Shout out to my fellow almost-one-year sobernauts!
This is a tough time of year for any sobernaut I think, and for those of us coming up to one year during the season of peak temptation I think it's a bit like the thing with driving, where the statistics show the most risky time when one is most likely to have an accident is the last mile or so before home.
The reason, they think, is that people relax and lower their caution as the last stretch is so familiar.
Now I don't know about anyone else, but I don't find Christmas etc especially relaxing. It's the season when all the spectres come out to haunt for me, and for anyone with a difficult family background, history of abusive relationships and dreadful living relatives [or lack of living relatives] it may be the same.
The temptation is everywhere, inside and out, so I think we should be extra kind to ourselves because being sober is the *number one* thing we need to achieve this holiday season. Everything else is just trimmings on the turkey :)
Me, I am cutting myself all the available slack. Choosing easy people to be with and also planning in plenty of quiet time. Big stack of books I am looking forward to reading. easy food. Easy menu plans. Plenty of NA drinks that are a bit special to take to the various gatherings I'm invited to. Staying in my PJs well into the morning if I can. Sleeping in. Letting the housework just be unless it is a critical item [like having clean underwear, that's kinda useful lol]. Being gentle on kiddo and being the relaxed parent, [bedtime? whenever, school's out for summer. Stuff all over the floor? If it aint mouldy, smelly or in the way of the hallways, I am allowing a blind spot - just for this tricky period]
I know there were a few of us came here after reading a Guardian article about someone who found SD helped them stop just after New Years [January 2 I think?] so we don't have the "New Years Resolution" factor - and there are those coming up to one year after sticking to a New Years Resolution, plus the folks who started with Dry January this year and have kept going.
Just want to say - we are all doing AWESOMELY, and we got this!
These last yards might be hard now and then, but look how far we've come!!!
Wishing everyone joy, and light, and love and cheese ['cause, it's always about the cheese in Whoopie world!] over these holidays. relish the JOMO my friends - no shame, no blame, no hangovers, and an intact memory of every moment.
IWNDWYTH
in love and sober solidarity Whoopie