Today is a sober day and I am thankful for.......

[MediumBrownDog]

Today at our meeting, the Grandmas and Grandpas asked me to get up 15 minutes early every day and make a list of what I'm grateful or thankful for since I've been sober. I can list the same stuff every day, or I can try to come up with new things as my sober life unfolds. I've told them about you guys and your huge role in helping me get sober, and while most of them don't understand what a "thread" is, they thought it would be fun, positive and inspiring to "get a discussion going" about what everyone is thankful for since they achieved sobriety. Or just what you are thankful for today, a sober day. I agree!

So, today is a sober day and I am thankful for:

(1) Being sober.

(2) My sinus infection. Why? Because I know it's just a sinus infection, and not a hangover, and I'm not afraid to go to the doctor anymore because he knows my deal and he can treat me appropriately. What a relief! I can't believe that I neglected my health for so long for fear of being "found out" as an alcoholic.

(3) The look on my son's face when I sit down to build that train track or read that book, since I can now concentrate and give him the attention he deserves.

(4) My husband, "He Who Understands and Supports."

(5) The green in the yard after today's rain. The smell of the rain, and the newly cut grass.

(6) My "big meeting" in Richmond tomorrow with my new employer, and the fact that I'm not dreading the road trip. It helps to know that you're not going to have dry heaves in the car.

(7) The fact that the sky is so much bigger now when I cross one of the bay bridges. It's always been there, but I couldn't see it because I was so ill in the mornings that clutching the steering wheel and "coloring between the lines" was all I could manage.

(8) All of you here at DU who have held my hand, propped me up, and propelled me forward. You guys are the best. Absolutely, positively, the best group of people I've ever "met." Yeah, it's "only" online, but you know what? In this situation, that was crucial for me. I couldn't have looked someone in the eye when I started posting in this group on 3/15. Someday, I hope to have the privilege of meeting all of you face to face.

(9) The Grandmas and Grandpas AA group.

So, what are you thankful for?

Much love. MBD

[NMDemDist2]

1. what a great idea MBD, thank the G/Gs for me won't you?

I do gratitude lists when ever I'm down or feeling overwhelmed to this day!

today I'm grateful for:

the beautiful spring weather we're having

the new floor paint in the Alano club that was so stinky and smelly we had the meeting outside on the lawn on the beautiful spring day we're having

That my neck is a little pink from the above mentioned spring day :rofl:

I dwell on this because I spent literally decades of my life in dark barrooms and slept through spring days like this too many times.

also on my list are

Hubby should be home in an hour or so

my new shoes are making my job bearable and I'm in a lot less physical pain than I have been dealing with the last couple months

my little house on my "God's Little Acre" here in New Mexico. last year at this time our lives were full of economic insecurity and grief from the closing of our business. but we have faith and kept doing what was in front of us and 'the next right thing' as we had been taught in the program and here we are, comfortably ensconced in a home we own outright with $$ in the bank

We're having Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes and gravy for dinner YUM! :9

I could go on and on, but I won't. Thanks again for this thread and be sure to tell the G/Gs 'HI' from this "friend of Bill" in New Mexico and I hope to meet you and them on this road of happy destiny!

:hi:

[w8liftinglady]

2. what an awesome,inspiring post

I am grateful for my beautiful children,who keep me going.
My job,caring for people who have lost hope.Helping them and their families gives me hope.
My boyfriend,who tries to be supportive.
My mom,who is such a loving,beautiful person.
My new friend,the neighbor across the street,who took it upon herself to introduce herself to me...teresa.
my sobriety,and you,my friends.

[idgiehkt]

3. Thanks for posting this

It's very heartening to read. I came into recovery very young, my early twenties, and I felt very strange going to those meetings where everyone in the room had white hair. Now I realize that if I am lucky maybe I will someday be one of those people sitting around the table, with white hair. And some of those folks, I found, had 40 years of recovery, which made them the same age I was when they got sober, which back then was a lot more difficult because in the beginning AA was considered to be for 'low bottom' drunks only. I remember hearing the oldtimers tell stories about it, how if someone came into the rooms and they had a watch on they would look at them and say, 'you aren't ready to get sober yet, you still have a watch', lol.

I don't want to list my gratitude stuff because it's kind of personal but suffice it to say that #1 is that some things that I have been struggling with my entire life as far as my codependency are becoming crystal clear to me now, and now that I understand, at a gut level (which has been a long time coming) just what it is that is going on and what mistakes I am making, I get to change. I can't express the depth of my gratitude about this. I'm dealing with a situation where I am being badly slandered, which bites, but the insight I've experienced because of the pain caused by that situation is invaluable to me and I'm so glad that I get to change, and I don't have to behave the way I'm seeing some other parties behave. I mean it's at the point where it's easy to pray for the other folks and wish them the insight I've been given. That is saying something, because I don't always find it easy to pray for folks I have resentments against or get angry at. And yes the weather is great and all that, but just having this one piece of the puzzle, and being able to hold it close to me and know, finally, what conditioned behaviors are tripping me up, is something I've waited my whole adult life for. And to think that if I were still drinking and still alive (very unlikely) I would be running around like a tornado in other people's lives causing untold pain and consternation and not even knowing or caring...I feel incredibly blessed to be sober, so thanks for making this post, and congrats on your sober time. :hug:

[NMDemDist2]

6. ....

[varkam]

4. You know...

All of you here at DU who have held my hand, propped me up, and propelled me forward. You guys are the best. Absolutely, positively, the best group of people I've ever "met." Yeah, it's "only" online, but you know what? In this situation, that was crucial for me. I couldn't have looked someone in the eye when I started posting in this group on 3/15. Someday, I hope to have the privilege of meeting all of you face to face.

Part of my addiction was believing that lie. Believing that these are just virtual relationships and so that people can't be hurt (or helped) through them. As we touch you, you touch us, as well.

Today, I'm mostly thankful for the gifts that I have in my life. A solid group of friends. A beautiful woman who loves me. Parents who do the same. An understanding of who I am. Also, this place.

Take care :pals:

[MediumBrownDog]

5. Good point, and you are exactly right....

I didn't believe that online relationships could change your life until this experience. I can tell you now that I have done a 180 on that attitude. The willingness of the folks in this group to reach out a hand and spend time mentoring someone they've never met, online or otherwise, still blows me away. But I still maintain that the small degree of separation that posting online gives a person (as opposed to face to face interaction)gave me the courage to make my first post to this group. I didn't know what the reaction would be to my post on the 15th. Had it been negative, I could have closed my laptop and walked away and not have had to deal with the additional trauma of seeing the look of disgust on someone's face. (I was convinced that everyone should and would loathe me as much as I loathed myself).

So, Varkam, yes, I used to believe "that lie." No more. Didn't mean to imply that I still did. By the way, I truly enjoy your writing on addiction. I get a lot out of it.

Much love -- MBD

[varkam]

8. I get a lot out of yours as well

And there is definitely a difference between online interactions and real-world ones, one being (as you pointed out) it's easier to come clean here. It's still, however, by no means easy; just easier.

[Kajsa]

7. Hi MBD!- The Gratitude List- yes!

The thing that brings me out of a funk every time
I write one.

Thank you for reminding us of this important tool
in sobriety.

I'm grateful for;

1. Waking up and remembering everything that happened
the last 24 hours.

2. My family who understands this disease, this program
and has given me lots of love and support.

3. My friends, including this great group of online alkis/addicts
who have reminded me that my life is not so bad and there is
nothing we can't get through, together.

4. A roof over my head, food in my refrigerator and cupboards,
and clothes in my closet. Millions of people don't have this.

5.Last but not least, my Higher Power and
my two kitty cats. I'm not being blasphemous putting them
together.

They all love me unconditionally.

Thanks for reminding me of the 'List".
It's been way too long since I've made one.

:pals:

[KitchenWitch]

9. I have gotten back into the habit of making a list of 5 things I am grateful for

I write this list almost every night before I go to bed. I had been in this habit years ago, and somehow the habit fell away. I am now doing it again, and it truly does make a difference in how I perceive the events of my life. Instead of "look at all this shit happening to me", my feelings and thoughts are "look at the great things happening"; even when my life is painful. Helps make me more bearable.

[wildeyed]

10. Gratitude is the key to happiness.

I am very happy. Also very tired so I am not going to list right now. Suffice to say that I have a very high-end problems these days. :)

[NMDemDist2]

11. hiya wild!

hope the ankle is doing better

:hi:

[wildeyed]

13. Doing well!

Leg is still a bit weak, but I am getting around now, so that is good. Kids are off school this week for spring break so I am busy watching them :) :hi:

[NMDemDist2]

14. you'll get the strength back in no time

chasing those kids and dogs around hehe

:pals:

[Why Syzygy]

12. Hi, MBD.

Been reading this thread the past few days. Woke up this morning thinking about it.
I used to write gratitude lists all the time. I ran across a calendar book from that time period and was amazed at how many NAMES were written there. I was really grateful to be involved with a supportive group.

So, I was grateful that I'm not hungover. No nausua, headache, shakes, sweats.
I didn't puke.
I didn't wake up in Terror. That's always a nice change.
I can plan to drive anywhere I want today. Don't have to plan a trip for the supply. No drinking and driving.
Spend my money on something more worthwhile!
Be happy to have the ability to offer my love to others.

Thanks. Be Well.