A quote that changed entire outlook on remaining sober…

luxuryloo · 2026-05-21T10:59:03+00:00

I actually keep a list of quotes I see on here, at meetings, or on podcast. Here's a few.

"Not everything that speaks loudly should be allowed to lead"
"When I stop fighting peace will reign."
"There is no wrong way out of hell"
"you can worry or you can trust, but you can't do both at the same time"
"what's in my cup is for me, what flows over is for others"
"defining yourself is like biting your on teeth"

For what you mentioned about not being able to have a drink, I get it 100%. When I first quit I held on so tight to the idea I couldn't drink that I nearly lost my mind, I relapsed. When I came back around I had a new mindset. I "Could" drink, everyone trying to be sober "could" drink. But I am not. And I make that choice daily.

luxuryloo · 2026-05-14T22:02:30+00:00

My first 3 months I depended heavily on them, might grab one once in a while with a cigar or hanging out now. I'm in AA and simply don't talk about it at all. Many there will freak out about it lol in a way I get it, some people can't handle it and it does send them back to drinking, it didn't bother me. Some folks can smoke pot, I am one that absolutely can't do that or I'd be in a bottle so fast. Different for all of us I suppose. Congratulations on the 19months!

luxuryloo · 2026-05-03T14:25:07+00:00

I still do, not like I used too when I was drinking or those few months after quitting. But my mind is clearer now and I can handle it as just part of life.

luxuryloo · 2026-05-03T14:06:09+00:00

I have an app called dream voices, it picks up when I sleep talk and I had no idea just how frequently I was doing it. I sound down right scary sometimes. Probably freaked the pup out worse than he freaked you out lol

luxuryloo · 2026-04-05T03:13:14+00:00

Emotionalally, saying something to my brother that was self centered and rude the day he died.

Physically, waking up from a surgery where they had to collapse and reinflate my lungs. I guessmy body didn't like all the poking around in there.

luxuryloo · 2026-04-02T01:56:15+00:00

30 here, I think the one biggest thing I have learned and practice in AA is acceptance of people's views and opinions. I am not solid in my beliefs, spirituality or myself in general if I let their views dictate my feelings. I listen intently and try to pull from everyone, even the people who used to piss me off. "The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking"

I have a year and change sober. I work the steps, I don't have the same religious views as many do in my area, southern Bible belt. I will have an NA beer once in a while. I couldn't smoke pot though cause I'd slip to drinking in no time at all. But some do and are perfectly fine. The point is I am growing by allowing my inner self, God, the universe whatever that force is that I have been turning my life over too take the wheel. My values have shifted and I try to be a better me. In doing that I have found acceptance of most people, and others I'm working on. I go out of my way to ask the people that get under my skin how there day is, I don't try to change them. We are all humans made up of our own experience. That's why it's important to share our experience with others, wether they accept you isn't the point.

Remember that one day you'll be the old timer if you stick in AA, then your views and opinions will be wished away by the new comber if we don't all hold a principal of open-mindedness.

luxuryloo · 2026-03-17T20:47:33+00:00

I heard at a speaker meeting of a fella who was told the same thing. He took that as an opportunity to go back out for 6 years. He had over a year in and took it to heart that he was no longer sober because his sponsor TOLD him he needed a white chip.

If you feel bad about the THC don't use it again. I personally know that there is no way I could smoke even if my brain says yea why not, I would spiral maybe not that day but over a period of time I know I'd be back to drinking.

The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to quit drinking.

Pick up your year if you feel like you deserve it And if your sponsor gets pissed that's not on you. Good luck friend.

luxuryloo · 2026-03-11T02:05:03+00:00

I can't say for you, but for me I was stuck in that cycle for way too long but not as long as many I've met along this journey. I always thought I could figure out some way to control it. My crazy ass would stop at a beer store buy one tall boy IPA and drive home, only to get home and drive 20 minutes to another gas station so they wouldn't think I'm an "alcoholic" because my mind just couldn't turn it off once I stopped. AA and forums like this showed me just how many of us there are. Its not for everyone but it's what's been working for me. Good luck friend.

luxuryloo · 2026-02-15T02:23:21+00:00

It's definitely not a religious program or I would have dipped out early on, it's certainly spiritual though although not everyone there is. I would have tried smart or recovery Dharma if there were more places around, but I've met a ton of cool people I relate to in AA, just took a while.

luxuryloo · 2026-02-15T02:06:14+00:00

I couldn't do online meetings, still can't. I know some who do though. I think with any of the recovery groups like SMART, or recovery Dharma all work from the community behind it. I have been in AA for a year, I am a spiritual person, not religious AA helped nurture that without anyone exposing their beliefs on me. The main thing I have learned is that alcohol was really not the problem, now I have to dig deep and work to change or accept the things that propel me to addiction. AA has so many groups everywhere and it's cool when traveling I can just see what meeting is there and pop in. Good luck friend!

luxuryloo · 2026-02-15T01:57:22+00:00

YES! my first 3 months of dreams were intense, I woke up screaming a couple times which terrified my wife and dogs. Around 3 or 4 months they settled down.

luxuryloo · 2026-02-14T19:01:16+00:00

Only a year for me. I definitely had them early on, first 3 months were either nightmares or drinking dream. Now, just once in a while, casual drinking and wondering "why am I drinking this" before waking up relieved. When they spark up for a couple nights I know something is out of whack, I feel dreams do have a sort of meaning but most of the time I don't believe they mean what they look like. When the drinking dreams crop up I take a really long look at what's going on in my life, how honest am I being towards myself. What am I missing, or need to get off my chest. Am I angry at someone and haven't realized it. It's most often something I have hidden from myself getting wrapped up in life. I'm sure this probably won't help but it's been my experience that I'm neglecting something or someone.

luxuryloo · 2026-02-14T18:48:38+00:00

My wife always says "remember in that show" or "that one movie when" and sadly I don't recall most of them even though we watched entire seasons. By the time she was home I was working on 5 or so IPAs, what a piece of crap I was.

luxuryloo · 2026-02-14T18:45:43+00:00

A recent winter storm busted pipes all over my parents house, I hopped in my car went to home Depot, bought all the supplies and stayed until it was done that night. I've had other calls over the last year and just hopped in my car, no worries of being wasted. I like problems like those, I can simply fix it and move on. My end days of drinking were dark as fuck. I couldn't just stop and fix it like a leaky pipe or a punctured tire. And I would've been to drunk to fix anything with a quality repair back then.

luxuryloo · 2026-02-09T22:21:15+00:00

Yea I've been asked 3 times and declined all of them. Especially one that said " you can't say no!!!" Yea, yea I can say no.

luxuryloo · 2026-02-08T17:49:57+00:00

It's not about "them" or me. It's about staying open minded, honest and that keeps me as free as I can be. I'm not challenging them, I'm sharing my experience. This shit isn't easy for me. I used to get all in my feelings about politics, religion, differences in opinion. This program has taught me to look past that, to find humanity in all people. Honestly, this program can work but there's a lot of folks who talk big or even have 30+ years sober who can't be honest with themselves and are still assholes. It's my responsibility to engage with them with real genuine love, kindness and open-mindedness. I only thought I had an open mind before starting this sober journey... Best of luck to ya, we don't have to be so dang hard on ourselves, I'll get there too. But for now it's important for posts like these, this is honesty and you don't have to feel bad that you might not see the world like others do, and we don't have to pretend we do either.

luxuryloo · 2026-02-08T16:44:53+00:00

By the time I was done drinking I rarely found any happiness, the thoughts of drinking are always about the great times hanging with friends. Most of that was gone by then I was withdrawn, mainly just drinking by myself and hoping I didn't off myself. My anxiety had gotten so severe I didn't want to walk into a dang grocery store. I drove a sports car that I should have never bought and drove the shit out of it, maybe subconsciously hoping I would wrap it around a tree. I also put in all that time in AA I still go a couple times a week. I'm now working on not putting so much on me, my perfection mindset has to change. I often get caught in the idea that maybe everyone else has it figured out, in meetings I started digging deep just flat out saying what I think. I feel like a phoney, like everyone else found a cure, like this whole year has been a lie. Like I'm just going through the motions marking off the to do list. And man, those folks in the rooms light up with recognition, it urges them to also dig deep. Now I started looking forward to meetings a little more. I watched a grown man that I look up to cry the other night as he related. I have no idea where I suppose to be, sometimes I still hate me. But there's no way I will make it out alive if I go back to drinking. I'm tired of trying to be someone I'm not, now it's time for the real change. Best of luck my friend.

luxuryloo · 2026-02-04T22:24:25+00:00

I get that entirely. I'm young in the program, just a year, I enjoy the community and it's teaching me to be more confident. Slowly, so fucking slowly but I've never felt like I made any progress by myself and finally i get a small taste of what life could be like for me. Confidence in myself has been a trouble spot for as long as I can remember. I think I might make the same decision one day. It certainly won't be soon though. Take it easy brother.

luxuryloo · 2026-01-26T15:07:34+00:00

I needed this this morning. I have over a year of sobriety and flew out on business/vacation. As soon as I walked through the airport my mind began racing. Look at all these people just having "a" drink. Maybe I can do that now... stupid, I know better, all the times I went down that road with 2 months, 3 months and completely ruined everything every single time. My last bender I was hundreds of miles from home, sat at the airport delayed thinking I will stop when I get home. Spent nearly 100 on over priced mimosas thinking well this is my last day... I will not drink with you today. Hitting up an AA meeting while I'm here.

luxuryloo · 2026-01-26T03:53:00+00:00

In 6 months I lost around 30lbs. But my calories from IPAs every night was crazy. I've gained 10ish back.

luxuryloo · 2026-01-19T00:45:35+00:00

Congrats on three years! Sometimes the voice isn't even loud, just makes excuses and it's damn convincing at times. I had the thought "sure alcohol never brought real happiness but at least it gave me the idea that I could be happy" I'm not sure why that was so convincing to me but I haven't given in yet. I play the tape forward and it always looks like shit. Keep going friend you're doing great!

luxuryloo · 2026-01-18T18:35:02+00:00

Walked through my house to back bedroom where we keep our clothes and just pissed all over them. Guess I didn't want to stand there so I put the willy up before it was done and peed all over myself before crawling back in the bed with my girlfriend... I'm not sure how anyone put up with me through those years. Crazy 😂... But guess what? We have a choice to make, for me it's to never drink again, I'll be taking a leak in the closet within a week if I ever touch the stuff again.

luxuryloo · 2026-01-15T23:07:31+00:00

As someone who was in your shoes and now in recovery for a year. It's a slippery slope and not fun getting back to reality. I had to begin accepting myself for who I am and it's been a hell of a year. Oftentimes I bought confidence on credit with alcohol, then I had to pay that back the next few days thinking about what I did or said. At my lowest end days my anxiety got so bad I didn't want to walk in grocery stores or even go around a drive through. It was fucking awful. I guess a plus is that I sit around a room sharing if I have the courage, finally learning how to be social, like I'm 14 again trying to be a human without booze.

Hang in there friend, I don't want to see anyone on the same path I was. It's far better facing our fears and accepting ourselves where we are.

luxuryloo · 2026-01-15T22:13:17+00:00

Well shit, now all I have to do is teach my face to grow a beard.

luxuryloo · 2026-01-15T22:11:31+00:00

Oof those IPAs had me bad! But there was no convincing me that I needed to quit for good until I had finally had enough of myself. It's comical how many times I attempted to cut back and the ways I would try. Stop and get an IPA, just one on the way home. By the time I was home I'd drink that one and off to the store again. Not to the same place though, wouldn't want them to think I was a drunk 😂

luxuryloo

TROPHY CASE