pan6467

Well today at 11 AM I marked exactly 7 years bet free. It is weird to see the growth of myself and what and whom I have become since.

I have a wonderful lady in my life, the very lovely and gracious Ms. Lucy . A job that while testing and have had a scare at, I can go to smiling and leave smiling every night. I have a house I'm trying hard to get... some days looks like I'll get it some days looks like I won't.

I have great friends in my life now, true friends that if I call and need something they are here in minutes regardless of the time of day. They know also that I am there for them.

After a health scare last October, I am in excellent health. The Sarcoidosis flares up at times and I am in some discomfort but I'm going on 39, not young like I used to be, going to have some aches and pains.

Financially, while I still struggle, I have never been in better financial shape with decent credit and I find I am doing better than I want to believe.

The conscious and subconscious self destruction that I used to take myself through has given way to a true inner peace and understanding of who I am ...... and to be honest, I like who I am.

I have gotten rid of most of the negativity in my life (although I am still a political animal, which is a release for me).

I have a great dog, DinkyDawg, who is my angel and while she has the chihuahua Napoleanic complex and attitude, when I look into her eyes and I see that total 100% unconditional love and acceptance, it is one of the very few things make me happy when in a funk or can show me how great my life truly is today.

Life doesn't get better. In these 7 years I have truly learned that it isn't what you have or how many toys you will die with for heirs to fight over, it isn't anything materialistic....... Life gets better, and is at it's best when you have true love in your life, when you are helping others by sharing your experience strength and hope, when you are surrounded by people who truly care, and when you accept that life is all about sharing and helping others.

Life is grand this day, and I thank my God for allowing me to have it, for those who love me and for myself for finally accepting, acknowledging and appreciating all that I have.

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I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

Sweetpea

congratulations. you seem to be at a very good place and you recognize that you are and that is inspiring



sweetpea

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"I am the Type of Person Who Can Get Away With A lot, Simply Because I Don't Ask Permission for the Privilege of Being Myself"

Cynthetiq

*applauds* congrats... and thanks for sharing.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

Poppinjay

Buona realizzazione!

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I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet

msh58

congrats pan, happy anniversary. Hope its a special day for you.

dksuddeth

congrats pan, heres to 7 MORE years after today!!

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"no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything. You cannot conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him."

ShaniFaye

congratulations on managing your addiction and for being so self aware!! I wish more people could be like that

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I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!

abaya

That is awesome news. Thank you for sharing... I know many people who struggle with the same issue, and they haven't come nearly as far as you have. Congrats, man.

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And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

Elphaba

You are an inspiration, Pan. Thank you.

JumpinJesus

When I was a kid, I was thoroughly convinced that once I became an adult, everything would be a breeze and there would be no unhappiness in my life. When I became a young adult, I attributed my unhappiness and problems to young adulthood and was convinced that once I hit my 30s, everything would smooth out and things would go well. By my late 20s, I finally came to the realization that life doesn't work that way.

I learned that every day is another step in the direction we're headed and every day we decide which foot to start out on and which direction to go.

It's great to hear that for the past 7 years, you've taken a step in the direction of your choice and have been succeeding at it.

Here's to making the remaining days turn out your way.

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"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses

ChistledStone

Why not ... 70 more? Congrats

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A.minor.fall.then.a.major.lift

meembo

Seven years of ANY kind of sobriety is a great accomplishment. Congratulations! Whatever you are doing right -- keep doing it, one day at a time.

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less I say, smarter I am

snowy

You'ere such a positive example. Keep it up.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

ScottKuma

Pan:

Way to go, and congrats!

I'm giving 10-to-1 odds that he WILL make it another 7 years!

I can't figure out whether that is off-kilter, but I find it funny, so I'm going to let it stay. Hopefully it's taken in the positive tone in which it's meant.

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A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take from you everything you have.

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Toaster126

I thought it was funny, and I think he has a good sense of humor.

That said, super job staying the course, pan. I wish you the best.

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"The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me." (Ayn Rand)
"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." (M. Scott Peck)

yellowchef

Congrats Pan. Its great to see you have a positive outlook on life and are able to manage everything.

Keep up the good work

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the voices in your head are not real--but they still have some really great ideas.

always remeber you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. But..you CAN choose the insane asylum where you have them all put away!

pan6467

Thanks everyone, I truly appreciate the warmth.

Had a great night tonight with the lovely and gracious Ms. Lucy and am looking forward to the concert.

Then of course there was this..........

If I take those odds, would it really be a relapse...... hmmmmm

Better not take them just in case.



Yes, I do have a sense of humor and Scott when you least expect it....... I WILL get you back.

__________________
I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

ScottKuma

Bring it on!

__________________
A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take from you everything you have.

GoogleMap Me

Meditrina

Pan - you are truly an inspiration to those who are fighting an addiction of any kind. I wish you the best of luck on your continued bet-free ways.

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"Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles." ~Alex Karras