This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay sober"
My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
"How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the root of disturbances.
So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of acceptance of conditions as they are.
Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really smoothly!"
HB, 11/3/2009,7:52:27 PM, wrote: > This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with > us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay > sober"
> My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead > and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
> "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal > inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately > reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my > feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see > if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, > which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
> Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it > out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I > can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little > more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after > that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I > feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no > reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my > friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside > me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the > root of disturbances.
> So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these > feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of > acceptance of conditions as they are.
> Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this > process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate > responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
> Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what > they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help > another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - > "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really > smoothly!"
> Keep coming back, > Hal
Thank you, Hal. I found your sharing refreshing and on topic.
"Teach me what you are doing to stay sober."
I stay sober by making conscious contact with God everyday and asking Him to guide and direct my thoughts during the day. I do not believe I have the power to keep myself sober by counting to ten or other things you hear in meetings. My dependence is upon God's grace and not myself or anyone else. The process of the Steps are necessary for recovery in the respect that they prepare me for getting out of the type of thinking that led me to the bottle but ultimate recovery is when the spirit has been restored.
"When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically." Page 64
There are certain practical things that can be done when we absolutely refuse to allow God in and for me that is usually when I am feeling sorry for myself. Anger doesn't have the grip on me that self-pity can and when I am in that frame of mind I must turn to others with the thought in mind of "How can I be of service to someone else?" rather than "Life sucks!"
Ultimately when something is going wrong in my life I turn to God first and ask for the ability to accept His will and be shown what I am supposed to do next.
HB wrote: > This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with > us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay > sober"
> My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead > and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
> "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal > inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately > reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my > feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see > if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, > which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
> Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it > out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I > can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little > more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after > that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I > feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no > reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my > friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside > me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the > root of disturbances.
> So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these > feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of > acceptance of conditions as they are.
> Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this > process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate > responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
> Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what > they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help > another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - > "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really > smoothly!"
> Keep coming back, > Hal
Thanks for sharing Hal. Please don't take offense but when I read this I thought of something in the big book: "selfishness, self-centeredness, that, we think, is the root of our troubles." (page 62)
> This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with > us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay > sober"
> My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead > and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
> "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal > inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately > reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my > feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see > if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, > which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
> Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it > out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I > can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little > more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after > that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I > feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no > reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my > friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside > me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the > root of disturbances.
> So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these > feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of > acceptance of conditions as they are.
> Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this > process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate > responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
> Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what > they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help > another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - > "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really > smoothly!"
Doesn't not taking a drink of alcohol have something to do with staying sober anymore?
> > This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with > > us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay > > sober"
> > My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead > > and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
> > "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal > > inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately > > reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my > > feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see > > if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, > > which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
> > Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it > > out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I > > can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little > > more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after > > that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I > > feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no > > reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my > > friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside > > me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the > > root of disturbances.
> > So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these > > feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of > > acceptance of conditions as they are.
> > Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this > > process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate > > responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
> > Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what > > they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help > > another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - > > "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really > > smoothly!"
> Doesn't not taking a drink of alcohol have something to do with staying > sober anymore?
> RonG- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -
Stopping drinking and not touching it will keep me abstinent, Practicing the program of AA as described does the rest.
While I don't do every one of these things consciously all the time, I find that the practice of inventory and rigorous honesty tends to dispel the compulsion to relieve whatever irritation or disturbance without thinking much about the drink.
One thing is for certain, when an active alcoholic, I enjoyed drinking and being drunk more than just about any other state of mind...and arranged my life accordingly. Staying sober has meant re-arranging my life and working with others is a primary focus of that.
Hence kicking out this bit of a share to all of you.
>> My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead >> and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
>> "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal >> inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately >> reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my >> feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see >> if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, >> which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
>> Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it >> out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I >> can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little >> more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after >> that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I >> feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no >> reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my >> friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside >> me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the >> root of disturbances.
>> So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these >> feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of >> acceptance of conditions as they are.
>> Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this >> process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate >> responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
>> Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what >> they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help >> another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - >> "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really >> smoothly!"
> Doesn't not taking a drink of alcohol have something to do with staying > sober anymore?
> RonG
When someone asks me what I do to stay sober, I tell them I don't drink. All the rest of that stuff is about living life like a responsible adult... something I didn't make a habit of when I was drinking.
On Tue, 3 Nov 2009 16:52:27 -0800 (PST), HB <hb.g...@gmail.com> wrote: >This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with >us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay >sober"
>My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead >and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
>"How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal >inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately >reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my >feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see >if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, >which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
>Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it >out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I >can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little >more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after >that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I >feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no >reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my >friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside >me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the >root of disturbances.
>So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these >feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of >acceptance of conditions as they are.
>Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this >process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate >responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
>Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what >they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help >another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - >"Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really >smoothly!"
HB wrote: > This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with > us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay > sober"
> My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead > and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
> "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal > inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately > reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my > feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see > if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my > breathing, which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
> Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing > it out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance > and I can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a > little more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after > that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do > I feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no > reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my > friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside > me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the > root of disturbances.
> So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these > feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of > acceptance of conditions as they are.
> Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this > process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate > responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
> Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what > they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help > another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - > "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really > smoothly!"
> Keep coming back, Hal
Hal, had you put into practice, "Keep It Simple", would you have been able to actually answer the guy with, "The Twenty Four Hour Plan"; rather than avoiding the question with self acclamation?
>When someone asks me what I do to stay sober, I tell them I don't drink. > All the rest of that stuff is about living life like a responsible >adult... something I didn't make a habit of when I was drinking.
>> Doesn't not taking a drink of alcohol have something to do with >> staying sober anymore?
> When someone asks me what I do to stay sober, I tell them I don't drink. > All the rest of that stuff is about living life like a responsible > adult... something I didn't make a habit of when I was drinking.
No shit. Not drinking keeps me sober. All that other shit keeps the misery at bay.
-- Mark Warner MEPIS Linux Registered Linux User #415318 ...lose .inhibitions when replying
> HB wrote: >> This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience >> with us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to >> stay sober"
>> My share went something like this...after thanking him for his >> lead and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
>> "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal >> inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of >> immediately reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the >> chair or my feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate >> environment to see if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then >> I check my breathing, which, if things aren't feeling right is >> usually shallow.
>> Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like >> blowing it out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right >> balance and I can then think rationally...rather than reacting. >> After doing a little more inventory, I can take things one step at >> a time after that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I >> irritated? Why do I feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the >> answer is that no reaction is necessary...("Don't just do >> something, sit there." as my friend in Borneo says...) - and >> usually I can find the answers inside me...AA has taught me how to >> do inventory and find the "fear" at the root of disturbances.
>> So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these >> feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of >> acceptance of conditions as they are.
>> Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this >> process...and then with my spiritual condition >> sorted...appropriate responses can be made to the world and the >> people and things in it.
>> Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to >> what they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to >> help another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things >> First" - "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes >> really smoothly!"
>> Keep coming back, Hal
> Hal, had you put into practice, "Keep It Simple", would you have > been able to actually answer the guy with, "The Twenty Four Hour > Plan"; rather than avoiding the question with self acclamation?
> Bob
I'm sort of gnu at this game. If there is something I don't understand and the speaker, explainer, instructor, teacher, *glosses* over sumpin with a *simple* phrase like "The Twenty Four Hour Plan" should I just *nod* *understandingly* like I know it 'nd go home to puzzle it out by my self?
Rule #63 wrote: > HB wrote: >> This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with >> us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay sober"
>> My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead >> and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
>> "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal >> inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately >> reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my >> feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see >> if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my >> breathing, which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
>> Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing >> it out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance >> and I can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a >> little more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after >> that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do >> I feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no >> reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my >> friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside >> me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the >> root of disturbances.
>> So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these >> feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of >> acceptance of conditions as they are.
>> Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this >> process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate >> responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
>> Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what >> they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help >> another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - >> "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really smoothly!"
>> Keep coming back, Hal
> Hal, had you put into practice, "Keep It Simple", would you have been > able to actually answer the guy with, "The Twenty Four Hour Plan"; > rather than avoiding the question with self acclamation?
Now Bob, if he drops all the "I," "me," and "my's," he'll be left with a whole lot of time on his hands. Guess he could print out the "Plan" pass it out and have an open discussion.
Rule #63 wrote: > HB wrote: >> This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with >> us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay sober"
>> My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead >> and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
>> "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal >> inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately >> reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my >> feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see >> if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my >> breathing, which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
>> Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing >> it out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance >> and I can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a >> little more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after >> that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do >> I feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no >> reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my >> friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside >> me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the >> root of disturbances.
>> So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these >> feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of >> acceptance of conditions as they are.
>> Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this >> process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate >> responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
>> Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what >> they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help >> another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - >> "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really smoothly!"
>> Keep coming back, Hal
> Hal, had you put into practice, "Keep It Simple", would you have been > able to actually answer the guy with, "The Twenty Four Hour Plan"; > rather than avoiding the question with self acclamation?
> Bob
Soooooo....
Rather than answering the question with specifics regarding how he handles situations that used to get him drinking, he should have just spouted some vague, general platitude.
JoeRaisin wrote: >>Hal, had you put into practice, "Keep It Simple", would you have >>been able to actually answer the guy with, "The Twenty Four Hour >>Plan"; rather than avoiding the question with self acclamation?
>>Bob
>Soooooo....
>Rather than answering the question with specifics regarding how he >handles situations that used to get him drinking, he should have just >spouted some vague, general platitude.
>Yeah...
Haven't you noticed, it's easier to find fault with someone else rather than open yourself up to examination.
> This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with > us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay > sober"
> My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead > and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
> "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal > inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately > reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my > feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see > if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, > which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
> Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it > out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I > can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little > more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after > that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I > feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no > reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my > friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside > me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the > root of disturbances.
> So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these > feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of > acceptance of conditions as they are.
> Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this > process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate > responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
> Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what > they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help > another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - > "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really > smoothly!"
> HB, 11/3/2009,7:52:27 PM, wrote: > > This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with > > us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay > > sober"
> > My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead > > and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
> > "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal > > inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately > > reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my > > feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see > > if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, > > which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
> > Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it > > out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I > > can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little > > more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after > > that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I > > feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no > > reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my > > friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside > > me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the > > root of disturbances.
> > So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these > > feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of > > acceptance of conditions as they are.
> > Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this > > process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate > > responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
> > Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what > > they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help > > another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - > > "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really > > smoothly!"
> > Keep coming back, > > Hal
> Thank you, Hal. I found your sharing refreshing and on topic.
> "Teach me what you are doing to stay sober."
> I stay sober by making conscious contact with God everyday and asking > Him to guide and direct my thoughts during the day. I do not believe I > have the power to keep myself sober by counting to ten or other things > you hear in meetings. My dependence is upon God's grace and not myself > or anyone else. The process of the Steps are necessary for recovery in > the respect that they prepare me for getting out of the type of > thinking that led me to the bottle but ultimate recovery is when the > spirit has been restored.
> "When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and > physically." Page 64
> There are certain practical things that can be done when we absolutely > refuse to allow God in and for me that is usually when I am feeling > sorry for myself. Anger doesn't have the grip on me that self-pity can > and when I am in that frame of mind I must turn to others with the > thought in mind of "How can I be of service to someone else?" rather > than "Life sucks!"
> Ultimately when something is going wrong in my life I turn to God first > and ask for the ability to accept His will and be shown what I am > supposed to do next.
> HB wrote: > > This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with > > us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay > > sober"
> > My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead > > and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
> > "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal > > inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately > > reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my > > feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see > > if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, > > which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
> > Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it > > out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I > > can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little > > more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after > > that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I > > feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no > > reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my > > friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside > > me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the > > root of disturbances.
> > So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these > > feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of > > acceptance of conditions as they are.
> > Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this > > process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate > > responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
> > Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what > > they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help > > another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - > > "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really > > smoothly!"
> > Keep coming back, > > Hal
> Thanks for sharing Hal. Please don't take offense but when I read this > I thought of something in the big book: "selfishness, self-centeredness, > that, we think, is the root of our troubles." (page 62)
Fucking asshole wrote the book. What is so big about it? Just a fucking book.
> On 2009-11-03 18:52:27 -0600, HB <hb.g...@gmail.com> said:
> > This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with > > us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay > > sober"
> > My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead > > and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
> > "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal > > inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately > > reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my > > feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see > > if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, > > which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
> > Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it > > out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I > > can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little > > more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after > > that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I > > feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no > > reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my > > friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside > > me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the > > root of disturbances.
> > So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these > > feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of > > acceptance of conditions as they are.
> > Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this > > process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate > > responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
> > Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what > > they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help > > another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - > > "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really > > smoothly!"
> > Keep coming back, > > Hal
> Interesting. I've been sober over 19 years now and I don't have to do
26 years. Has nothing to do with hallucinating a peice of shit as a higher power.
> all that stuff. None of it caused my alcoholism anyway. It just ran > in my family. Odds are 1 in 10 to become an alcoholic in the general > population but more than 5 in 10 if it runs in your family. Weird.
Everybody drank. IT was a way of life. Until the government said black people were better than white people.
> Wonder what that might suggest? Are you saying that just being an > overall bad, immoral guy is your cause so you need to > change that? And a course in 'common sense' (why am I disturbed? duh.) > takes care of your drinking? Might help with your frustration if you > need to go through that but you understand that frustration is a part > of life. Suffering is. Anger is. Even hate. What you might find > useful is to stay away from superiority or arrogance...because mountain
> tops have thinner air and harder to breathe...good luck.....Hal, is it? > AAspeak is so much alike that you can't tell one AAspeak guy from > another. Just don't get all wrapped up in a single focus in anything > in life and you'll probably have more fun. Fun is hard to come by so > grab it while you can.
> > This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with > > us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay > > sober"
> > My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead > > and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
> > "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal > > inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately > > reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my > > feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see > > if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, > > which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
> > Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it > > out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I > > can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little > > more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after > > that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I > > feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no > > reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my > > friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside > > me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the > > root of disturbances.
> > So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these > > feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of > > acceptance of conditions as they are.
> > Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this > > process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate > > responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
> > Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what > > they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help > > another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - > > "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really > > smoothly!"
> Doesn't not taking a drink of alcohol have something to do with staying > sober anymore?
> RonG
A brilliant asshole.
Depends who is defining sober. A christian jew cop medical mafia claims anything that is not approved by them is being dry.
> > > This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with > > > us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to stay > > > sober"
> > > My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead > > > and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
> > > "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal > > > inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of immediately > > > reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the chair or my > > > feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate environment to see > > > if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then I check my breathing, > > > which, if things aren't feeling right is usually shallow.
> > > Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing it > > > out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance and I > > > can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing a little > > > more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after > > > that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I > > > feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no > > > reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my > > > friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside > > > me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at the > > > root of disturbances.
> > > So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these > > > feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of > > > acceptance of conditions as they are.
> > > Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this > > > process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate > > > responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
> > > Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what > > > they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help > > > another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - > > > "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really > > > smoothly!"
> > Doesn't not taking a drink of alcohol have something to do with staying > > sober anymore?
> > RonG- Hide quoted text -
> > - Show quoted text -
> Stopping drinking and not touching it will keep me abstinent, > Practicing the program of AA as described does the rest.
AA has no monopoly on life. Read a history book. Jesus Fucking Christ
> While I don't do every one of these things consciously all the time, I > find that the practice of inventory and rigorous honesty tends to > dispel the compulsion to relieve whatever irritation or disturbance > without thinking much about the drink.
Irritants need to be removed. That is why we need a civil war. To rid our society of scumbag AA members who are hell bent on shoving religion down everybodys throats.
> One thing is for certain, when an active alcoholic, I enjoyed drinking > and being drunk more than just about any other state of mind...and > arranged my life accordingly. Staying sober has meant re-arranging my > life and working with others is a primary focus of that.
> Hence kicking out this bit of a share to all of you.
> Thanks for the feedback...it helps!
> Keep coming back, > Hal
Constant vigilance to rid our land of christian jew hallucinators forcing a piece of shit called god on to the population.
JoeRaisin wrote: > Rule #63 wrote: >> HB wrote: >>> This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience >>> with us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to >>> stay sober"
>>> My share went something like this...after thanking him for his >>> lead and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
>>> "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal >>> inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of >>> immediately reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in >>> the chair or my feet feel on the ground and then scan my >>> immediate environment to see if I'd better move or get squashed. >>> If not, then I check my breathing, which, if things aren't >>> feeling right is usually shallow.
>>> Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like >>> blowing it out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the >>> right balance and I can then think rationally...rather than >>> reacting. After doing a little more inventory, I can take things >>> one step at a time after that...asking myself "Why am I >>> disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do I feel that a reaction is >>> urgent?" Usually the answer is that no reaction is >>> necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my friend >>> in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers inside >>> me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" at >>> the root of disturbances.
>>> So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve >>> these feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a >>> lack of acceptance of conditions as they are.
>>> Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this >>> process...and then with my spiritual condition >>> sorted...appropriate responses can be made to the world and the >>> people and things in it.
>>> Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to >>> what they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try >>> to help another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things >>> First" - "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes >>> really smoothly!"
>>> Keep coming back, Hal
>> Hal, had you put into practice, "Keep It Simple", would you have >> been able to actually answer the guy with, "The Twenty Four Hour >> Plan"; rather than avoiding the question with self acclamation?
>> Bob
> Soooooo....
> Rather than answering the question with specifics regarding how he > handles situations that used to get him drinking, he should have just > spouted some vague, general platitude.
Crikey, Joe Pertaining to the original question, "Teach me what you are doing to stay sober" and given the recent situation that kept your mind spinning for so long, I would have thought you would be the last to denigrate a specific, practical, and very simple plan; that for many if not most sober alcoholics has been proven to work.
>> Now Bob, if he drops all the "I," "me," and "my's," he'll be left >> with a whole lot of time on his hands.
> He hasn't progressed to the level of pointing fingers at others like > you have yet.
Actually, Mikey, I wasn't being critical, (*I* only do /constructive/ criticism). I was just pointing out what seemed prominent to /me/, hence the qualifier, "please don't take offense, but."
I was once encouraged to ignore any statement that was followed by a "but," but....., you can trust me when I say that in /this/ case, it does not apply. <wink, wink>
> Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what > they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help > another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - > "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really > smoothly!"
> Keep coming back, > Hal
Feck me, you're a real AA speak guy ain't you. What do you do in real life. In real situations?
How do I stay sober.
Gosh it is so simple that a highly intelligent guy like me almost missed it. I did notice that those who stayed sober (although they pumped out cliches, dogma and slogans almost robot-like) didn't drink. Bloody moses, they stayed sober by not drinking.
Remember to keep it simple. You (or I) can be too smart to stay sober. Its been my experience over a goodly number of years that those who find they need to continue hitting the book and the meetings are apparently the ones who find life the most difficult. A few days around ARAA will show you that.
Remember,,,,,,,, to stay sober - just don't drink......... Cheers Tommy
Rule #63 wrote: > JoeRaisin wrote: >> Rule #63 wrote: >>> HB wrote: >>>> This morning, we had a guy with 8 months sharing his experience with >>>> us and bringing up the topic "Teach me what you are doing to >>>> stay sober"
>>>> My share went something like this...after thanking him for his lead >>>> and congratulating him on making it to 8 months.
>>>> "How I stay sober? I concentrate on continuing to take personal >>>> inventory...and if I'm disturbed by something, instead of >>>> immediately reacting, I try to start with how my butt feels in the >>>> chair or my feet feel on the ground and then scan my immediate >>>> environment to see if I'd better move or get squashed. If not, then >>>> I check my breathing, which, if things aren't feeling right is >>>> usually shallow.
>>>> Breathing slower and holding the breath in when I feel like blowing >>>> it out helps a lot to restore the blood gases to the right balance >>>> and I can then think rationally...rather than reacting. After doing >>>> a little more inventory, I can take things one step at a time after >>>> that...asking myself "Why am I disturbed? Why am I irritated? Why do >>>> I feel that a reaction is urgent?" Usually the answer is that no >>>> reaction is necessary...("Don't just do something, sit there." as my >>>> friend in Borneo says...) - and usually I can find the answers >>>> inside me...AA has taught me how to do inventory and find the "fear" >>>> at the root of disturbances.
>>>> So, that helps me stay sober rather than drinking to relieve these >>>> feelings of discomfort that often have their origin in a lack of >>>> acceptance of conditions as they are.
>>>> Now, if I get that far...I can use prayer and meditation in this >>>> process...and then with my spiritual condition sorted...appropriate >>>> responses can be made to the world and the people and things in it.
>>>> Finally, I can reach out my hand to help others...listening to what >>>> they have to share with compassion and patience. I can try to help >>>> another alcoholic. I can put into practice "First Things First" - >>>> "Easy Does It" and "Live and Let Live"...and life goes really >>>> smoothly!"
>>>> Keep coming back, Hal
>>> Hal, had you put into practice, "Keep It Simple", would you have been >>> able to actually answer the guy with, "The Twenty Four Hour Plan"; >>> rather than avoiding the question with self acclamation?
>>> Bob
>> Soooooo....
>> Rather than answering the question with specifics regarding how he >> handles situations that used to get him drinking, he should have just >> spouted some vague, general platitude.
> Crikey, Joe > Pertaining to the original question, "Teach me what you are doing to > stay sober" and given the recent situation that kept your mind spinning > for so long, I would have thought you would be the last to denigrate a > specific, practical, and very simple plan; that for many if not most > sober alcoholics has been proven to work.
> Bob
Crikey Bob,
First, I don't recall saying that anything has my mind spinning.
Second, I don't believe that all the answers are in the slogans. I know, I know, lots of you guys out there and if that's what works for you more power to you. But there's no reason to try and heap ridicule on those who desire more.
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