Tag Archives: Christmas

Addiction, Recovery

7 x 7 = 49

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I made it through Christmas Day dinner unscathed. It was a family dinner with a dozen other people, the majority of them indulging in alcohol at some point in the evening. 

There was the fridge full of beer, the bottles of wine on the table during dinner, the after-dinner licquers… all of which I had partaken of last year. This year, I would not. 

It wasn’t even all that tempting; I didn’t have any craving for the alcohol around me. It was really more socially awkward for some people than anything else. Others didn’t bat an eye about it. There were plenty of soft drinks and bottled water available and even more great food!

My oldest son would pour himself a can of Guinness which mesmerized me for a moment but only because it’s visually stimulating to watch the frothy stout slug out of an upside down can and then settle out. And the lighting of the Drambuie-soaked plum pudding caught everyone’s attention. 

I don’t know the scientific explanation, but fire made it good.

I made it until 9:30 and then left to bring my oldest son and his girlfriend home to spend some time in my chair with my journal before retiring for the evening. 

Today is Day 49.

Addiction, Everyday Life

Can Santa Do This?

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 Ginger snaps!Once you get into the month of December, mention of the word ‘workshop’ conjures images of Santa’s Workshop where an assembly line, sweatshop of green-clad elves/Chinese children toil over the latest in electronic devices or most coveted and fashionable athletic apparel. But for me, today… on December 1, the word ‘workshop’ relates to something different. 

This week (including yesterday November 30th) I am attending a Self Evaluation & Support workshop that seems like it is very much of an education/information session about addiction. The sessions are not specific to any one addiction but tries to address all addictions in a general fashion under a single umbrella. 

In the first two sessions, there are some broader concepts that I have never heard of before however the elements of addiction that were highlighted and discussed are things I can easily latch onto as they are things that I have researched before. 

Thursday and Friday seem to be the sessions that I am taking the most interest in as they deal with ‘Living Well’ and ‘Relapse Prevention.’ I feel that I am doing well with recovery thus far and haven’t felt like it has been too challenging yet. Granted, I still have some Valium to finish up and I haven’t returned to work yet but I feel strong and positive. Plus, I have access to further support through the Addiction Services department as well as Alcoholics Anonymous, if I really feel like I need it.