Sober Scribbles

Recovery isn't a straight line. I write about the detours.

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@JkWheeln Whoa! Spot on. They say if you're lost in the woods to trust your compass. But my compass was saying "It's ok to have a drink. It's not that bad. You can always quit tomorrow." Sneaky!

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@dkwilk160338 I'm no longer ashamed to be an addict-alcoholic.

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@JVMonte2 Tuesday Afternoon - Moody Blues.

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@luiscalleo SRV. Jeff Beck. EVH! Knopffler for sure!

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@DrewTurner73 Criminallization doesn't seem like the answer does it? In high school, it was easier for me to get illicit drugs than it was for me to get alcohol. Why?

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@luiscalleo Bennie and the jetsssssssssssss

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@1Nicdar Sure, and I still DIAL a number on the phone.

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@SedonaCAuthor Something you have and something you know.

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@frontwish Let go or be dragged!

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@SSB_Rick Sobriety is not a straight line. There are bumps and detours. Sometimes you just hang on and get through it without picking up. I've NEVER regretted not picking up a drink.

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An old timer in the program passed away recently. His name was Vic.

I didn't know Vic that well, but I'll never forget one bit of kindness he did for me.

Before covid I had signed up to help with the jail meetings. At that time, I was rejected. I didnt' know why, that's just what I was told by the person running the program for the district.

After covid was easing up, Vic volunteered to start up the jail meetings again, subject to the county allowing it. This time, I was approved by the sheriff. I had been a "guest" of the county in that very facility for a day some years ago. (I don't know if this worked in my favor or not!)

I was deathly afraid of running the jail meeting. I figured I was never a "hardened criminal" so what kind of creds do I have! Plus young, confident males really intimidated me. Still do, just not as much.

So after expressing my concerns to Vic, which, btw had nothing to do with the real reasons above!, Vic invited me over to his place to do the meeting on the first night. We set up in his finished basement, sitting next to each other, and I let him lead. I don't remember much about the meeting itself, but I'll never forget sitting together, Vic and I.

Soon afterward, Vic grabbed me at a meeting and said he had to step aside as the committee chairperson. He asked if I would step in for him. What was I going to say? Of course I would.

We're still doing the meeting, 2 other fellow travelers and I. We take turns chairing the meeting each week. Some of the guys in there are interested in recovery and some are not. We try to plant the seed.

We've had 3 of the guys show up at our little home group and thank us. That's rewarding, but I've really grown to love Thursday nights doing the zoom meeting. Ok, I still grumble about it sometimes, but I always feel better after. So who needs the meetings more? They guys in the jail or me?

That's how I choose to remember Vic. I didn't go to his memorial service, instead I chaired the noon meeting for Andy, who wanted to go. I love you Vic!

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@thought_harbor Whatever you think of most is your higher power?

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@myselfcoaching1 You can't think your way into right action. You have to act your way into right thinking.

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@thought_harbor Ah, but there's that breadcrumb trail leading me out of a confusing new forest and back to comfortability. The warm embrace of a straitjacket! 😀

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@Mr_Tiny985 A friend of mine said this: "If people treated me the way I treat myself, I'd kick their ass."

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@MarkTonerX More will be revealed.

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@dkwilk160338 This was suggested to me by an old timer once, so I got to a meeting early and did it! I felt like a part of the group and was more at ease with talking to strangers!

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@Mr_Tiny985 Thank you. Made me cry.

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@gguitarzan Dunno, but I can't find the bridge. The confounded bridge.

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@XproblemDrinker Listening can be so deep. There's the active listening part, but then there's the understanding of where they're coming from.