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Dear
Readers,
The
New Years Eve is here again. Fun for most....
but not easy for others. A few years ago, I
responded to a letter from "Struggling
AA." I think it is appropriate to reprint
the letter and my reply and I plan to do so
each holiday season for those many special people
who during the past year have entered the AA
or other self help addiction programs or have
received professional support. These newly sober
people, numbering in the many thousands, hold
a very special place in the hearts of me and
my colleagues, as we know that they are very
much in need of support during their first sober
holiday season.
Struggling
AA wrote, " I've been clean and sober for
a few months now but the approaching holidays
seem to be making me practically immobilized.
For me, the season was always a time to drink.
I'm having trouble even thinking about going
through the period without drinking. On the
other hand, so many Christmases and New Years
were fouled up by my drinking that I know I've
got to go through it without touching a drop.
Any helpful ideas?" In my response, I noted
that the holiday season is always a little tougher
for the non-drinker in today's society, with
parties everywhere and everyone seemingly imbibing
freely without a problem. It may seem to be
a very dreary prospect, particularly to a new
AA, but, I assured him that many AAs are enjoying
the happiest holidays of their lives (and, by
the way, of their family's lives) by being sober.
I then went on to relate a number of thoughts
from a holiday tip sheet which we use at the
Van Ost Institute:
"Here
are 11 suggested ways for recovering alcoholics
to keep the holiday season sober and joyous:
"
1) Line up extra AA activities for the
holiday season. Arrange to take newcomers to
meetings, answer telephones at a central office
or visit patients in a rehab. Of course, don't
miss your own meetings, particularly your home
group friends and, especially, newcomers. If
you don't have a place where you can throw a
party, take one person to a diner and spring
for coffee.
2) Keep your AA telephone list with you
at all times. If a drinking urge or panic comes,
postpone everything else until you have called
an AA or your sponsor.
3)
Find out about any special New Years parties,
meetings or other celebrations, and go. If you
are timid, take someone newer than you are.
4)
Skip any drinking occasion that you are
nervous about. Remember how clever you were
at excuses when you were drinking? Now, put
that talent to good use. Plan in advance an
"important date" that you must keep
instead. No party is as important as saving
your life.
5)
If you have to go to a party where there is
drinking and you can't take an AA with you,
keep some candy handy... Don't think that you
have to stay late.
6)
Don't sit around brooding. Catch up on those
books, museums, walks, movies and letter writing
which your previous drinking kept you from.
7)
Go to a place of worship....any one.
8) Enjoy the true beauty of holiday love
and joy. Maybe you couldn't give material things
this year, but you can give your family your
love and the gift of remaining sober.
9) Be good to yourself and, remember
to live the acronym , H.A.L.T....Don't let yourself
get Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired.
10)
Follow the twelfth step of AA and reach out
to help another find sobriety." For the
recovering addict...Have a Happy, Sober New
Year.!! For the family: Alanon, Alanon, patience,
patience...you are all struggling and need to
support each other.
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