I have received over the past couple years .. a few PM's from people who are worried and scared that they are now addicted to alcohol.  I've tried to help them by sharing by my own experience as to what helped me. 

Just now I read a PM that I received from an anonymous person on OH.  They appear concerned about a friend who they feel is a lost soul or even worried about their life.  They wanted to know if I have ever saved a lost soul.   To my knowledge... I don't know if these postings have affected a person's life enough for them to get the help they need or not.  I do believe that I personally cannot save a lost person.  If I (or anyone) believes that someone is suicidal.. call 911 immediately.  Otherwise.. I believe that the addictive person MUST find it within themselves (thru experiences) to save him or herself along with their HIGHERPOWER !!  If you as a friend can get that person to a rehab by giving them ultimatiums.. then wonderful.  But.. by the time they get out.. it must be their own chosing to stay clean.  No more ultimatiums!!  You have no control over their decisions.. their choices!!

The advise I always give... if you think you have an alcohol/drug addiction... please go to an AA meeting.. and keep going back!!  And if these readings help in some way.. it's a blessing and I am truly happy that I can post them and I'm sorry if some days (weeks) I slack in doing so.

So here is todays.. I pray that it relates in some form to todays PM I received.

01/23 REFLECTION FOR THE DAY

We must never be blinded by the futile philosophy that we are just the hapless victims of our inheritance, of our life experience, and of our surroundings-- that these are the sole forces that make our decisions for us.  This is not the road to freedom.  We have to believe that we can really choose.  As addictive persons, we lost our ability to choose whether we would pursue our addictions.  Yet we finally did make choices that brought about our recovery.  DO I BELIEVE THAT IN "BECOMING WILLING,"  I HAVE MADE THE BEST OF ALL CHOICES?

TODAY I PRAY
May I shed the idea that I am the world's victim, an unfortunate creature caught in a web of cir****tance, inferring that others ought to "make it up to me" because I have been given a bad deal on this earth.  We are always given choices.  May God help me to choose wisely.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
God is not a puppeteer.

Good Morning OH'ers..  It's FRIDAY..

Today I am grateful..

For the adoreable things in life..

For being able to do what I want to do..

For the air that I breathe..

That I am able to help others..

For my ability to be patient with people..

SONG OF THE WEEK
STAND BACK UP BY SUGARLAND.. THANKS JONI..

Go ahead and take your best shot,
Let 'er rip, give it all you've got,
I'm laid out on the floor, but I've been here before,
I may stumble, yeah I might fall,
Only human aren't we all?
I might lose my way, but hear me when i say,

I will stand back up,
Youll know just the moment when ive have enough,
Sometimes im afraid, and i dont feel that tough,
But I'll stand back up,

I've been beaten up and bruised,
I've been kicked right off my shoes,
Been down on my knees more times than youd believe,
When the darkness tries to get me,
Theres a light that just wont let me,
It might take my pride, and my tears may fill my eyes,
But I'll stand back up,

I've weathered all these stroms,
But i just turn them into wind, so i can fly,
What dont kill you makes you stronger,
When I take my last breath,
Thats when I'll just give up,

So, go ahead to take your best shot,
Let 'er rip, give it all you've got,
You might win this round but you cant keep me down,

'Cause I'll stand back up,
And you'll know just the moment when ive had enough,
Sometimes im afraid and I dont feel that tough,
But I'll stand back up,

Youll know just the moment when ive had enough,
Sometimes I'm afraid and I dont feel that tough,
But I'll stand back up.

MOVIE QUOTE OF THE WEEK..

DO YOU FEEL LUCKY, PUNK?

Marie, Hi Doll, if it means anything...

I've gained 5 pounds in the past 3 weeks.

It's this time of year.


*wink*

Liz

Sometimes I am outgoing, but yes, I also process it later, did I go over the top, do they think I'm a freak...???

And many times when I thought they would think that, they don't. And sometimes I get blindsided by people aI think would NEVER feel badly about me and come to find out they hate my guts. So, it's hard to predict OTHER people's reactions.

I got an email a few days ago from a guy I wrote online. He thanked me for the beautiful letter and said he thought he may have found someone...yada yada. And this is how sensitive I am to rejection even though I'll pretend otherwise - I cried! That deep psychic pain that wells up. Of COURSE it wasn't about this guy, but it was about rejection itself and the deep scars my raction to it have left, from my father, from a boyfriend I thought would love me unconditionally, even from my workaholic mother. How funny that one little thoughtful email could set all that off, but of course I would be mortified if a guy ever knew that i responded that way, beause we're "supposed" to let rejection flow right over us.

This board helped me tremendously when I needed it. I'm happy to throw in my two cents!! At my WLS surgery group we've all pretty much said that there isn't enough therapy post-op. There are so many changes mentally and physically, it's hard to stay sane and sober while dealing with all the transition. I've transferred addictions from alcohol to shopping and baking and buying shoes. None are necessarily destructive (cept to my credit score) but I see it for what it is. Now I just have to stop myself before I purchase. It's a learning thing, as you say, and I need to hit bottom on this.