It’s true.
When I go to meetings, or even read here on the forum I always look for the people who don’t struggle. This was especially true in early sobriety. Those are the people who have what I want. I don’t want to be 15 years sober and still afraid to go places that serve alcohol or be unable to hang out with friends who drink. I have no interest in having my life be a constant struggle. I want (and have received) the promises the 10th step gives.
In early recovery it was nice to have some other people who were newly sober, but if that’s all I had I wouldn’t be where I am today. In early sobriety it was crucial to listen to those old timers who truly lived, and loved, their life.
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Welcome back mate 
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He’s back! 
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Good to see you at last, Derek. You’ve been missed. I’d like to hear about your relationship with the ban hammer.
In a previous go at sobriety, I hung out with one guy in particular who’d come through rehab with me. It took me a few months to get a sponsor, and this guy was really the main support I had. I made it to 9 months, including some half hearted step work, no service jobs, and plenty of drama, before I went back to drinking. Art lasted another 30 days or so and he too took up the bottle again.
This go around, I got a counselor in my first week, returned to AA in about a month and got a sponsor at my second meeting. Those two were the foundation of my recovery. The cohort I hung out with were people 2-5 years ahead of me, one mad man with almost 20 years, and one of my heroes who had 42 years when he passed away in my 4th year. I also got into group service at 4 months, and area service at 18 months.
I see what I look at.
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YEEESS!! Great to have you back.
At last I have a sponsor (at 2.5 years AF 
).
Feels good. Just finished Step 1.
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The ban hammer was not unexpected, nor was it unwarranted. However, I regret nothing.
My first attempt at sobriety I had some rehab buddies. They are all dead from overdoses. My second go at sobriety I had no network to speak of. This time around I found myself at a noon meeting a lot with some people with lotsa time. But one dude always stood out, not because of his years (47 now I believe) but because of his message. He came, he stayed, he got a sponsor, worked the steps, had an amazing life. No cravings, concerns or alcohol related struggles. Just freedom from the obsession and compulsion to drink.
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You’ve been missed. Welcome back Derek!
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Glad your back! 
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YAY!!! HE’S BACK!! You’ve been missed.
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Welcome home, my brother in sobriety!
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My character defect thread identifies the defect and then what I’m doing to work on it today
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I can only work on my own defects. That will keep me busy enough.
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All of my “problems” today are luxury problems.
Bad health? Well I have great insurance and I actually go to the doctor now.
Finances? Oh no, maybe I can’t buy the exact car I want, or get the nicest hotel when I go on vacation.
Feeling lonely? I have a network of friends who are just a call away.
Sure I got “problems” but the solutions are right there in front me. I haven’t had a real struggle in a long time. Since I’ve gotten sober life just hits different.
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This 10000%
Most problems we have are first world problems In sobriety but we lack gratitude for our haves not our have nots
You nailed it,
Money is tight but I have a job and im making it
Cars are great id love a brand new one but I am grateful for the transportation I have
Maybe a little bit Of gratitude and less complaining will be a great start like I looked at my bank account and im so broke so instead of crying about it, what’s my solution? Maybe I need to sit down and budget better.
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This so speaks to me. My life is so different from when I was thoroughly in my struggles…just as it is so different than when I was in my 20s 30s 40s and my priorities, necessities, needs, responsibilities and knowledge and experience were different. I cannot compare older healthier healing me to younger under the influence ruled by hormones, emotions and substances me.
I certainly was not making logical or healthy decisions back then and I understand that more fully now.
Just my opinion of course, having somehow made it out on the other side after so many decades wandering the wilderness.
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True. True.
Instead of complaining about gas prices I’m thankful I can afford to buy the gas, and not relegated to making a choice between gas and some other essential.
Health? I understand that I do have a lot of control over how healthy I am. I do what I can, like exercise and being mindful of what I eat.
Relationships? I try to show those who are important to me, that they are indeed important to me. Love is action, not feeling. Giving grace to these people costs me nothing but pride or ego.
Having enough money to live without worry, good health and solid loving relationships…I don’t have much in the way of want, and even less worth complaining about. I think this is called “Peace”.
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