I find acceptance pretty hard to do. It's something that seems to be an ongoing process.
I am a lot better in many areas where acceptance was a problem before, but it's still something I continuosly work at.
I also find that acceptance, along with spirituality and other things that I need in recovery for my serenity, can be easily forgotten during my day. So many things distract me that it can be difficult to keep in mind. I do come back to it at some point, usually when I realize that things don't seem to be going so well. So i think that it's something that we work towards, and hopefully get better at with time.

People often tend to drift along without having any idea of why they are feeling miserable or why life seems to be unfair to them. Very reluctantly, I came to the conclusion that I could not drink and after then discovering that I could not stop drinking, I started going to AA meetings.

I hated the way in which people introduced themselves at those meetings: “My name is XYZ and I’m an alcoholic” but since there was no other show in town, I went along with it and did the same.

I did not take another drink since going to that first meeting and admitting that I was an alcoholic, but all was not well. It had to be pointed out to me because I did not know any better, that I was admitting to being an alcoholic but not accepting it. With admitting it, there was always an element of ‘maybe’ or ‘someday’ I could drink again but acceptance was a totally different ball-game.

What followed was a period of extreme self-pity, almost akin to grieving the loss of a close friend and this lasted for several weeks. Eventually, it came to the point where I had to decide whether life thereafter was going to be an unhappy longing for something I could never have or if I could make the best of a bad situation.

What seemed like a total disaster at the time turned out to be a great blessing. Acceptance was just reluctantly facing up to reality but it has opened up doors that self-pity would have kept forever hidden.

Wow yes I completely agree. I really identified with both of those posts. I admitted I was an alcoholic but i didn't accept it for about a year after that and just kept relapsing until my bottom got so low that I didn't want to keep digging. I had the gift of desperation and was beaten into a state of willingness. What I thought was the worst thing (being an alcoholic) turned out to be the thing that made my life beautiful once I accepted it and began to live by spiritual principles. Acceptance is still tough. Life on lives terms is still tough but I know that I wouldn't trade what I have now for anything. I am a new person. I was given a new life. I too grieved the loss and still waves of self pity come back where I think about it... like "I wish I could drink" but then I play the tape through because I know I will never be able to drink safely and or normal. I am blessed, truly. And I also think that acceptance is a working progress. I don't think I will ever be able to just fully accept EVERYTHING as it is but I can try for today. All I have is a daily reprieve. And for that I am grateful. I hope everyone is having a great evening. God bless.

I am currently having to accept that the gorgeous television I just purchased under three months ago, suddenly is malfunctioning, and I possibly could have just lost 700 dollars, on a television, that worked find, wasn't dropped, or bumped into, it just started to malfunction.

It is not the end of the world, but it is irritating, and I really don't have time to be dealing with this anytime soon. I don't believe I got the Wal-Mart warranty on the product, however I did some research that says I get a one year warranty from the manufacturer. I am tempted to just buy another television. I actually have another television in my room, smaller and not as awesome, but maybe I'll just have to deal with it until I have more money to blow.

Shit happens.

I had to accept that I am an alcoholic, and that if I drink to deal with things like this, that are just live happening, problems will pile up, and be unable to be solved. This problem is easy, call the seller, call the manufacturer, save for another television, keep an open mind, remember things happen out of my control, and do everything responsible human being would do. If the company or the seller don't want to help, then don't purchase from both in the future, and tell the truth on the web about the experience. Way more valuable than 700 dollars lost. The funny things is this week at work I've made close to 1000 dollars already, already have a great television I can easily move into the living room. Have another television in the other room I can move to my room, and this is not a big deal. I have to accept I turned into a drama king when it first happened though, an I have to admit and accept that without the steps, an opened mind, humility, and responsibility, I would be losing my shit right now, too angry to think straight.

It's tough to admit I have a flaw. If I drink booze I then drink it alcoholiclly but just telling myself I'm an alcoholic is enough to remind me to just steer clear.

In every other way I'm a normal person but one sip and I crave more and more , infinitium It's a fact and I can either choose to accept it and move on or sit in misery.

Acceptance is a very powerful thing. It allows me to be free of my addiction.

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BB8484,

It is true isn’t it how it is difficult to find acceptance? I think sometimes with social media and how things are portrayed in life, though in real life and when reality hits, what we all really need is a place where we can be vulnerable/real and be accepted for who we are. What the media portrays as "life" is so often (too often) non-reality. I’m so glad to have a group like this where we can be open and share with one another and feel the acceptance as we find a safe haven carry each other's burdens! I pray more people will be drawn and find community and support such as a place like here.

Thanks for doing this and taking the initiative! Looking forward to continue to build relationships and spurring on one another in love and good deeds!