RE 127: Being Present in the Moment Without Alcohol

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Rule Number One of podcasting is plug in the microphone.

Pete, with 488 days of sobriety shares his story.

SHOW NOTES

[2:19] Paul Introduces Pete. I am 38 years old, and golfing is my favorite leisure activity. I have an 8-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son. I am in construction sales, mostly traveling around Ohio and surrounding states.

[6:07] Paul- When did you realize you had a problem with alcohol Pete?

Pete- I’ve always known, or at least had the fear of having a problem. I could drink a case of beer by myself in High school.

[12:23] Paul- Was this a bottom you experienced, or where you done?

Pete- I hit a spiritual bottom. Things that were important, no longer seemed important. My wife, great job, and truck were all things that weren’t making me happy. I realized that doing these things that I was taught would make me happy weren’t. I was bankrupt spiritually and emotionally. My wife opened the work bench, and the drawer was full of empty and full booze bottles. They were devastated. I realized that suicide wasn’t’ an option. That was the moment that made me change everything.

[17:25] Paul- What was the outpatient therapy like? Walk us through that.

Pete- I went to a state certified program. I attended with several other professionals who learned a great deal about addiction and recovery.

[24:44] Paul- What have you learned most about yourself these past 488 days?

Pete- I have learned that I like peace, calm, and serenity. I accepted chaos because that is what I knew. My life is really good, but I made it really bad by a lot of choices that I made.

[28:18] Paul- Have you had cravings, and how do you overcome cravings them?

Pete- My cravings as of today are more “I would like a drink” but more thoughts than cravings. In the beginning I had physical cravings. I don’t have the impulse to drink now. Alcohol was the medicine that fixed everything for me.

[30:25] Rapid Fire Round

What was your worst memory from drinking? The experience with my wife and daughter not being able to ride bikes because of my booze hidden in the drawer.
Did you ever have an “oh-shit” moment? For me it was when my mother in law died from alcoholism, in the nursing home my biggest thought was how do I get out of here and have a drink without anyone noticing.
What’s your plan moving forward? Continue to present in the moment, and doing, not thinking about things I don’t do, and then regretting them. I just need to do the best I can.
What’s your favorite resource in recovery? Meditation and Prayer. I’ve used the Headspace app, there is a meditation guru that lives in our village.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received (on sobriety)? Follow direction. Putting faith in a blind process.
What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? You are feeling the way you are supposed to be feeling at that time. Talk to other people. My feelings are normal; it’s okay to relearn.
You might be an alcoholic if when you walk out of your recovery center, and you see one of your friends that you’ve been partying with forever and he says “Hey Pete, I was surprised to see you here.” Then I thought about it, and It’s really not much of a surprise to see you here.