Browsing all posts in Remembering the Bad Old Days.

Remembering Dumb Things That Seemed Smart at the Time

Sometimes I just love remembering really dumb things I did that seemed like really good ideas at the time. I usually am able to laugh. I especially love remembering the things I did to convince others I didn’t drink all that much.  I think this story is a classic reminder of just how clueless I [...]

The Insidious Creeping of the Bad Old Days

Beware of those tentacles reaching out from the past because they have one thing in mind, leading you back to a drink or drug.  I’m talking about an insidious creeping in of old behaviors and attitudes that can take down anyone, no matter how much time you have in sobriety. I used the picture of [...]

What Do We Mean By Insanity?

We hear the steps are supposed to restore us to sanity – but if you are early in recovery you might question the idea that you are or were ever insane.  Insanity sounds so extreme and so absolute – it sounds like a place we can’t come back from. We imagine men in little white [...]

Remembering Consequences of Drinking and Drugging

I have a good friend who is an immigration attorney. She was recently telling me about how recent immigrants or people applying to emigrate to the United States are very shocked when they learn past drug charges might make them ineligible to become permanent residents – sometimes they can’t even come into the United States [...]

Pre-Drinking Is a Warning Sign of Alcoholism

I remember pre-drinking well. I would have plans with a friend that included drinking, but I didn’t want to look like a lush and I knew I would want more to drink than was socially acceptable. The solution? Knock back a few before I left home.