Friend of Bill W.

[LeftWriteFemme]

August 29

SATISFACTION



Satisfaction is like a marble in my pocket. Formed when correctness was still red hot and my sponsor rolled my mind until I was whole. I sigh and square my shoulders. I know I am up to any task. I am skilled with my tools and know well the talents of my intimates and helpmates. I am not invincible but I am capable. I value who and what I am today. I sleep the sleep of a person not a hostage or a captor. I am me. I have a marble in my pocket and it reminds me of the world. I have a world within me; knowing how to live with that is a great satisfaction.


Listen clearly to angry words but don’t repeat them.

Yours in sobriety,

Sherrie

[SirWalterHere]

hi friends.

it's been a while since i've posted. getting used to working again (it's been a few years) and am just trying to readust to the working world along with being sober for the first time in twenty-plus years. it's also nice to go to work without a hangover for a change. i can't even count all the "firsts" of my sobriety. like martha says, "it's a good thing."

oh yeah, i get my yellow chip today!! me???????? 30 days????????? yup! i still can't believe it.

okies.....off to refresh my so i can go punch the clock . hope everyone has a fab friday!!!!!

you are another miricle and proof the programs works!!! now get another day

Walter

[LeftWriteFemme]

August 30

THE CALL

Within the sound of your voice
I sing
In the beat of your heart
I heal
I feel in your touch
And dance when your toe starts to tap
I see myself in your beauty
I warm inside your embrace
Your thoughts are my inspiration
Your lungs breathe me in and blow me out
I soar in your flight
And dream in your waking
I ring in your ears
Fall with your tears
I’m lost in you
Found in you
Travel and lounge in you
I share all your rantings
And hide in your secrets
You hear and caress me
My darling
You know who I am


Return to an old joy for a visit.

Yours in sobriety,

Sherrie

[DallasLesbian]

When I first got sober I honestly didn't think it would last more than a week or two. I didn't think I had it in me to want to live that much. That was a long time ago. Today I am celebrating my 18 yr sobriety and it's because of a Power much greater than myself as well as people like you that come in here and post.

Thank you all for being here each day to post and remind me where I have been and what my life was about. Each time I see someone new post it reminds me that it really hasn't gotten any better and believe it or not by your posting your 1 week or 1month sobriety.......it sure help's to keep me sober for another day. Thank you again for popping in and posting.

[funkyfemme]

When I first got sober I honestly didn't think it would last more than a week or two. I didn't think I had it in me to want to live that much. That was a long time ago. Today I am celebrating my 18 yr sobriety and it's because of a Power much greater than myself as well as people like you that come in here and post.

Thank you all for being here each day to post and remind me where I have been and what my life was about. Each time I see someone new post it reminds me that it really hasn't gotten any better and believe it or not by your posting your 1 week or 1month sobriety.......it sure help's to keep me sober for another day. Thank you again for popping in and posting.

congrats LB!!!!! you're awesome and such an inspiration to me. i am so proud of you. keep up the good work and also know that you're appreciated for your 'old timer' knowledge and wisdom.
you rock!

[DallasLesbian]

congrats LB!!!!! you're awesome and such an inspiration to me. i am so proud of you. keep up the good work and also know that you're appreciated for your 'old timer' knowledge and wisdom.
you rock!

Thank you sweetie.......I'm glad to know that I am appreciated, for my 'old timer' knowledge and wisdom........and wow, it feels really good to know I rock

[LeftWriteFemme]

DL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats, I am so happy for you. I hope this year is even better than the last.

Hugs and Kisses,

Sherrie

[DallasLesbian]

DL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats, I am so happy for you. I hope this year is even better than the last.

Hugs and Kisses,

Sherrie

Thank you Sherrie, I'm hoping this year will be even better than the last as well, it was a toughy at times.......but hey, I'm on the other side of it now.......which means it's all good

[Greyson]

Good morning to all of you, and thank you so very much to each of you for sharing your thoughts and experience. Some days the postings here are the wind in my sails. This Old Timer is grateful for all of you.

Greyson

[SirWalterHere]

[COLOR=black][B]When I first got sober I honestly didn't think it would last more than a week or two. I didn't think I had it in me to want to live that much. That was a long time ago. Today I am celebrating my 18 yr sobriety and it's because of a Power much greater than myself as well as people like you that come in here and post

WOW!! congrats!!! another miracle

[SirWalterHere]

anyone been to the national convention for native american's in aa? anyone interested in going?

[LeftWriteFemme]

.


Where is it and when???



.

[SirWalterHere]

.


Where is it and when???



.

http://www.nai-aa.com/ oops forgot to post link

end of Sept in Wisconsin...

[LeftWriteFemme]

.


thank you


.

[Dat_NYC-Guy]

Haha...I STILL say 'who knew'. I am so happy you are sober and enjoying your life again. This afternoon while going home I noticed the liquor store that I used to stop by every night to get a bottle (the large one of course) and today as I was heading home I stopped and looked at it from across the street. I don't miss it, don't miss the smell of it, don't miss the taste of it and I sure as heck don't miss what it did to me. I no longer like being numbed out and I actually enjoy life. To quote myself, 'who knew' - thanks for sharing your sobriety - I'm so glad you are in the rooms.

David

thanks david!!
yeah, those mornings with hangovers are definitely not missed!!
i even get up earlier than i have to just to enjoy the quiet of the morning and get in some reading. using your words....."who knew??".

[Dat_NYC-Guy]

Oh wow and YES..you do rock!! Happy anniversary to a very special person and thank you for sharing with us. I am very happy you chose life because you have helped me many times by posting and being an example

Davud

When I first got sober I honestly didn't think it would last more than a week or two. I didn't think I had it in me to want to live that much. That was a long time ago. Today I am celebrating my 18 yr sobriety and it's because of a Power much greater than myself as well as people like you that come in here and post.

Thank you all for being here each day to post and remind me where I have been and what my life was about. Each time I see someone new post it reminds me that it really hasn't gotten any better and believe it or not by your posting your 1 week or 1month sobriety.......it sure help's to keep me sober for another day. Thank you again for popping in and posting.

[Dat_NYC-Guy]

Okay Sherrie - I have to admit to something here...when I first started reading this thread when I only had a few days I looked at your signature line and asked myself why you were talking about sex in a FOB room. Then after a couple of weeks - - I got my mind out of the gutter and figured you weren't talking about sex. Duh!

David

.

Everything is do-able, even you.



.

[DallasLesbian]

WOW!! congrats!!! another miracle

Thanks for the congrat's. I appreciate it very much.

[DallasLesbian]

Oh wow and YES..you do rock!! Happy anniversary to a very special person and thank you for sharing with us. I am very happy you chose life because you have helped me many times by posting and being an example

Davud

Thank you very much David. I am happy that I chose life as well. YOU my friend are one of the very one''s I was speaking of that helps me to stay sober.........so thank you David for being here.

[pilgrimpoet]

Wishing you many more days that add up to many more years of living happy, joyous and free!
Big hugs,
Cathy

[DallasLesbian]

Wishing you many more days that add up to many more years of living happy, joyous and free!
Big hugs,
Cathy

Thank you very much Cathy. It has been "different" that's for sure. But worth every minute of it!!!

[denverbookie]

... Today I am celebrating my 18 yr sobriety .. .

Congratulations Dallas...You mentioned how newbies help you well putting a face to longterm sobrity helps me. Thank you for claiming your chair!

[DallasLesbian]

Congratulations Dallas...You mentioned how newbies help you well putting a face to longterm sobrity helps me. Thank you for claiming your chair!

Thank you.............I earned every ounce of it

[LeftWriteFemme]

August 31

CHANNELING


It’s a full feeling to be a channel. Only an empty feeling when it’s blocked at the base of my spine and God can’t go to my head. The river flows through me and my banks will hold. Excuses dam me up and leave a dry and lifeless basin, with tributaries taxed for usefulness. Staying in the groove conveys my Higher Power’s will without need of my furrowed brow. A hose with no water running is a place for spiders to spin. If I shut off to service, I am a breeding ground for creeping sadness and shocking misery. Compliance allows me the view of flowing strength and rushing joy, the greatest of which is living with intent.


Repeat until you chant.

Yours in sobriety,

Sherrie

[LeftWriteFemme]

August 31

CHANNELING


It’s a full feeling to be a channel. Only an empty feeling when it’s blocked at the base of my spine and God can’t go to my head. The river flows through me and my banks will hold. Excuses dam me up and leave a dry and lifeless basin, with tributaries taxed for usefulness. Staying in the groove conveys my Higher Power’s will without need of my furrowed brow. A hose with no water running is a place for spiders to spin. If I shut off to service, I am a breeding ground for creeping sadness and shocking misery. Compliance allows me the view of flowing strength and rushing joy, the greatest of which is living with intent.


Repeat until you chant.

Yours in sobriety,

Sherrie

[funkyfemme]

Haha...I STILL say 'who knew'. I am so happy you are sober and enjoying your life again. This afternoon while going home I noticed the liquor store that I used to stop by every night to get a bottle (the large one of course) and today as I was heading home I stopped and looked at it from across the street. I don't miss it, don't miss the smell of it, don't miss the taste of it and I sure as heck don't miss what it did to me. I no longer like being numbed out and I actually enjoy life. To quote myself, 'who knew' - thanks for sharing your sobriety - I'm so glad you are in the rooms.

David

dude, i don't miss it either. i've done a complete 180 when it comes to the smell, taste, drunken daze, etc. i just don't ever want to go there again. and that is something i marvle at every single day. me???? jules??? not even wanting it??? and to pass a liquor store doesn't even phase me. i had no idea i would feel as good as i do. i woulda done it a long time ago had i known.

i'm glad i'm here too. it makes all the difference to be here and to have such awesome support/friends.

oh, i finally told my daughter that i quit drinking and she was very excited. she said, yippieee mommy!! now what about your smoking??" that cracked me up. one thing at a time, i told her.

[LeftWriteFemme]

September 1

ORIGAMI


I fold my reality like origami, each day a shape to suit my whim. A dog when I feel like begging. A horse when I want to trot away. A pot to brew up some potion. A penguin when I feel cold and I stand on my egg all day. I can bend and flex, change my image, but in the end I am truly flat and lifeless, a construct of imagination, but soulless and boring. Reality cannot be my creation made in the accordion of my mind. Truth and breath come like the wind and I need to let them change direction and change me, too.


Turn right both ways.

Yours in sobriety,

Sherrie

[Kashesan]

Canogratulations Dallas- 18 is a nice, round, healthy number!

Kash

[Tommi]

August 31

CHANNELING


It’s a full feeling to be a channel. Only an empty feeling when it’s blocked at the base of my spine and God can’t go to my head. The river flows through me and my banks will hold. Excuses dam me up and leave a dry and lifeless basin, with tributaries taxed for usefulness. Staying in the groove conveys my Higher Power’s will without need of my furrowed brow. A hose with no water running is a place for spiders to spin. If I shut off to service, I am a breeding ground for creeping sadness and shocking misery. Compliance allows me the view of flowing strength and rushing joy, the greatest of which is living with intent.


Repeat until you chant.

Yours in sobriety,

Sherrie

Haven't posted in a long time......but, the posts from here...have kept coming.

Staying in the groove....The last year had been tumultous...gloriously in love, yet , not ready for a life-mate...The ups and downs of a beautiful, passionate romance, the times we tested, some passed , some failed...I failed, at being the mate she wanted for life..I passed at satying sober.

I stayed sober....and in my groove...Clean and sober since Jan. of 1977, the rough times remind me, so, this is like coming back..to old friends ....that understand when times are tough...to a meeting...


Hi...my name is Tommi

[SirWalterHere]

, i finally told my daughter that i quit drinking and she was very excited. she said, yippieee mommy!! now what about your smoking??" that cracked me up. one thing at a time, i told her.

lol how old is your daughter? I just quite smoking.. I have 24 years sober and now 3 months w/out smoking.. it's patient slow progress for me in some areas of life..

blessings on your path

Wally

[DallasLesbian]

Haven't posted in a long time......but, the posts from here...have kept coming.

Staying in the groove....The last year had been tumultous...gloriously in love, yet , not ready for a life-mate...The ups and downs of a beautiful, passionate romance, the times we tested, some passed , some failed...I failed, at being the mate she wanted for life..I passed at satying sober.

I stayed sober....and in my groove...Clean and sober since Jan. of 1977, the rough times remind me, so, this is like coming back..to old friends ....that understand when times are tough...to a meeting...


Hi...my name is Tommi

Hello Tommi.......welcome back and congrat's on keeping the sobriety

[Greyson]

Haven't posted in a long time......but, the posts from here...have kept coming.

Staying in the groove....The last year had been tumultous...gloriously in love, yet , not ready for a life-mate...The ups and downs of a beautiful, passionate romance, the times we tested, some passed , some failed...I failed, at being the mate she wanted for life..I passed at satying sober.

I stayed sober....and in my groove...Clean and sober since Jan. of 1977, the rough times remind me, so, this is like coming back..to old friends ....that understand when times are tough...to a meeting...


Hi...my name is Tommi

Welcome back Tommi. My name is Greyson and I got clean and sober in Nov. 1982. I too have been through similar life circumstances and I always did so much better when I returned to meetings, working the Steps, and being of service. Hope to see you posting in here.

Greyson

[Kyssme]

i have a question for you all ...

i am not an addict- my daughter is the one in recovery. i would post this in the "friends of lois" thread, but it's pretty dead there.

i have friends in recovery who don't have seem to have a problem when other people discuss drugs or drinking. when i hear or see drugs and drinking discussed, i just can't deal with it.

i *know* i need to find my way past that- but i don't know how. i have a feeling that it's based in some fear that my daughter will use again.

just minutes ago, i saw on this forum a joking comment about a fictional person's meth problem. meth is one of my daughter's drugs of choice. i had to leave the thread.

i don't want to have this issue.

any advice?

thanks in advance.

[funkyfemme]

lol how old is your daughter? I just quite smoking.. I have 24 years sober and now 3 months w/out smoking.. it's patient slow progress for me in some areas of life..

blessings on your path

Wally

thanks for the blessings wally. my daughter is 10......a very grown-up 10 i might add. she has been nagging me for the past few years to give it up. i've tried explaining how hard it is and that i'm trying but to no avail. she simply doesn't understand and i know this. she is spending a year in los angeles with her dad so before she comes back i want to have the smoking thing nipped. wish me luck......it's proving to be harder than giving up the booze.

oh, and good for you on 24 yrs of sobriety. and congrats on quitting smoking. i'm really struggling with that one. care to share any tips??

[freyja]

Tommi: Your post reminds me of something really funny I heard at a convention last spring:

R-E-L-A-T-I-O-N-S-H-I-P: Really Exciting Love Affair Turns Into Outrageous Nightmare Sobriety Hangs In Peril (Micky B., Santa Monica, CA.)

Congratulations for not drinking over it!

freyja

[DallasLesbian]

i have a question for you all ...

i am not an addict- my daughter is the one in recovery. i would post this in the "friends of lois" thread, but it's pretty dead there.

i have friends in recovery who don't have seem to have a problem when other people discuss drugs or drinking. when i hear or see drugs and drinking discussed, i just can't deal with it.

i *know* i need to find my way past that- but i don't know how. i have a feeling that it's based in some fear that my daughter will use again.

just minutes ago, i saw on this forum a joking comment about a fictional person's meth problem. meth is one of my daughter's drugs of choice. i had to leave the thread.

i don't want to have this issue.

any advice?

thanks in advance.

I know which comment you are referring to, it was mine. I don't have a problem with alcohol or drugs any longer and yes they were a very huge part of my life for a very long time. I do joke about them, because today I can. They are no longer an issue with me and I am no longer trapped.

The only advice I could possibly give you would be to seek help from an al-anon group. They work from my understanding on the same lines as AA, the steps again from my understanding were borrowed from AA and the purpose is to help famlily, friends, and spouses of Alcoholics/Drug Addict's to deal with such issues as you have just described.

Alcoholism/Drug addiction is not just the alcoholic or drug addict's problem. Contrary to popular belief it is a family problem. Everyone is affected by the behavior and everyone in my belief anyway, needs help dealing with their problem/issues.

You are more than welcome to PM me if you'd like and I'll even be more than happy to give you my phone number and help you as much as I possibly can.

And Kyssme, if I had offended you with my comment I am sorry, not for the comment because I still feel I have the right to joke about something that had such a strong hold on me, but I am sorry that you were offended.

Please accept my apology.

[Kyssme]

I know which comment you are referring to, it was mine. I don't have a problem with alcohol or drugs any longer and yes they were a very huge part of my life for a very long time. I do joke about them, because today I can. They are no longer an issue with me and I am no longer trapped.

The only advice I could possibly give you would be to seek help from an al-anon group. They work from my understanding on the same lines as AA, the steps again from my understanding were borrowed from AA and the purpose is to help famlily, friends, and spouses of Alcoholics/Drug Addict's to deal with such issues as you have just described.

Alcoholism/Drug addiction is not just the alcoholic or drug addict's problem. Contrary to popular belief it is a family problem. Everyone is affected by the behavior and everyone in my belief anyway, needs help dealing with their problem/issues.

You are more than welcome to PM me if you'd like and I'll even be more than happy to give you my phone number and help you as much as I possibly can.

And Kyssme, if I had offended you with my comment I am sorry, not for the comment because I still feel I have the right to joke about something that had such a strong hold on me, but I am sorry that you were offended.

Please accept my apology.

i don't remember that it was you ... but even if it was- don't apologize. i totally see this as my issue ... i just need to figure out how to deal with it.

i still attend weekly family group at Higher Ground, where my daughter went through 16 weeks of out-patient treatment. she's on a different path today and a peer counselor there.

there isn't an Al-Anon group for parents of adolescents in my city. i have tried a few of the groups, but i just can't relate to most of them.

my user is my under-aged child ... we have a few challenges that are unique.

[denverbookie]

{{{{{Kyssme}}}}}

{{{{{Dallas}}}}}

Welcome Tommi!

[DallasLesbian]

i don't remember that it was you ... but even if it was- don't apologize. i totally see this as my issue ... i just need to figure out how to deal with it.

i still attend weekly family group at Higher Ground, where my daughter went through 16 weeks of out-patient treatment. she's on a different path today and a peer counselor there.

there isn't an Al-Anon group for parents of adolescents in my city. i have tried a few of the groups, but i just can't relate to most of them.

my user is my under-aged child ... we have a few challenges that are unique.

Well, I don't know what to offer as advice if there is no al-anon near you. I'm curious though if the family group offers a 12 step program for the family member's. The only other thing I would probably recommend would go to some open AA meetings and use the 12 steps concerning your issues. I have heard of people doing that and it works for them.

I'm still a PM away if you'd like to talk and I still have no problem giving you my number if you need me.

[LeftWriteFemme]

September 2

PROMISE BROKEN


If promise shatters without anyone touching it, if it pops like a floating soap bubble that lost its cohesion, what do I do? Name names? I can’t even take fingerprints. Sometimes dreams just end. No fault or blame is attached. The ice breaks under its own weight and nothing can be done. I am more than just holding on. I am alive even if all the promises melt away. I can accept the unexpected and the unasked for and still know this doesn’t affect my worth. My value is intact regardless of disappointment or discontent. I have learned that anticipation is mere amusement; promises are pleasantries. I am made of stronger stuff. I am not broken by words, ideas or hope. Promise can be broken but it doesn’t break me.


Open the mental crayon box.

Yours in sobriety,

Sherrie