Proud of My Almost 30 Years of Sobriety

I am going to go on a little rant here so be forewarned.

Since when do I need to apologize for having almost 30 years of sobriety?  I have been an active member of a 12 step program for almost 30 years. For awhile now I have gone to meetings where it seems ok for people to announce that they have 22 months of sobriety or 13 months of sobriety but if I even mention that I have been sober for a "long time" someone feels it necessary to give a lecture about how we live one day at a time and people with long-term sobriety are no different than someone with one day. That it is arrogant to talk about having long-term sobriety.  I agree I am no different but I do have the benefit of my own experience today.  I no longer have to rely on the promises of others that things do get better. I can assure the newcomer that if they hold on things will get better from my own experience.

Now it is true that I have gone through some tough times in my sobriety and have not always been the picture of sublime serenity; however, I have gone through these times without taking a drink or a drug.  I have used the tools I have learned to walk through these dark times without a crutch just like any other person. This, I believe, is a testament to how well I walk the walk, not just talk about it.

It is true that I do not raise my hand and advertise for sponsees.  I believe that my program is a program of attraction.  I do not advertise.  My Higher Power will guide me to those who need me.  This is how I was taught the program worked and I believe it wholeheartedly.

When do we have to stop talking about how much time we have been sober?  Why is it ok for someone to be amazed that they have been sober for 29 months and announce this but I am not allowed to have the same amazement that I have been doing life on life's terms for almost 30 years and I have done it all sober?

Learning New Lifestyle

Two ER visits, three CT scans and seven rounds of antibiotics later I have a diagnosis.  I have Diverticular Disease (DD).  So much discomfort and pain.  Don't take my probiotics withing two hours of taking the antibiotic.  Make sure you don't take the fiber too close to the antibiotic or the probiotics.  What an ordeal.  I do not want to go through this ever again! 

So I begin a new journey of learning what I can and cannot eat.  Yesterday I learned that sharp cheddar cheese is definitely off the list.  I had been feeling so much better the past few days and was feeling somewhat hopeful.  Until we decided to have some scrambled eggs with cheese for a light afternoon Linner.  What a mistake that turned out to be!  I thought it was pretty innocouus, scrambled eggs; I have been eating them with no problem.  Boy was I wrong!  My poor battered digestive tract simply had a cascade failure with the addition of the melted cheddar.  Up all night!  

So, now I know that sharp cheddar cheese is off limits.  I guess this is going to be quite a learning curve.

I eat pretty healthy so it is not so much changing my entire diet as it is weeding out the culprits that my digestive system balks at.

There doesn't seem to be much of a running theme on the internet as to what to avoid.  It seems to be a very individualized process.  So, here is where all of my preaching about being proactive with my own health comes to practice.

I am going to try to keep this blog running as I move through this process.  Perhaps I will share it someday if it morphs into anything that might be useful to anyone else.