The Daily Check-In for Wednesday, February 3rd: Just for today, I am NOT drinking!
*We may be anonymous strangers on the internet, but we have one thing in common. We may be a world apart, but we're here together!*
**Welcome to the 24 hour pledge!**
I'm pledging myself to not drinking today, and invite you to do the same.
Maybe you're new to /r/stopdrinking and have a hard time deciding what to do next. Maybe you're like me and feel you need a daily commitment or maybe you've been sober for a long time and want to inspire others.
It doesn't matter if you're still hung over from a three day bender or been sober for years, if you just woke up or have already completed a sober day. For the next 24 hours, lets not drink alcohol!
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**This pledge is a statement of intent.** Today we don't set out *trying* not to drink, we make a conscious decision *not to drink*. It sounds simple, but all of us know it can be hard and sometimes impossible. The group can support and inspire us, yet only one person can decide if we drink today. Give that person the right mindset!
What happens if we can't keep to our pledge? We give up or try again. And since we're here in /r/stopdrinking, we're not ready to give up.
**What this is:** A simple thread where we commit to not drinking alcohol for the next 24 hours, posting to show others that they're not alone and making a pledge to ourselves. Anybody can join and participate at any time, you do not have to be a regular at /r/stopdrinking or have followed the pledges from the beginning.
**What this isn't:** A good place for a detailed introduction of yourself, directly seek advice or share lengthy stories. You'll get a more personal response in your own thread.
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This post goes up at:
- US - Night/Early Morning
- Europe - Morning
- Asia and Australia - Evening/Night
A link to the current Daily Check-In post can always be found near the top of the sidebar.
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As I get more and more distance between my last drink and where I am right now, I am realizing I have fewer triggers. When I quit drinking, EVERYTHING triggered me. But I feel like they were more physical, if that's the right word. Almost, tangible. Driving past my favorite liquor store(s). A song. A certain smell. Seeing it on TV and in ads. Someone with me that was able to drink like a normal, fucking human being. (What's with those people?)
As time went on, the triggers started to disappear. Or lessen noticeably. I no longer cared if I saw drinking on TV. Ads, with alcohol didn't make me want to drink, they just made me sad for the individuals they are pandering to. The liquor store is just another building I have to drive past. I also don't remember the last time I thought about drinking. I mean, the action of picking up that first drink.
Now my triggers are more mental, almost emotional. A feeling will trigger me. Maybe a sound. Certainly an emotion. Now that the rose color have came off, I'm feeling all the feelings. ALL OF THEM. No longer can I go through the day fairly numb. No... Now I have to feel everything. Having to feel feelings I never needed to before that is triggering me. But, I'm able to deal with those feelings now. That doesn't mean that I don't ever feel like drinking, or stop considering moderating, because "I'll be better this time." Moderation is like the abusive boyfriend... it makes you think you can go back, are able to go back, and even WANT to go back. The best thing about that? That is now a trigger. The fleeting thought about going back and seeing if it will work, THIS TIME. And I get to, I choose to, not drink and ignore that trigger.
So, I ask all of you... What are your triggers currently in your sobriety journey? How deep does it go for you... are you able to sit through them, or Do you need to vent or scream them away?
I hope every one of you has a kickass Wednesday!
IWNDWYT