I really appreciate your responses Timbo. I am still alcohol free and I feel really good. My mind is clearer, I have more energy and I am happier then I have been in awhile. I am so glad I stuck with it and didn't drink with my friend. I am spending more time with my non drinking friends but my other friends seem very happy for me and I don't think they will be asking me to drink anytime soon. Thinks are looking up. I am still not ready to quit smoking but at least I am staying strong with alcohol. The temptations have been hard but the rewards are well worth it.

Thanks again Timbo!

Your encouragement helps a lot. It is nice to know people out there are thinking of me. Well, I made a big mistake. My good buddy just proposed to his girlfriend and she said yes. He called me and asked me to go out for a beer just the two of us to celebrate. I couldn't resist. I didn't want to rain on his parade and tell him I didn't want to break my no alcohol streak. Well I ended up drinking too much and my girlfriend was royally pissed. She is rightly angry as I promised I would not drink again and if I did I would not drink to excess. I felt awful the next day and I still feel awful. I am right back to not drinking but man this is so hard. I am kicking myself to make such a stupid mistake.

Thanks for your response Lynn. I needed to read this today.

I messed up badly. A really good friend of mine just got engaged. He asked me out for a beer and I agreed. Stupid me. I thought I could just have a couple to celebrate this huge life event with him. Well, I ended up drinking way to much. My girlfriend is pissed at me and I am pissed at me too. What a stupid choice. I am not drinking again but I am still so mad at myself. I thought I had learned a lot in these past few weeks. I guess not enough.

Thanks for bumping.

I really needed to read this today. I am pretty down on myself.

Thanks for the encouragement Timbo. I haven't had a drink since I wrote the last post and I am feeling much better. My gf isn't as mad at me anymore. I spoiled her on Valentine's Day and she understands I am only human. The fact that I am being honest about my drinking has helped a lot too. If I ever lied to her about it I am certain she would leave me and I wouldn't blame her. I don't think I have the guts to tell her to smack me. She can pack quiet a punch even when she is joking haha.

Hopefully this time next week I will still be alcohol free. Taking it one day at a time.

Hello

I am just jumping in to say I am sorry you lost your dog. I lost my dog a few years ago. He was hit by a car. I was destroyed. All I did was drink and rage at the people speeding past my house. I really hate people who speed in residential areas. It wasn't a good few months. It will get easier. I don't drink anymore so that helped a lot. I tend to get really negative about thinks too. I found exercise helped me a lot. I am sure this program is pretty good too. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet as I am focusing on my addictions right now. Wish you all the best bud. Keep on writing here. I try to check in once a week or so. What was your dog's name? My dog was named Odin. I still miss him but I don't think about it everyday anymore.

Thanks everyone!!!!

I am doing much better now. I haven't had a drink since I posted last. The slip was another wake up call to me. I am really determined to be alcohol free for at least a few months. I can't just have a few and I have to accept that. It feels great to still be working on this goal. I am just glad I wasn't as bad as I was a year ago. Trying to focus on the positive and keep moving forward.

How was everyone's Valentine's Day? I was able to celebrate without alcohol and I was pretty proud of myself. I did have a big too much chocolate though haha.

I really like this idea. I would like to participate. Quitting alcohol has been really hard during the pandemic for me. It is a good excuse not to hang out at bars though. For me no bars has helped.

I really like the quote below from John Lennon. It doesn't really talk about addiction or anything but for me it is still relevant. I often feel down on myself because I didn't achieve as much I wanted to in my 20s. This is because I spent way too much of my time drunk or hung over. I don't like to define myself by what I do for a living. How I can make myself and others happy is what is important to me. I am better able to be happy and make others happy when I am not drinking all the time.

"When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life."



Hi Lynn

I have been really busy and not able to post. I started with a personal trainer and I have been exhausted when I come home. It has been really good for me. I think it is helping my mood and it keeps me motivated to stay healthy. I haven't had a drink!! I am very proud of that.

Thanks for everything you wrote. What you write is always very helpful. I think I did use alcohol as a way to deal with stress. When I was drinking heavy it was due to a lot of personal and work stress. I guess I did need alcohol at that time... now I am in a much better place to take this on. Pandemic or not, I am going to fight this.

How have you been?

Grapeseed

Thank you for sharing this. I needed to hear that. I wanted to skip my personal trainer today because I was feeling very tired and unmotivated. Now I won't!!