I have been sober for a short while and I really do not think sobriety dates are helpful. My expeience in the past has been that they gave me a false sense of security in my recovery and on every birthday I was extremely temped to drink and have thinking "It's ok, I am not an alcoholic." So, I like to always consider myself a newbie and I have been sober since I woke up at 7:30 today. I also believe that your progress in recovery is not just based on when the last time you used was.
I think we all need to do what works for us. In some cases that's follow the suggestions of the people who have what I want or are where I'm trying to get.
If I know that walking into a convenience store and the cooler of beer triggers me to use, I should probably choose the grocery store where I can avoid that aisle. If I know that keeping track of my clean time (we're "clean" in NA) triggers me to use, I should probably just stick to considering myself clean just for today.
Whatever works.
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The truth does not change based on my inability to stomach it - Flannery O'Connor
My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance and in inverse proportion to my expectations - Michael J. Fox
Although I believe its very true that abstinance does not equal recovery. Its also true that recovery cannot happen without abstinance.{sp} All any of us have is today and being a newcomer I love the first one to wake up has the most clean time today saying.
That said I need people to show me this works. I would regularly risk my life in active addiction . But seldom was I the first one to go. I waited until I found out if you lived first.
Without people before me showing me how it works. Without the ES&H of my fellow addicts . I can easily talk myself right back into addiction. I AM POWERLESS . This sounds like a 1st step issue .
for myself , I have surrendered completely to the disease. Im a hopeless case who has found hope.
LOL, If Im being totally honest with you. I dont care what they tell me or suggest to me that I do. My way never worked. When beaten I became willing.
-- Edited by AnthonyG on Sunday 3rd of May 2009 11:02:01 AM
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The fundamental delusion of humanity , is to suppose that I am here and you are out there .
