I didn't fight yesterday just to give up today.

Hi all, I'm 9 days sober following a massive relapse, and just wanted to share a few mantras/ideas that have been helping me a lot:

1. I didn't fight yesterday just to give up today.

2. Feeding a craving only makes it stronger.

3. I put my ID under lock and key for a reason.

4. Go right ahead and hit the liquor store....as soon as you've had two NA beers first. Once those are done, I promise, if you still have a craving, you're welcome to buy. (It takes forever to finish the NAs, the flavor helps, and the craving always passes).

Also, we all have our problems and vices. I have a jar of chocolates at my desk for anyone who wants them. I have never touched them because they don't tempt me. I don't want them. But I have colleagues who visit every day, take a few pieces, and tell me that they've been looking forward to it all day. That's how I am about alcohol. Once I know it exists, I can't stop thinking about it. I obsess and scheme and can't get it out of my head. But I don't have that problem with sweets. So there's some community in knowing that we all have our weaknesses and obsessions; mine just happens to be booze.

Finally, I joined an online walking challenge to get more steps in. I walked 10.5 miles this weekend on a treadmill while watching my favorite shows and playing some video games, stone cold sober. I feel better (if more tired), and the encouragement from that community has been great. Whenever I think about drinking, I stop and re-route and focus instead about what awesome show I'm going to watch tonight and how many steps I can get in.

One last tip that may or may not be helpful, proceed with caution: I was gifted a bottle of brandy once, and that liquor is disgusting to me. I dumped it out but kept the bottle. When I am really, really tempted, I open and smell the putrid chemical odor of pure alcohol, and it is repellant. Do I really want to put that poison in my body? I have never answered yes.

Good luck to everyone and keep fighting the good fight. IWNDWYT.