Re: I am still alive & sober! -- Schick Happens

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Date Posted: 07:44:43 11/22/06 Wed
Author: Nanette
Subject: Re: I am still alive & sober!
In reply to: Karen W 's message, "I am still alive & sober!" on 13:46:01 11/16/06 Thu

Karen!
It's so great to hear you are doing well and are gaining insight into dealing with difficult issues (especially those train wrecks) without the need for alcohol.
I'm finding that when events like that occur for me it's become an opportunity to stay sober, and besides, it's so much easier to deal with everything without alcohol because I'm not piling another train wreck onto an already existing one.
I find it interesting that you say you "passed onto a higher understanding of dealing with difficult events." It's amazing how much I'm actually 'learning' from dealing with my life. Even though I was a student for part of the time I was drinking, and still managing to get through and pass my classes, I'm not sure I gave myself the opportunity to learn anything about 'me' while I was drinking. I think maybe that's the feeling an alcoholic gets when one says "I feel like a weak person." Because, in a way, for me, at least, I don't think I ever allowed my 'strengths' to come out of hiding from behind that bottle. Now that there is no bottle to hide behind my strengths are starting to appear, as well as, my 'true'weaknesses. It's a great feeling to recognize those when they appear. Because now I know where I can actually handle certain events and do a much better job of it while sober, and where I need some work. But, now I have the faculties to work on those things I never thought I would be able to before. I consider that real intelligence. And where my 'safety' net was the bottle before, which was actually riddled with holes and not much material to hang onto, I am now guarding my sobriety with my life. I am finding my life, in and of itself, is much stronger, more comprehensive material in which to build my safety net. Does it seem a more difficult task than reaching for the bottle at times? Sure. But, we all know that something well-made costs more in time and energy. Ultimately though, it lasts longer, does its job better in the event of extreme usage, and/or when needed to take a strain for a long period of time, and everytime you build more into it it gets stronger, and is more satisfying in the long run.

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