I am a retired teacher who quit drinking and found happiness! After going deaf, I now have two cochlear implants!
Dear Readers,A Place of PeaceI realized the other day, when I was at a function where there was water and wine to drink, that I felt normal. I felt at peace. I didn't have any urges. I didn't care what I had to drink. I poured water into a wine glass, but that was only because … Continue reading Day 159
Dear Readers,Yesterday I posted some information about resiliency.Here is different definition from Merriam-Webster:: the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens: the ability of something to return to its original shape after it has been pulled, stretched, pressed, bent, etc.I am working on building up my own resiliency.When I told my … Continue reading Resiliency Part 2
Dear Readers,I thought of this topic as I got through another week of being sick.Now on the mend, I made it to my yoga practice. YAY!Life is not all happy. It can't be. We will be faced with loss, sorrow, and sickness.Certainly if we have been drinking too much, we have caused some pain in our … Continue reading Resiliency
Dear Readers,I REFUSE to get down about having another cold.I just won't let my thoughts take me to that place!Whatever place that might be! LOLI say NO to my depressed, weepy, poor me thoughts.GO AWAY! This is one tool that worked for me in talking back to my drinking urges.So, I am trying to see … Continue reading GO AWAY Scary Monsters!
Dear Readers,As I write this, it is snowing. I am once again in a coffee shop, eating a chocolate croissant and drinking a chia tea latte. Double yum!Who knew being sober could taste this good?Sober Date in Fall As I think about my 5 months, I keep coming back to gratitude.Being grateful for all that … Continue reading 5 Months or 152 Days
Dear Readers,Friday night, my Loved One and I went out to a jazz club.We listened to some great live music.We had a wonderful time. In fact, it was a better time than when I was drinking.In the past, I would have had some wine before we went out. Then I'd try not to hog the whole bottle of … Continue reading Date Night
Dear Readers,I spend a lot of time at the audiologist getting my hearing implant tuned up. I have to point to a form and tell her if the sounds I hear are too loud, too soft, or just right.I am also learning how to filter out sounds that I don't need, in order to hear conversation, such as silverware … Continue reading Getting Tuned Up
Dear Readers,Self-compassion and my happy light got me to yoga today.I just said, "One step at a time."All I had to do was turn on the tea kettle. (SHOCK! TEA not coffee!!) LOLThen I said, "Now, all I have to do is turn on the shower."No yelling at myself, but a gentle step by step.I … Continue reading Day 146 And Loving Kindness
Dear Readers,Yesterday I had a wonderful session with my therapist.Even though I have seen therapists for many years, I am still learning.I asked her, "Shouldn't I have this all figured out by my age?" HA! Apparently not!Without boring you with all the details, the bottom line was self-compassion, with being gentle with myself.(Lisa, a blogger, has … Continue reading Being Gentle With Myself
Dear Readers,I am working hard on changing my self-talk.It's amazing how many negative thoughts I think about myself each day.I make my life so much harder than it needs to be.Here are some of my negative thoughts:I'm so tired, I can't do anything.I'm never going to be able to do this.I look so old.This is … Continue reading Self-Talk
Untipsyteacher 