From my inbox, the sweet and touching version:
Lurking With Intent (day 32): “Nice to hear your voice on the phone this morning… What you are providing people is mentoring/sponsorship and accountability as you say. You are the higher power many people seek in early sobriety. Now don’t let that go to your head. Humility is what keeps us sober. We can’t do this alone. I just have to keep hammering home the point that it’s the first drink for me that does the damage. Normies don’t get that cuz they can take or leave the first drink. How do they do that? Thanks for all you do.” [he’s now on day 37]
me: “thanks for this : ) you’re very sweet. I won’t let it go to my head. I know that talking to you keeps me sober. all best, me”
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Nowinemom (day 142): “Last night I went to a surprise birthday dinner for a dear friend. There were about 10 women there, and we all have been close friends for 15 years. One of our friend’s husband was diagnosed with [degenerative illness] last September, and this was the first time she has felt like socializing with us — it was good to see her. She just kept saying, “Live fully every day because you just don’t know about tomorrow.” We went through 8 bottles of San Pelligrino and one bottle of wine. Only a few people even wanted wine. Wine just erases time … I loved having AUTHENTIC conversations with friends … We can’t get those days back. Take care, and thank you for giving life back to so many.”
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Shell Bell (day 67): “Did i tell you that i am glad you stopped drinking, because if that never happened, i probably wouldn’t have stopped drinking… i love your month 5 blog post. It hit home, i am having a blast being sober. No quams, no fits of jealousy, no bitter out bursts to my kids…. I love it all! So thank you for being sober, there is a saying that goes like this, ” you become like those you are with.” I really enjoy being part of your sober friendship community!!!!! It rubbed off on me!
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Rae (day 37): “Alcohol isn’t real. It places us in a realm that doesn’t exist, a place where we know neither genuine sorrow or joy.”
I was so sad to learn that about her….it is just so sad. I’m hoping that my sobriety will lessen my smoking…. I only smoke when I drink… this wouldn’t be a problem if I didn’t drink so much 😉 Here’s to quitting deadly compulsions ! I am going to read everything she wrote. Now that is a better compulsion…. ha ha…. day 15 here.
I just read “Drinking, A love story” by Caroline Knapp. I read it in one day !!! It was so enlightening and true for me. Especially as a woman with eating issues and drinking issues. I dare any woman to read it and not see herself in it. She spoke to the emotional issues of numbing feelings and falseness of drinking…. BEST read !
Knapp’s book is one of the best books I have read on sobriety (of 50+I have read so far over the years). It is so sad she died at a young age of lung cancer, but her story has helped hundreds of people.
Ditto. I whipped through that, too…crying at times, just agreeing most of the time. A very bright worldly woman who tells her truth. A must read, ladies!