello All,
I don’t have anything meaningful to say at the moment, but just wanted to post that I’m on board with this thread and want to be a part of it moving forward.
Thanks for creating it.
Brent
Checking in here on day 62 alcohol-free, or better still, FREE from alcohol.
Feeling really good about doing this. I’ve just read a few of my older posts and noted that I haven’t listened to any quit lit for a while. This is fine; I don’t feel the need to. I am here daily and read through the threads as I choose. This community keeps me going, and coming here is giving me a better life. I’m improving each day.
I’ve had testing times; the latest was a funeral two days ago. I went to the service and paid my respects, but the after-show ‘party’ was a no-go. It was no big deal. I made the decision not to go as soon as I knew I could juggle work around and make the service. I then finished work and went for a walk on the beach to be with my thoughts.
Wishing you all a happy sober day today.
Checking in on day 63.
My wife is back from her adventures with steak pies and morning rolls. All is good.
Just going to have a chilled out night and a read on here. The fire has been lit so it’ll be a really relaxing evening. Its so windy out there, glad Im not pissed in a pub.
I bought some chocs and sweets for the kids in the street should they come a knocking. Never been one to celebrate Halloween but one thing that dosn’t change is the fact kids love sweets and I think these mams and dads will also like them.
Enjoy the rest of your Friday everone.
He is always in my pocket Mno. When I need to laugh I just load an audiobook up.
10 character’s
Checking in day 83.
Very very happy to be sober without god .