What Long Term Adicts Know...

[Bongwater]

I believe in the long suppressed, but oh-sooo-true, Gospel of Thomas "The Kingdom of God is inside YOU."

And if you want the power to control your excess drinking/drugs/gambling/food cravings/sex addictions, or anything else, in the end it ALL comes down to YOU.

If you believe Jesus can help you out of it, that's fine and He'll do it for you....if you BELIEVE He can. But mental images of Jesus wagging His finger alone ain't gonna stop me or anyone else from picking up a six pack of Pabst at the convenience store.

What keeps you sober is you found more interesting things to do. In some cases, that's religion. For others, that's better opportunities in life. Another remedy is a change of lifestyle. A new hobby (be it funky dancing or stamp collecting.) Anything really. Even awkward gatherings with anonymous people in a musty church basement that you exchange names and phone numbers with later will do, if that's what you REALLY want.

But where the deepest resolution about your addiction all lies is inside you. Period

It really does comes down to YOU and what YOU want to get out of life. If it works, it works. Alcoholics Anonymous wasn't for me, but a new career and family was. Amazing how a little positive OPPORTUNITY, more than positive/negative WORDS, can change your whole life for the better.

And yes, I smoke a bong occasionally. And still have a beer/Jim Beam & 7-Up once in a while too (but NOTHING else. Not THESE days....SHEESH!) But I can even live without pot and beer if I'm forced to. But I don't because I keep it in moderation and if I get too buzzed, my wife will NOT hesitate to tell me so. And when I was in my early 20's, I could have worried Keith Richards with my hardcore lifestyle.

They say the road of excess leads to the Palace Of Wisdom. And that IS true......but there are also SHORTCUTS.....

[Prais]

Duh!