Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
While I was drinking and early in my recovery I had a lot of trouble telling people especially the ones I loved the most how I felt about them .
I could do it sometimes when I was drinking but i think it was like water of a ducks back and there where a lot of people who had passed on I wish I could have told them how I felt about them but the words weren't there .
These days I have no problem letting people know how I feel and I do it as often as possible.
What helped was while I was in rehab at St John of God I watch a few movies in group by Dr. LEO BUSCAGLIA and when I got out of rehab I was in a bookshop and his book Living ,Loving and Learning jumped out at me and this poem was in it and when i read it i said to myself i will not leave anything unsaid again if I can help it.
It's about putting off and putting off and putting off - especially putting off caring about people we really love. I hope you like it.
God Bless...
Lionel
"THINGS YOU DIDN'T DO"
and she says this:
Remember the day I borrowed your brand new car and I dented it?
I thought you'd kill me, but you didn't.
And remember the time I dragged you to the beach, and you said it
would rain, and it did?
I thought you'd say, "I told you so." But you didn't.
Do you remember the time I flirted with all the guys to make you
jealous, and you were?
I thought you'd leave me, but you didn't.
Do you remember the time I spilled strawberry pie all over your car
rug?
I thought you'd hit me, but you didn't.
And remember the time I forgot to tell you the dance was formal and
you showed up in jeans?
I thought you'd drop me, but you didn't.
Yes, there were lots of things you didn't do,
But you put up with me, and you loved me, and you protected me.
There were lots of things I wanted to make up to you when you
returned from Viet Nam.
But you didn't.
I could do it sometimes when I was drinking but i think it was like water of a ducks back and there where a lot of people who had passed on I wish I could have told them how I felt about them but the words weren't there .
These days I have no problem letting people know how I feel and I do it as often as possible.
What helped was while I was in rehab at St John of God I watch a few movies in group by Dr. LEO BUSCAGLIA and when I got out of rehab I was in a bookshop and his book Living ,Loving and Learning jumped out at me and this poem was in it and when i read it i said to myself i will not leave anything unsaid again if I can help it.
It's about putting off and putting off and putting off - especially putting off caring about people we really love. I hope you like it.
God Bless...
Lionel
"THINGS YOU DIDN'T DO"
and she says this:
Remember the day I borrowed your brand new car and I dented it?
I thought you'd kill me, but you didn't.
And remember the time I dragged you to the beach, and you said it
would rain, and it did?
I thought you'd say, "I told you so." But you didn't.
Do you remember the time I flirted with all the guys to make you
jealous, and you were?
I thought you'd leave me, but you didn't.
Do you remember the time I spilled strawberry pie all over your car
rug?
I thought you'd hit me, but you didn't.
And remember the time I forgot to tell you the dance was formal and
you showed up in jeans?
I thought you'd drop me, but you didn't.
Yes, there were lots of things you didn't do,
But you put up with me, and you loved me, and you protected me.
There were lots of things I wanted to make up to you when you
returned from Viet Nam.
But you didn't.
-
-
I invited Bill to have dinner with me last Sunday. He wasn't willing to drive 7 hours to mid Michigan and teased me with his beautiful ribs!!! So, of course I ate alone and had cedar salmon
Leo really opened me up to a world I had only watched other's have. Looking someone square in the eyes. Nodding Hello , a joke off the cuff to entertain or comfort someone. Leaning in and getting dangerously close :) to someone as I get excited or interested in what we are talking about . You know!!! not being self concious or afraid of just being Me. It really is about that, not having to always understand everything , " But never( well most of the time lol) putting someone out of my Heart". Even if it feels uncomfortable .
Nice post,
Billy
God Bless...
Lionel
I missed the chance with my dad. He died 13 years ago. I was 22. I never once told him I loved him. I have never told any family members that I love them and I don't think I imply it either. I am highly guarded with them. My sibs understand, but I think I devastate my mom with the distance I keep. I hope I can overcome this before I lose anyone else.
It was so hard with my family as well in the beginning M/F sibs we where never a close family just to much going on both parents alcoholic. And I can't remember once being told I was loved.
And when and if we ever sat down at the dinner table it was like 9 separate people sitting there it wasn't a family But in recovery I have been able to mend a few bridges .
My mother was to die a year to the day after I sobered up and we were just getting to know each other and was able to tell her I loved her and I had to push my brothers into her hospital room to say by a let her know they loved her in there own ways otherwise they would have never gone in sad. .
I think forgiveness has a lot to do with it I will never forget what it was like but I can forgive.And even today when my sisters say they love me i find it hard to accept because I can still feel I let them down in a lot of ways being the big brother.
But I let them know I love them and I mean it. Even today we are still not close we are all over the country but we keep in contact and when I see them there is always a hug a kiss and a I love you. And that may not have happened if i was not sober..
I have been so blessed in recovery .
Bye for now and God Bless...
Lionel
I wonder why a parent would not tell their kid "I love you". Heartbreaking to me. And that I can't say it either.