+ 8 16 Years Clean and Serene Today
"We recognize our spiritual growth when we are able to reach out and help others."
NA Basic Text, p. 58 from today's "Just For Today."
Celebrating 16 Years Clean & Sober today. March 04, 2008 my lover was murdered. We live in one of my violent cities in USA, Saint Louis MO. I decided I was going to get high, give up 2.5 years, before I even hung up the phone from the hospital. I used against my will for 5 long months, absolutely miserable and inconsolable. August 22, 2008 I reached for the stash and paraphernalia, The Voice said clearly "You have traded all of the Love and Acceptance for that, that wants you dead." I disposed of shite, and went to my mom's, RIP Mom, until friends took me to a meeting and I surrendered. Thank to this group, NA, and my Higher Power, God. So glad I'm not on this lonely road by myself. If I can do Recovery, I believe you can too. Grateful for everyday Clean. Staying Clean through adversity is what our Recovery Lounge is about to me. This is not always easy, but Recovery is always worth our efforts.=repeat from last year.
Today in 2024 I still attend meeting regularly. I answer the phone or return calls to sponsees. I call my sponsor regularly, even when I don't need to. I try to show newcomers life is still fun without drugs. I keep my service commitments, even when it is inconvenient. I pray everyday. I meditate regularly on God's will for me. I'm no saint but I am willing to do better. I spent 5 years on working steps with sponsor. Today, I try to live the Steps and apply them to my life. I am very far from doing steps perfectly. Complacent? Yes. Still trying to do better. We don't do Recovery or weightlifting alone. I don't have a home gym, I go to "House of Pain." Try to learn from others, and share my knowledge. I need inspiration to stay motivated. Thanks for reading this.
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Congratulations brother!
Bro I'm so proud of you, I know the horrors of active addiction first hand so I know what it takes to get sober and stay sober and for that I tip my hat to you. Keep coming back fam keep coming back.
NativeokBig accomplishment bro!!! I was stuck on opioids for 12 year got 5 year clean now.. I didn’t thank it was possible for an along time I didn’t care after losing my sister a dad to cancer a year apart when I was just a kid . I literally gave up for along time…
Congratulations fella
Sending You All My Love Buddy!!!
Now that's a Serious coin right there, won't see many of those around. In fact of all people I know both in the rooms over here and on this site I think you have the longest Sobriety mate if I'm not mistaken.
WOW~! One Day at a Time Buddy J~! Thanks for being here. You continue to help me stay on the Path.
Life is good for me right now. Same challenges with loneliness. I feel like I'm the only gay dude in Recovery, and only gay man I know lifting. Everybody just says "Get over it." Turn it over." HP is ok with me feeling my feelings. It's just Weird how many of loved ones are dead now. Can this really be God's Will for me? YES~!
Money is challenging too. but I accept the challenge. Health is great today. I love my gym, still adjusting to new location further from home. Gyms that are closer to home are like working out in hospital waiting rooms, complete with EZ listening muzak and people who don't speak my language. I miss a few dudes that have left my favorite gym, but I will make new friends. Old friends found new gyms, less expensive, closer to home etc. I'm learning to say to strangers "What are you training today?" "Can I work out with you?" 3X I've done that I had a better workout. Can't w/o with a stranger if they don't speak English. Solution.
My meeting attendance is getting better. I could still do better. St Louis area lost 3 addicts to fentanyl this month. Fortunately, I didn't know these women. I just don't feel bad for people who came to NA, tried it, and die. 2 of them left small children, third was a teenager. They had opportunity in treatment and NA. A lot of addicts die so I can stay clean. Our nations leaders continue to deny that preventing lethal drugs in our Country is their responsibility. USA has a problem and allows the shite in our country that kills in one dose, from Mexico and China. Customs stopped opium and laudanum in the 19th century without computers by applying laws. Yet, customs seized 3 of my donations in recent years. My area prosecutor said when he was sworn into office in 2016 "I will not prosecute people for less than 100grams of drugs." My neighbors have signs today in their yards today to re-elect that District Attorney. So, perps can sell drugs to kids that kill in one dose, and police refuse to prosecute that as a crime. As long as people continue to vote for that party, we will get more fentanyl, more deaths, and more people in meetings will continue to cry about the loss of loved ones. More kids will grow up without Moms. It does seem like more woman die, especially more minority woman die. I have not seen stats on that. 3X in one week gay dudes asked me if wanted to "party." I'd rather be clean. The "Gay" GLBTQ meeting is like 20miles, 32K from my house. I gave my former sponsor his 41 year medallion there this summer, there were over 70 people in the room, and like 4 gay men = Gifts in Recovery. I'm going there tonight, there will be Birthday cake.
All my Love back at you Buddy~! Please stay on this board. I'm staying. Thanks for reading this. Z
I don't mess around Buddy - I go in hard and fast!!! LMAO
The fentanyl epidemic is rife over here too, different drugs getting cut in with others - I have never been part of that world though luckily, alcoholism was bad enough for me. Seems like a distant memory now though, a different lifetime. I should go and get my 10 year coin from AA as I have all the others on my fireplace, unfortunately though last time I was there I noticed some resentment at how well I had been doing mainly believe it or not, from the chair of the meeting that night. He continually relapses every few years and for some reason always feels the need to tell the group that he use to beat his wife up during his drinking days, when I asked him for my coin last time he gave me this stupid story about them not issuing them which is totally untrue - other chairs from other meetings where there who jumped in and told me to go and get it from them instead. It kinda soured the meetings for me though after that. Hope you had a Great night mate
Congratulations brother.
Heavyweight! Blessings, respect, love
iCONicCongrats