Anne's Holiday Tip
I am so very aware that what has kept me sober for a length of time might not help keep anyone else sober. Saying that, here are my 'holiday tips' (a lot of them apply the other 364 days of the year too).1 - Mediation/prayer every a.m. and p.m. no matter what is going on that day.
2 - Remember that I have a belly button and an a**hole, therefore have the right to make at least 10 mistakes every day, counting them helps keep humor in my life.
3 - Keep positive attitude myself, avoid if need be the folks that choose to see glass half empty.
4 - Meetings, meetings, meetings, especially if I have to be with drinking folks; if I go to big blowout, meeting before party. Take own transportation to party if date/spouse will not promise that they will leave if I get uncomfortable at party.
5 - Remember that I have a terminal disease that wants me dead, what I have is not a bad case of sinus problems.
6 - Keep people in my life who love me in a tough love kind of way, that care enough to say, 'what step are you on, I do not recognize any of the 12 I know.' 7 - Remember that I still have the ability to become 8 or younger in the presence of my biological family and do what I need to do to care for myself.
8 - Remember that I am a member of the human race and everyone has their own bucket and holidays are stressful for everyone, if not they are dead.
9 - Remember that I am compulsive in matters of spending .. that my gift giving is many times a way to make someone like/love me. Ask me what I need to tell/do for me to make me feel loved.
10 - Remember that the bills will come due Jan 1st, and I will feel bad about me when in debt up to my eyeballs, knees are far better than eyeballs.
11 - Remember the HALTS and do them. Hungry, that means eat right. Don't starve then binge, not all fast food, go for more veggies instead of sweets, salts at parties; angry, big book tells us an emotion we can not afford.
12 - Keep close touch with my sponsor, make sure that she knows me well enough to see if I am working a program. And if she does not see that, remember that my sobriety is my responsibility. That ultimately I have to keep me sober/clean.
Thanks for giving me an opportunity to sit down and put on paper what I need to do during the holidays. May you be blessed with the truth of what the season really means.
Always,
Anne
More Holiday Tips
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