Program burn-out

[mmarq56]

Do any of you just feel like it aint worth it? All this work for what??? Just to feel crappy? The easier softer way is just to f-it and drink! That's what I want anyway. I have under a year and I'm considered a "new comer" anyway so I don't have that much to lose. Big deal. Newcomer newcomer newcomer.... who cares? LABELS SUCK

[BIG AL]

Man what do you care what people think newcomer sometimer or oldtimer.We are all in the same boat.All this work is for what?Its for you to live.To have the kind of life you deserve.The life you are worth living.You are here becouse we need you to help us stay sober.I feel crappy at almost 6yrs sober.But give me about a week or less I will feel like a million bucks.As will you.Hang in there it will pass.Anyone can take a drink and check out.Dont quit just before the miricle.I have found when things get tough.God has something great just around the corner and my disease is trying to rob me of it.You have everything to lose.You put alot of work in to your under a yr of sobriety dont let someone or something rob you of it.Just think when you get a yr you can sponsor someone and you can boss them around like they did you.LOL.

[Mycool]

Life isn't worth living? What else is there? If you're miserable sober you're likely miserable drinking you're just too drunk to know it. Ever sat with someone dying from drinking.Its ugly miserable painful disgusting, Hellish. Kidneys and liver shot, drowning in your own bile as your lungs fill up and spillout? I have. I sat with my father for days while he, and the family went through this. He died on my mom's birthday. What a last gift. He always said life wasn't worth living if he couldn't drink.

In very many cases he knows quite clearly that he is destroying himself, that for him liquor is poison that he actually hates being drunk, and even dislikes the taste of liquor. And yet he drinks. For, dislike it as he may, the experience of not being drunk is worse. It gives him the ‘horrors’ for he stands face to face with the unveiled, basic insecurity of the world. Herein lies the crux of the matter. To stand face to face with insecurity is still not to understand it. To understand it, you must not face it but be it,”
-Alan Watts- (Who died relatively young from alcoholism)
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I'm a newcomer, 92 daze and I bless everyone of them. My worst day sober beats my worst day drunk.

[zoomie]

There is more to life than just being a newcomer in AA. I have almost 5 years and the people who go to my meetings all have like 15 to 20 years or more,so I'm still a newbee in there eyes LOL I don't care. To me a year is wonderful and you deserve a great big old congrats. The first year is the hardest and if you can make it through that you can make it through anything. I don't drink because the world is better off with me sober and so are my family and kids. I dread the thought of having to start at day one,so that keeps me sober too. Outside of AA not drinking for a year or more is amazing most people can't do it unless they really hate drinking. Even normal people don't go a year without drinking. Don't give up that hard earned year for nothing. Anyway how do you know that you'll make it back if you do go out and drink? I know once I start drinking I will slip and slide all over the place. The first time you quit is a gift after that it's hard work. I'v relapsed before and it was very hard to keep on staying sober because you think I can always go back,but thats not always true. I'm one of the lucky ones and so are you. Count your blessings for today. Sometimes the only thing that goes right in my day is that I did not drink. And that is the only thing that matters when your a drunk.

[DaveH]

mmarq56,
The label I give myself in the program of AA is "new each day". I strive to keep that perspective because it keeps me from getting the oldtimer disease that I do see in meetings; folks who have been around so long that they forget what it's like during the first 5 years of sobriety. The program of AA has allowed me to be labeled other things too and for that I am grateful. Some little people call me grandpa, two others call me Dad, others call me devoted, friend, reliable and trustworthy. I would not have those "labels" if it had not been for the rooms of AA and the people who invest their time on sites like this. I know that my first year sucked too, in fact I almost went back out a dozen times the first two years. But there was always someone who would come along side me and encourage me. And remind me that it does get better. My prayer for you is that you would be sent encouragers too, in addition to the ones you already have here. It does get better if you will work the steps.....I promise.
Regards,
Dave

[sioux]

When I was a newcomer, I wanted to be an oldtimer, without putting in the time or the effort. Then when the newcomer stuff wore off I had to decide what I wanted to do more, drink or get busy. Then came the middle of the road and I asked myself, "is this it?" Today, I try to practice the principles of this program with a newcomer's heart.

Life is not crappy today. There are times when crap happens.

I'll say this again...my disease wants me dead. My feelings are out to get me, but they are just feelings. They really don't have the power to kill me unless I let them. They will take misery as a second close, if I let them. Misery's optional today.

We have the ability to tap into a power greater than ourselves now. That's what I have to do today if I want to stay sober, sane, and reasonably happy.

Life isn't fabulous wonderful for me. It is what it is, and how I approach it is up to me and I'm doing it sober first. You can too. Vent and howl, it is important, but when you are done, get to a meeting, call someone who cares, pray to your Creator, practice sanity, have something to eat, take a nap. Soon it will be tomorrow and you will have survived it. Sober.