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S.Leeper
Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
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Aug 28, 2013 - 01:11am PT
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Thanks Chief
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S.Leeper
Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
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Aug 28, 2013 - 01:11am PT
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It's a new day and a good one at that.
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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Aug 28, 2013 - 02:33am PT
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They tell you "don't make any major decisions in your first year." Has anybody read the third step?! Then they tell you "don't make any major changes in your first year", then five minutes later they say "you gotta change everything!" They say "don't judge anybody in AA" then in the next breath they say "stick with the winners!" WTF, I LOVE this shit!
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S.Leeper
Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
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Aug 28, 2013 - 04:46am PT
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haha ain't it the truth
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TwistedCrank
climber
Bungwater Hollow, Ida-ho
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Aug 28, 2013 - 10:25am PT
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The program - any good program really - is filled with paradoxes and contradictions.
If pondering them keeps you from drinking, then the program was - is - a success.
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Kenygl
Trad climber
Salt Lake City
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Aug 28, 2013 - 11:27am PT
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What it takes is a clear mind. Something which folks reading the literature for the first times rarely possesses. Stick around, it gets better.
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S.Leeper
Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
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Aug 28, 2013 - 05:33pm PT
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rough day, serenity prayer time.
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Aug 28, 2013 - 05:38pm PT
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Been on a dry drunk all day. TIme for some 11th step (meditation)
JL
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S.Leeper
Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
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Aug 28, 2013 - 05:59pm PT
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How is the leg, John?
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Edge
Trad climber
New Durham, NH
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Aug 28, 2013 - 06:23pm PT
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Ah yes, Step 11.
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
It's the only step that I took out of order. I mean, once you acknowledge that there is a higher power, and that YOU are not it, why wait to strike up a conversation? I'm not even talking religion, but more about spirituality. As climbers, it is easy to find magic in nature, to admit that the order of the Universe trumps our poor, pitiful existence, and that we are really insignificant in the "big picture."
Meditating in nature was key for this alcoholic, and helps put things in perspective. I have done this for 3+ years now every day, without fail, in the sun, rain, or snow. In fact I actually prefer the inclement weather, and for those who question me I will often relay the quote, "Those who think sunshine brings happiness have never danced in the rain."
The concept of a "higher power" stops many from progressing, but as has been mentioned, you can use the collective consciousness of the group, or temporarily even an old timer who has what you want. Just don't limit yourself to these things as you progress, you should always strive to move forward, even when your goal of sobriety is reached.
As an aside, I once listened to some wretched, tortured soul in an AA meeting tell her story. She had 10 years at the time, but purely from willpower and attending several meetings a day for all those years; she was unable to evolve past this existence. She relayed how in rehab someone had suggested to her that the lightbulb in the ceiling could be her higher power, and insisted that this worked for her. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen should the lightbulb burn out...
And a mentor once shared this with me about willpower: "Have you ever had diarrhea? Try to use willpower against that and let me know how that works out for you."
No matter where you are in your sobriety, day one or year twenty, you must always reach for something more. There will be ups, downs, successes, and setbacks, but if you accept them as life and deal with them all rationally and without needing to pick up, you are healing.
I love this thread, it's the only "meeting" I have attended for the last year and a half. It's my conscious contact that makes the foundation for everything else to build off of.
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S.Leeper
Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
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Aug 28, 2013 - 06:35pm PT
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And a mentor once shared this with me about willpower: "Have you ever had diarrhea? Try to use willpower against that and let me know how that works out for you."
excellent example
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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Aug 28, 2013 - 07:04pm PT
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Anybody else checked out Blum and Loughan's The Healing Runes? It's the sh#t. I pull a rune every morning to start my day. Using all the tricks right now.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Aug 28, 2013 - 11:29pm PT
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I'm like the Jeebs. This thread is my only "meeting". Don't cotton to organizations in general.
But whatever works for you, do it. The AA seems to work wonders for some, just not my thing.
Found out earlier this week that my cousin, a close childhood friend, died of a drug induced heart attack last year at age 40 (yeah, WTF? They're just telling me this now?). 20 years of meth will do that to you.
I always hoped he'd pull it together someday, he had 3 little boys...well I guess one is out of high school by now, so not so little anymore. In and out of jail, on and off the ice, dealing, stealing, the whole nine. What a waste.
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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Aug 29, 2013 - 12:02am PT
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Perhaps someday in the distant future the day will arrive when I can taper off, but for now I need a steady diet of meetings and the program. Besides, in Flag AA is a social scene where I already know half the people. The party scene here has produced quite a few casualties.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Aug 29, 2013 - 12:16am PT
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That seems like a pretty good place to be, Bob...not Flag (I hate those #$%^& trains! never get good sleep in Flag), but knowing what you need and doing it. Dedication and self-knowledge, good tools indeed.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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Aug 29, 2013 - 01:19am PT
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if you really screw up, you will end up in the streets with no money to buy drinks unless you beg along side the freeway,
best to fix the problem before you hit that kind of bottom,
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drewsky
climber
Seattle
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Aug 29, 2013 - 04:34pm PT
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Reading through this thread has been extremely informative. As someone with relatively mild but still undeniably present alcohol issues, it offers a lot of good information about the spectrum of problems that can result and about how the 'relatively mild' can rapidly change. Food for thought for anyone who drinks moderately but still acknowledges having the occasional binging problem.
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S.Leeper
Social climber
somewhere that doesnt have anything over 90'
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Aug 29, 2013 - 05:28pm PT
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not an alcoholic here, other issues.
Good to hear your friend is on the right track, Matt.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Aug 29, 2013 - 05:52pm PT
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Bets of luck to your drummer friend, Matt.
My sister emailed me last week that her oldest son (24 or so) voluntarily went to rehab. I saw him in May and it was so sad to see another generation in my family being afflicted with alcoholism. Hes got it good. I sent her a note with a message to relay. Let's hope E can do it - it must kill a mother to see their child succumbing.....
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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Aug 31, 2013 - 03:17pm PT
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Another excellent adventure. The blessings keep Rollin in!
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