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One thing I know I need to work on is giving myself permission to do less or even nothing.
Yesterday, I was busy doing a few jobs around the house and home schooling the children. Oh, and I went for a jog. By 4.30pm I didn’t fancy doing anything else but it also felt wrong to just chill out and do nothing.
Continue reading “Giving Myself Permission – Day 1533”
Today it’s sunny and the kids are on their half term break from (home) school. Not that they want to go out and enjoy the weather. They are quite content on their computers, playing video games and socialising with their friends online.
I have to resist the urge to kick them outside. Something my parents would have insisted I did, on a day like this. I can almost hear my mother yelling “get outside and call on your friends.” However, with social distancing in place it is impossible for my kids to go out and meet up with friends; most friends don’t live that close anyway.
Continue reading “Kids of Today – Day 1516”
Adding these tips to your everyday toolbox will enable you to deal with the craziness that life throws at you, without reaching for the bottle.
It’s too easy to lose focus of what’s important. We have to remember that looking after our own wellbeing is crucial to achieving a happy sober you.
Continue reading “Sobriety Toolbox Tips”
Whilst being on lockdown I have been trying to put together a website. I have to admit it’s been hard and I have made many mistakes along the way. There have been times when I have wanted to pick up the laptop and hurl it across my office in an irrational display of rage.
When I come across something I cannot do and, its not obvious how to do it, I get really angry inside, then emotional. I just hate making mistakes.
Continue reading “Managing My Emotions – Day 1502”
Its Victory in Europe (VE) Day today. It marks the end of the fighting in Europe during WW2. Being the 75th anniversary of VE day it is a National Holiday here in the United Kingdom.
Unfortunately, lots of celebrations have been limited or cancelled because we are still in Lockdown, due to the Coronavirus. There will be no street parties, parades or public gatherings this year.
However, that won’t stop people celebrating…
Continue reading “VE Day – Day 1498”
Before getting sober, my drinking brain would have used this current situation as an excuse to drink more. Losing my drinking restrictions like school pick-ups, work, visiting relatives, etc… means I would have drunk in excess of my already excessive normal.
Continue reading “Lockdown: Drinking v Sobriety – Day 1480”
Over this Lockdown Easter Weekend it has felt hard not seeing my parents and my sisters and their families.
Normally, I would have planned a visit to my sisters over the Easter Holidays to catch up and swap Easter Eggs with the children. My parents would have been invited to our house on Easter Sunday for lunch. There would have been drives out for family walks or even a weekend away somewhere.
However, during lockdown none of this can happen. I don’t want to dwell on what I cannot do though. That is too easy and does not actually help me. When I find things which are out of my control, I try to focus on what is in my control.
Continue reading “Easter Weekend in Lockdown – Day 1473”
It’s coming to the end of my 4th year Sober.
Today has been just an ordinary day; nothing special.
This means I enjoyed helping the kids with their school work (including finding out who invented Tarmac!).
Eating lunch with Mr Mac and having time to catch up.
In my first year of Sobriety I went to AA for a couple of months. This is where I came across the Serenity Prayer for the first time.
These simple words resonated with me immediately upon hearing them. Their meaning hit me somewhere deep inside and I have never forgotten them since.
When I find myself facing a difficult situation and getting overwhelmed, I quietly say these words to myself.
Continue reading “The Serenity Prayer – Day 1459”Due to the school closures here in the UK, I am on Day 3 of home schooling the kids. So far, it’s going okay. (though it is only Day 3). Modern technology means their schools have set homework online and they have a great choice of subjects to choose from. I’m so pleased I didn’t have to come up with their school work myself, Phew!
The tricky part for me is resisting the urge to compete with all those parents out there who are jumping on social media to share idyllic pictures of their children studying and sharing copies of their unrealistic home-school timetables.