Hi 1-2
your first responsibility is to yourself. Just stay focused, do the extra meetings if you need to. Do whatever it takes to get you back from the battle, soldier! You have been an example for me and others here. Stay with us my friend!!!

I am sorry to hear that about your friends. You know you cannot have one so I think keeping extra busy is a good idea. Perhaps you can make a new really good friend who wants to hang out and do sober things with you. Somebody who can inspire you again as you both work together to share in the journey. Happy 4th! Be strong!

I too am really sorry mate - you always have such wise words for us all and this situation must be having an impact on you. Busy busy busy and stay on track and that lil ole word you often use at the end of your posts now applies to you. An arm around the shoulder and squeeze comes your way......................G.

Hello 1is2many,

It is unfortunate that your two friends have gone back out and hopefully they will return safely. You can learn from their misfortune and turn it into something positive for yourself. It is a reminder that an alcoholic is never cured of alcoholism and is always just one drink away from disaster.
I sometimes come upon a flock of sheep wandering along a road near to where I live. When one sheep crosses the road in front of traffic, the whole flock will follow, putting themselves in great danger of being killed or injured. In life, I try to be the one who says, “No, I am not going to blindly follow the flock”.
This is a time for you to be your own person, regardless of what other people do.

1is2, u got this, mang! Im sry 2 hear bout ur friends, but it seems like the best way 2 help them is 2 stay solid in ur sobriety n lead by example. Like they tell u on airplanes in case of an emergency u 1st secure ur own oxygen mask b4 tryna help ur neighbor with his, right? N like ur username says, if ur like me (speaking from my personal experience) u can't do "just one," but u already knew that. Xx

It's sad when people go out. They clearly haven't heard the many stories of dispair from those who went out, suffered greatly, and make it back. Perhaps they've never been to meetings where ppl make it back.

Be strong my friend.

It is notable that it was like one month for both and then they realized they were sliding. One guy said he was lying about how many he had while cutting the grass. He could feel the behavior creeping back. Man I don't miss the charade. I was always having to cover my tracks. Buy a couple extra so it didn't look like I drank THAT many. I see how it's not the booze it's the behavior. 1-2

Giday 1-2, when I was going through the bowel cancer I likened it to being like a soldier in a fighting pit waiting for the one that hits them. I realised that I could do two things; I could sit in the pit and cower or I could do something to protect me.

I can see a resemblance in my fight to cancer as I do to my alcoholism. With the cancer I made sure I gave my body the best chance to recover ie take out all the toxins and improve my immune system.

With alcohol I can sit back and live in fear of picking up the next drink (white knuckle) or as you suggest I can do things to keep me in the offensive state against my disease. And each time I have a little victory in the battle I grow stronger against my disease.

And finally something my oncologist said to me 'g8, you are not getting better at the expense of someone getting sick',

Keep taking the fight upto the disease

G8