I know oh so well what Al can do to your brain, personality and relationships. I've come to a point that I'm so sick of where I'm at with AL, what is making me happy or what is making me unhappy that I've decided to stop thinking about myself (easier said than done) and focus on someone else. Have you ever heard of "The love dare"? I'm planning on pouring myself out on someone else other than myself, it's not as though there isn't a lot of need out there that I can't find someone or something that isn't a lot worse off than me. So what do you say let's put our energy on something else other than ourselves while remembering take Nal one hour before drinking.

I guess what I'm asking are we too self absorbed?



corkit

Hello, I say in an interesting voice....!

YES, I get sooooo tired of talking about memememe.....I am so grateful for nal because I now go out and socialize and actually PAY ATTENTION to "other" peoples stories, (and I manage to take in their outfits too!)

I really understand what you mean corkit.[/color]Oh Hello, I say in an interesting voice....! Yes, I get sooooo tired of talking about memememe.....I am so grateful for nal because I now go out and socialize and actually PAY ATTENTION to "other" peoples stories, (and I manage to take in their outfits too!)

I really understand what you mean corkit.

Thanks ART, I know you understand what I mean, I feel I get too self absorbed with ME and AL and the rest of the world seems just to be add-ons in a play. I'm taking a vacation from me (I'll still take my Nal) but I need to remove myself from too much obsessiveness of alcohol and numbers. I'm going to start relishing thoughts of the Holidays coming up and family and just maybe moving outside myself and helping someone else whose life is worse than mine.

corkit

Yes! I was with my "girls" in our dance weekly class, in a beautiful home overlooking the river and the sea, and I said "We are so lucky to have this life and not be living in a hovel in India" (or any other impoverished community).
The decision was that we had good Karma. This was easily and quickly decided, without much more debate. (New Age?)
So I agree, I think we must volunteer or do other work, I too am thinking this could be a good route for me, I think I drink sometimes out of boredom.
I drink for two reasons: Emotional distress and boredom.
And I have many talents, I believe from the caliber of this forum we all are extraordinary and although for me the curse of AL hangs over my head, I am proud to be a member of such an illustrious group.
In Upmost Sincerity, ART

Hi ART,

Having spent a long time in India, it is my experience that many of the people living in these impoverished communities are some of the happiest people I have ever met - particularly the children. They may have very few material possessions but that also seems to work in their favour. It is quite an eye-opener and a truly rewarding experience to spend time with these people. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the privilege to do so.

Corkit, I just want to say that I did a spell of voluntary work last year, which removed the focus from myself and directed it to others. It was very therapeutic. It's quite an idea to grasp, isn't it - that giving to others is a way of loving ourselves.

All the very best to you both.

V.

So you were in India Virg ?
That tends to strike deep for some people , very deep . You know I had a friend
went there in '84 , he was all black coffee, cigs and very intellectual up at all hours on his theses . His anxiety was pretty bad ..... until he went to India , he swears to this day it sorted his anxiety out . I think he had some fairly unusual experiences and managed to have his bus chased by bandits up in the north , it was all such a far cry from his usual sedentary life .
It's also where Dr Escarpa mentioned when people couldn't afford their NAL they went back to addiction . Thinking of things like that makes me bloody grateful indeed. I'm glad they're happy as you said but to keep on the NAl has to be a plus
for an alky anywhere ?

Did it help your anxiety at all being out there ? I'd imagine the experience quite disorientating too .

Hi Elfern,

Rather than hijack this thread, I'll PM you.

V.

Art, like you I drink out of boredom and emotional stress (got lots of that with a soon to be ex still living here). I'm trying to change that too by engaging more with a former co-worker to do some things together. She is bored and lives alone and just goes to work and comes home. But, she doesn't drink, she reads, but still she's lonely so we go out to dinner a few nights a week and that's when I drink the least, she'll have just one glass of wine, so I do the same. I'm trying to learn to stop thinking of me, me, me and my problems. I listen to her life intently and actually absorb what she's saying.

As for volunteering, I would love to do that. I had thought about helping out at the homeless shelter this Thanksgiving serving meals. I may still do that. In 2000 I volunteered for a month (my accrued vacation from work) at a village in France rebuilding 2 fountains. Very laborious work, but very satisfying. The villagers were mostly older folks, most of the kids left for Paris or other big cities. The village only had 88 people! These folks were very generous and very appreciative of our work to restore the fountains (we were 11, me the only american). It was very thrilling to see the smiles on the faces and satisfying to know I helped to make someone happy!! And since I didn't realize I was probably an alcoholic back then the drinking every night didn't seem to bother me at all!! We all did it!

petal

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