Making SOBER less Shameful

sober
I wish I still looked this good!

I heard it in a meeting: I may look like a grandma, but I didn’t party like a grandma – in fact I partied with YOUR grandma, and I sure hope she made it into recovery.

Everybody laughed because newcomers sometimes can’t believe that those with a little time under our belts could identify with where they are. Neither did we when we first came into the rooms.

Nope, I was not the picture of a dependable person; I wasn’t dependable, unless we were drinking together. Then, you could depend on me to show up.

It sounds weird, when I look at myself in the mirror, to know that I am only one drink away from making really stupid choices. I look so harmless now – but I’m not clueless . . . most days.

Recovery is a day-day reprieve from alcoholism that changes how we believe and act.  Making meetings – mainly to listen, sometimes to share – keeps me on course; the God of my understanding keeps me anchored.

Sometimes I heard a life-changing nugget from someone who looked like their act had always been together; other times, a person who looked a little the worse for wear made me understand just how progressive the disease alcoholism.

I like the AA way best – but in this marvelous age in internet info – hope and help from around the world can be the tonic our gin never was. Here are two links that are worth checking out:

  1. Clare Pooley reaches out to make SOBER less shameful – especially for women – Her take worth pondering:

Moderation would never be my forte – I was controlling alcohol until I realized alcohol controlled me. We need to give people HOPE not shame!

  1. 11 Things I learned from Going Sober in my Twenties

Also, anxiety is a door that can lead women and men to abuse alcohol. Alcohol abuse is not always the same as alcoholism – but it’s not a safe place to camp. This is a useful mediation:   7 LIES Anxiety wants us to Believe.

What do you think, gentle reader?  Any questions?  The only dumb one is the one we don’t ask!

shame

Love in Christ,

Sober and Grateful

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2019
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Making SOBER less Shameful
Share
Tagged on: