12-Step
Once you hit bottom and discover the ladder of a 12-Step program, you are surely among the most grateful people in the world. Every rung of this ladder is a new gift. Inspire others by your own gratitude, and learn from theirs.

Why don't you go to a meeting and see how it feels to you? It's hard to say sitting back and thinking about it, sort of like thinking how chocolate feels without ever having tasted it. Got to meetings for a month and then make up your mind. You "can" have a problem with alcohol even if you don't drink every day. It's more what it does to you when you do drink. Wishing you luck and clarity and peace.
- Suchin, USA   11 Jan 2009

I am new here. I am told that I should attend AA. How do you stop? I drink so infrequently, but when I do, I hate it and then do not drink for months and months. I just have a hard time believing it is just not for fun.......but then I have made really bad decisions and placed my self and others in harms way......I just do not know.
- jos, florida   25 Nov 2008

As the clock is ticking,times passes rapidly,the journey gets better and the plot thickens lol Life is great of course It still has It's ups and downs.My husband Is a big time spender,wasted things.I on the other hand spend but like to save for a rainy day. I try to do more with in my own mind/territory as far as not completely controlling his every move,as that is the back ground I came from. I get into as many programs as possible to keep hubby at bay.We have a big enough back yard for him to do his thing but some times he likes to be up under me until I start rambling on and on then he runs like he's on fire lol True to It's words,life is only what we make it.And soooooo, My past history was; I chased after my dreams and found none,I followed my shadow and got lost,I ran and got scared,I stopped,looked,listened and found all I searched for within.......... Peace.......
- china34doll, USA   13 Nov 2008

I finally am working on forgiving my sister, by forgiving her I also set myself free,maybe because she still drinks she has no clue about any thing.I guess I can say I never disliked her but disliked what she did. I can't change the out come of any past doing all I can do now is move onward and pray for her safe recovery,the law has forced her to stop drinking and does random urin tests.I hope she can handle it.But I feel with out AA she may not stick with being sober. If she only got six months probation then most likely she will be back out there because her husband is still drinking..... I will pray for her 24/7 if need be. God Bless.
- china34doll, USA   8 Nov 2008

Being here makes me feel that much greater in my journey homeward.I get get very lonely and look for out side live people to mend my hurts,I try to heal my emotional and physical pain via the web even though it's a temporary relief it's still good that i'm able to walk,see,hear,and just plain be here in person. I am in my 20th year of sobriety,very fortunate because I was lucky in the past to ever last a year at any thing.I would always say, I promise myself no matter what,I will stick with this job for one year which seemed at the time like a life sentence,no matter what the job or people were like most times I lasted the whole year.So here I am being in my 20th year and still not believing it's true. At times i'm very peacful with myself and other times I attatch myself to my husbands illness,then I feel sad again........... "Give with out clinging notion:Live with out any attatchments:Deliver all beings with out notion of a self: Cultivate with out any expectations. Peace
- china34doll, USA   8 Nov 2008

I'm so grateful to be sober. I'm so grateful that my friends are sober. There sure would be a lot of trouble in this town if we all got drunk today.
- suci, california usa   12 Aug 2008

Walking the latter of the 12 steps of Soberity will keep you Sober, One Day At A Time. I got sober after my Mum died in Jan of 1991, it is how my doctor got through to me, that day, Feburay 3rd. It is just my opinion, my Mum gave me life twice. I was 25 when I started in AA. Each day, I remember who and what I am. I find rigious Honesty helps keep a person Sober. If I am not Honest with God and myself first, I can not be honest with others, I have also learned in these 17 plus years, it is just for today. I had 13 mini strokes and almost lost my life, due to acholol. I know, just for today, I am not and never will be a Social Drinker. For this, I am Greatful! May of us die without knowing, or they get years in and think they are *cured*, not so! I lost the love of my life, to booze; last August 4th, 2007; he thought he was cured of this Disease, went back out and Died as a Direct result of drinking at the age of 42. For me, it is Very Important to Always say the 1st step
- Elaine, Nova Scotia, Canada   9 Jul 2008

China doll, I like Daily OM also. And I also subscribe to terry hershey's two newsletters. (terry hershey dot com). I get two newsletters a week from him. I find morning meditation and readings sooooo important to my day. And, as you said, it keeps getting better and better even if we think it can't get any better than this. It's like a flower unfolding.
- Suchin, USA   29 Jun 2008

Life is still the greatest,I'm getting better on this spiritual path,talking with others and sharing so much.This journey is awsome;an excellent web site is:dailyOM.com it's the best and ever informative.Have a great day.......
- chinadoll, USA   24 Jun 2008

I guess there are millions of ways to get sober/drug free.I have a friend that did it via church and hes great I sense his serenity and peace more so then myself or a few others,but like I said we all venture out for that one purpose in life;to be free of the malady.I love life as it has its twists and turns but i'm in a stable mind and body to handle what ever is dealt me. Thanks........
- China34doll, USA   12 Apr 2008

I'm so grateful today and most every day for sobriety,I often wonder where would I be today had I of continued to drink.............never forget where I came from.The journey i'm on today is so very spiritual,relaxing and so awsome it has brought me to a whole new other level,My brother says spirituality is religion,I was lost for words and could not explain what I meant/felt.Today I was reading a few messages else where this message came at me"Spirituality is not religion:but;of the spirit."I guess any one can read a bible or go to church,but spirituality is from deep with in."It doesn't matter how many say it cannot be done or how many people have tried it before,its important to realize that what ever you're doing,its your first attempt at it" by Wally Amos........
- china34doll, Mass.USA   2 Apr 2008

I often sit at my desk wondering should I for-give my sister(?)because of the problems she's caused for my self and every one else? the large amounts of money she borrowed from me i'll never get that back and yet theres a flip side, again I sit here waiting for my son to for-give me after i've written him several letters explaining and asking his for-giveness?.................One coin two sides
- china34doll, Mass.   2 Apr 2008