hi all.. heres a share request. Id love to hear yall on this follwing topic.
Its like this; I know that developing or renewing a hobby is something that many of us do on the recovery route. I was lucky to be introduced to billiards/snooker when I was a few years clean. It was explained by a psychiatrist friend that hobbies offer a great way to spend leisure time. It being done without the financial/earning motive was an excellent way to build.
The pleasures I have derived from a passionate pursuit of these leisure time activities are a real gratification for the time, money and effort invested. However, it is an accepted given that intense feelings will surface in the course of these pursuits.
Please share your experiences...
-- Edited by Raman on Monday 25th of June 2012 02:07:37 PM
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!
haha,,,, thanks Don.... that shrink was actually the sister of the first addict i met in AA. We used to meet in his place and discuss the possibilities for starting NA.
And in the course of conversation, his sister joined in and brought up this thing about hobbies... oh boy,,, you wouldnt catch me paying fees to find that out,,,, heheheheh.....
Yes, there is so much more energy to invest when we are clean eh ?
All the best in your golf ! Keep your eye on the ball,,, like they say.....
-- Edited by Raman on Monday 25th of June 2012 02:13:09 PM
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!
Hi Raman, I had to chuckle when you wrote "It was explained by a psychiatrist friend that hobbies offer a great way to spend leisure time." Did you really nedd a shrink to tell you that? LOL You are an intense guy, there's no denying that. We see evidence of that regularly from your posts here at MIP. Posts which are greatly appreciated, I might add. I don't see these activities as requiring any more intensity on your part then say, jamming hot and heavy on the sax, or passionately defending your position here at MIP and elsewhere. It's who you are Raman. You have managed to be who you are for a good many years without losing spirituality or relapsing. So snooker away my friend. P.s. I recently took up golf and believe me I know from intensity. LOL
OBSESSIVE/COMPULSIVE ,oh yeah in all things for this addict! :) Even during my using days I lifted weights(during lucidity,sometimes not)played pool for $$$ from time I was 10(grandpa owed a pool room)made lot of $$$ early years until the drugs caused incapacitation and was always competive(played in a band at 14 and fell into the lifestyle of "boogie till you puke mode)After the service 1965-1970 I was limited because of my ever progressing illness and eventually ceased a lot of "games" as you say.In '84 when I got clean(after 25 years) I immediately started "subbing" again to ensure I didnt pick up(programming wasnt as strong early days) I started out renewing my gambling jones ,playing horses and going to to pits as a gambler does,moved to hunting and became enamoured living in the woods,becoming part of nature,filling my freezer,killing only what I consumed.I joined a Church group,had Accountability partners,studied martial arts for 6 years attaining BlacK belt in Tae Kwan Do,began running to loose weight and the compulsion took over running 12 marathons including 4 Bostons,continued in and out of Bands(out at the moment)and eventually now at just under 65,settling in to church,NA,playing in a band,spending equal times with my family and back to renewed interst in training for one more Marathon.So for me it has always been a concerted effort to ensure I dont let the compulsion /obsession take over my life and put me in that 'SELF-CENTERED frame that I truly believe is the core of our illness.I believe God has given us ,in recovery, opportunities that we have regained by adhering to our God driven lives,our practice of living the NA or even spiritual lives and being thankful for any "games" we could play.As Don SAYS "keep snookering : my brother,tough game small pockets and that extra 1 foot width and 2 foot length makes those long shots look like sso far away(cant see that well anymore played a lot in Italy and the Med in the 60's :)billards also great game not played much anymore and not many to play with. kEEPING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE,FOR ME,IS VERY IMPORTANT CAUSE i KNOW BASED ON THE EVIDENCE WHERE I CAN GO WITH THINGS.Living in Floida now looking for new things to do,going back to learn to read charts better,learn Spanish and see what "LIFE" HAS IN STORE FOR ME.....truly blessed love games!!! Peace my brother
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
damn. that's alot of tuna. did you sell it? Bet it would fetch a bundle. Must have been a wild ride reeling that bad boy in. Great fish and great pic. thanks for sharing.
Forgot I posted that picture! Thought it might get a rise out of some here. She was a Bluefin Tuna and went 278 lbs and was some of the best tuna steaks ever. All my friends got some, even after splitting it 6 ways!!
As for fishing, I was scared to death with the thoughts of fishing and not using. Found out that it was fishing I loved, the drugs were just an excuse.
Hey Raman!
