The Two Month Challenge

[STB]

Fabulous idea Darcy - I now have something to work towards after I finish the three week challenge... and I shall.. you are a diamond thanks angel xxx

[Yorkie]

Hi Darcy, this is a great idea, thankyou, see you in here too STB

[Yorkie]

Good Morning Day 24 today - had a very late night/early morning and am feeling somewhat bleary eyed and a bit heavy. It's incredible to think that a month ago, I was firmly in the clutches of the EAF- and still functioning - all be it in a faulty and twisted way.
I think it must have been the fact that I was so numb, switched off and driven by guilt (or stuborn willfulness) that made me get out of bed each morning and stumble through till wine o' clock - what a horrible and destructive way to go...
Even tho Im feeling a bit ropey now, I know that I can shake it off and enjoy the benefits of the day.

Still have no urge or desire to drink - and I am so grateful for that.. I know from reading about others' journeys, that EAF could strike and any time, so am on guard 24/7.
One of the best tools for helping with this is staying close to my BE family, reading how you are all getting on and posting regularly... I have found out what a powerful tool this is over the last couple of days - After getting involved with sanding the floor, I only popped in late at night. I was tired and wired - not a good combination, and I'm really sorry for the lapse in commitment.
However it has been a vital lesson, and the moral is, Stay close, make time to give and receive -to and from the deep font of wisdom which is right here and available at all times. Wishing everyone a happy, sober, and fruitful day, Lots of love, Yorkie

[STB]

We are in this together - and the BE family is stronger than any Evil Alcohol Fairy xxxxx

[Yorkie]

Hi STB - - really happy to know that you are there... Stay close - and yes we can beat that ugly old fairy...

[STB]

Hellooooo!!! Here I am on Day 22! Am not feeling my best as have to have root canal treatment on Wednesday, but am on antibiotics and strong painkillers and I can take BOTH without fear of them not mixing with alcohol and being dangerous to me... so although I have this annoying tooth, gum and head pain, I am really happy I am dealing with it like a normal sober person would... and I am recognising it is okay to feel a bit pants in normal day to day life... that you cannot be 100% all the time - but that is LIFE... real, sober, normal life... and to be honest, it aint that bad! Thank you all and I am all set to get to 17 October - and knock that two month challenge on the head!! A special thank you to those who have been there for me and with me, sharing challenges and triumphs - I could not have done it without you xxx

[moread79]

Hello Yorkie and STB!!

A quick note, since I'm at work, just to let you both know I will be joining you on the 2 month challenge. It seemed rather daunting which is why I didn't jump in sooner, but now I am committed and ready to fight right there beside you.

STB, sorry about your tooth, but yes, dealing with normal everyday situations sober, is as you say not so bad
Hope you feel better soon though!

Big hug to you both, thank you again Yorkie for your wise words and to you Darcy for setting up the thread.

Take care all

[Yorkie]

Morning lovelies day off for me today.. Im resisting the urge and old habit of making a list of things to do, then charging through the day - Im going to take my time and pay attention to changing season... Nature is a great teacher:
STB - thinking of you and wishing you well for tomorrow. I went through a spate of having root fillings.. I used to do breathing and relaxation visulisations before I went, it helped alot - I was terrified of visits to the dentist - but Im still here with all my teeth, so well worth it in the end...
And on feeling pants in the morning - yes, can relate to this too - and like you say, it's life. I've found that if I start the morning slowly and do quiet things, and a few stretches then I soon come round and feel fit for the day before to long.
Moread, I know what you mean about feeling a bit daunted by the two month challenge, I've started coming in here as well as the 3 week challenge in preperation for the bigger picture - even tho it's still only one day that we have to get through - they are mounting up, and I've stopped being so aware of the number of days - it is getting easier and I feel like I am moving forward without the up hill struggle. The more of us that are in here, the better it will be for us... just like the 7 days, 2 weeks etc.... together we can - and are.... love for a great day, Yorkie

[STB]

Hello Yorkie and Moread - my special BE girlfriends! Today is tooth day and I am feeling okay - had a horrible headache since Sunday, dont know if it is the tooth or what but am seeing the doctor later to check it out. Am not worried about going as I KNOW it isnt a massive hangover!!

I am now on day 24 so just behind you both! But I am hanging in there... sorry I didnt post last night, went to bed at 7.30 and woke at 7am! Felt rubbish and usually (with or without headache) I would have bought a bottle of wine and sunk it...but really what I needed was a long sleep...

Will come on later to let you know how I got on.... but for now I am glad to be alive, sober and working towards contentment and true happiness.

Love, your friend, STB xxx

[Yorkie]

Morning my lovelies - It's a great morning here in the north - bright fresh and sunny.
Last night, I had an epiphany - it goes like this.... It occured to me (in a blinding flash) that sleep and bed time is something which needs preparation... so, at 10.00pm, I went upstairs to my bedroom, lit a candle, put on some gentle music, pottered about tidying and winding down, then had a bath with lavender and benzoin (a soothing balm oil) then went to bed... read for a little while, then put on a deep relaxation cd - and slept so deeply all night... Fantastic.. this morning I feel calm, rested and ready for the day...

STB thnking of you today and hope all goes well for you - we'll catch up later and you can tell us all about it.

Lots of love to all for a happy day - Yorkie

[moread79]

Good morning to you all

STB I hope the tooth is feeling better, Yorkie I love your little relaxation ritual, sounds so soothing I'm going to give it a try!

Yesterday was a breakthrough in some aspects for me, I went to a seminar for songwriting (I write poems and thought I'd give it a try) by myself since my best friend couldn't make it...I am naturally a shy person (when I don't drink!) so even though I debated going for a while I decided to give it atry...once there I actually talked to some people, passed up on the free wine and sipped lemonade instead, loved the presentation and signed up for classes! I am also signing up for yoga this week, I would definately not be doing either of these two things if was still drinking and battling a hangover all the time!

Lots of love to you all, have a great day everybody xx

[Yorkie]

Hi Moread, let me know how you go with the yoga classes, I used to practise regularlly, but stopped - i remember how benificial it was and would like to pick it up again, just need a bit of a push...
I love the sound of your songwriting course... look forward to hearing how you get on with that too...
love for a happy sober day, Yorkie

[sue]

Moread, well done on first of all going to the seminar on your own and secondly, refusing the wine
I admire people who can write songs and poems. You sound really talented and congrats for signing up for the course and the yoga course. You're sounding so positive and an inspiration to us all
Sue xx

[STB]

HI darlings - day 25 over and done with! Hurrah! I used to love yoga too.... I had a headache from last Sunday to yesterday and I was really fed up with it, thought it was something to do with the tooth but the dentist said not.... went to the doctor and she said (apart from well done on 25 days not drinking) it was probably stress/tension (as I do not have alcohol to fall back on, just myself). So I took myself off for a massage - it was GREAT!! Quite painful but really released all my tensions, I really recommend it (any good beauty salon) and only costs about two or three days booze money, so a bargain!

Amazingly moread I used to write short stories, even had a couple on the radio.... but then alcohol took hold and I stopped... perhaps I will start again....

Good night darlings - will try to get on before Sunday but am taking my niece back to UAE - nice trip from Berkshire ... sigh... will try to get online but might be tricky... hang in there... we are doing bloody brilliantly us!! xxxx

[Yorkie]

Morning all, no drink since the 13th August, It just gets better ...up really early this morning, so I could come on here before going to work... will be out all day today, so everyone will get a break from me... I've been reading and posting loads this week - and feel strong from doing so.
STB lovely to read your post and to hear how well it's going for you too.. sounds like we're heading in the same direction.. I dabbled in poetry with a friend who also had work broadcast on the radio - a few years ago now, but Im feeling the same creativity coming back to me.. Also making plans for kicking the weed - now that I am no longer numbed by the alcohol, I can really feel the bad effects that it is having on my general well being..AND, I feel less inclined to follow that path of self destrucion these days.. I want to be well and feel able to take the steps to make that happen - What a change

Moread

posting will be a bit sketchy over the weekend, lots going on, and places to be - see you soon, Love Yorkie

[moread79]

Hello my lovely BE friends

Sue, thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement, how nice to log in and find a comment like that I'm sending you a big hug and as many good vibes as I can possible send by the internet!

STB, Yorkie, what can I say? You are my daily strength and a continued source of inspiration. I love that you are both creative people but can't say I'm a bit suprised

Maybe we could set up a thread for people to send in their work? Writing, poems, brainstorming, anything really. I also let my writing slip because of my alcohol abuse (a bit tough to write with a hangover!) and am getting my feet wet again as it were It might be nice to see what inspires people sober, or perhaps describing our struggles/relationships with abuse in a cathartic way? Let me know what everyone thinks, maybe we could suggest it in the Sept. Hop?

I have my first yoga class tomorrow, I'll let you know how you went, maybe it'll inspire you both to take it up again?

STB the massage sounds like heaven...it's the next thing on my list believe me! It really suprises me how much better care we take of ourselves when we aren't under the influence!


The old me - didn't care what I ate, mainly junk food all day long to battle the hangover, hence putting on weight and feeling bad about myself, drinking to forget about it or feel more upbeat, constantly putting things off, never acheiving my goals then feeling like a failure, skin terrible and puffy, panic striken half the time from the horrible events of the previous binge, so guilty towards my friends,family,boyfriend...the list goes on.


The new me - eating healthily, making sure I get plenty of rest, taking interest in new things and activities, reading again, writing again, meeting new people, can face my loved ones with my head high, feel better, look better, am better!

Couldn't have done it without you, can't say thank you enough xx

[Yorkie]

Morning STB and Moread big hugs to you both...On the subjuect of massage.. A few years ago, when sober, I embarked on a massage course..which lead to reflexology.. homeopath..reikki, colour healing and many other healing/spiritual ways of being... all washed away by the demon drink... However, I always carried the power and knowledge of the strength which these tools provided and while I could not practice them during my washed away period, never gave up hope (well nearly) of finding my way back to these powerfull ways... Although in the dark days, the idea of them seemed to make no sense, I see now that the alcohol poisened my mind against them... (what contridictions the drink influence creates)

The good news is that now the alcohol is out of my system, it's full steam ahead.. nothing of the skills has been lost, (they are only a bit rusty) and with my last battle with the dark force over and done, am back in the light..

I have been giving my lovely fella weekly massages, and the benefits of giving are just as healing for me as they are for him when receiving.
Last night, we set the table up in my newly refurbed living room (re floor sanding) and I gave him a full body massage and used colour healing and some reiki too.. it felt like a blessing for the room... and this morning, when I came downstairs - the room felt so peacefull and smelled devine from the oils which we had used..

The day has started on such a good note.. up early, weather beautiful and I have the joy of speaking with you.. I am so much in your debt... you have been with me from the start and without you I could not have come this far... always in my thoughts...lots of love and hugs... Yorkie

[moread79]

Hi Yorkie

what a lovely picture you paint, the massage sounds wonderful amd I'm sure you fella is over the moon with all the pampering

I've always been interested in alternative healing approaches and am seriously thinking about giving some courses a try. Yoga class today went beautifully, I felt so relaxed during the class and in towards the end they covered us in blankets while we just spent a few minutes listening to our bodies and projecting positive thoughts about ourselves-combined with the soothing music and candles it was a lovely experience, will definately be taking this up.

STB how are you? I hope the trip to the dentist went well, pop in and post later if you can to let us know you are ok

Lost of love everyone xx

[STB]

Hello Moread and Yorkie!!! Oh I have MISSED reading your posts!!! Have been driving my niece back to uni and am still here in Norwich!! Long drives, lots of shopping, packing and unpacking and I REALLY wanted a drink yesterday!! Buying her some wine and thinking "one wouldnt hurt" but I found some alcohol free Fre wine and had a bottle of that and it was fine. What I needed was sleep!! But I wish I had been able to write to you and read your posts on Friday and Saturday, I really missed you.....

Anyways, I am now drinking coffee and have filched her laptop to write to you.... I am so glad you are both doing so well, although I am a bit jealous you both seem to have nice guys! As you know I am living with my ex - but you never know one day.....

Meanwhile I drive back from Norwich to Berkshire today and am really looking forward to the journey, looking forward to choosing the music and having some me time.

Most important of all is, ta da! - I have reached day 28 - the elusive four weeks! I know I can knock this challenge on the head, I just know it! I am going away to a friend's for the weekend next weekend (but I am going to have lots of R&R) and I have already purchased four extra bottles of Fre for my consumption.

I am feeling really so confident from just reading what you have said - the power of your friendship on here is my rock and I truly hope that one day we can all three meet up for a proper celebration - you never know

Meanwhile I am so close to moving now.... just another month I hope... it is the solicitors that are slowing everything down but as my ex and I recognise this, we are both getting on okay.... we have lived seperate lives for so long, it is easy to slide into just being sort of house mates without too much rancour...

Moread I think the idea of a creative thread is excellent - I also have a terrific idea which I was wondering if you would both like to consider.... How about a book, a Bright Eye book, for when the forum is down.... called something like "So you think being addicted to alcohol is shameful? A book for those who suffer and for those who judge...." and we could have some life stories about what it is really like... the good days and bad... I wish I had been able to buy one..... what do you think?

And finally, the massage worked brilliantly on the headache! When I get home am going to find a good yoga class..... also fancy pilates.....

Speak later and thank you darlings - I truly could not manage without you in this journey... xxxxx

[Yorkie]

Morning Lovelies, Moread, Thankyou for your lovely post... My fella loves the attention, he has a chronic knee condition, but since I've started giving him massage, it has improved enormousley, to the point where surgery may not be neccessary... He plays golf, this has improved too.
Im getting more and more encouraged by your yoga stories.. I remember from my classes years ago, that we always ended with 20 mins relaxation... it really set me up for the day... thankyou for reminding me... In fact, today, im going to bring my yoga mat downstairs and try some moves in my living room on my lovely wooden floor... I'll let you know how it goes..

STB ditto what Moread says: let us know how you're doing.. thinking about you
popping off now to a few hours gardening... it's a bit cooler here today which makes it better for getting on.. I love the sun, but it can get a bit uncomfortable working under it when it's so hot.
love for a happy and sober day, Yorkie