"Christine" <ctbean3@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040120143752.11514.00000342@mb-m12.aol.com...
> >its good to read that you have a sponsor, and that you respect her
> >suggestions.
> >does she know that you struggle with your tuesdays off?
> >
>
> I don't think she knows the extent of it ... i still have a hard
time
> confessing what I see as the little problems, you know? Painting on
the face
> of happy sobriety ... just talking abouut major issues. It's my own
downfall,
> i accept it, and try to work on it.

Hi Christine,

I've always tried not to bother my Sponsor at times when I've been
feeling low because I've thought it unfair to dump my problems on
them. Recently, I arranged to ring this person one evening and
during the afternoon of that day I sent them an email saying that I
didn't feel like talking that evening on account of being in a very
low mood and tearful on accounts of events that had happened during
the day. Swiftly replying by email, my Sponsor told that my mood was
good reason why we *should* speak :^))

We talked for over an hour during which time I cried a little more
than once. I was embarrassed by this but my Sponsor was not.

My Sponsor gave me much excellent advice, among which was:

1. it's easy to stay off the booze when life is going well but very
difficult to do so when it's not;

2 keep it in the day; and ,

3. the person called may gain just as much benefit from the call as
the caller

I know that I greatly benefited from talking to my Sponsor. My mood
was lighter and over the following days, I became aware that what I
had heard this person say had enabled me to progress further in
recovery.

FWIW, despite having seven months of sobriety under my belt I still
get days when I find life almost too much to cope with. If such a day
coincides with any struggle I'm having with AA's programme - I can
blow a gasket :^) If I've understood my Sponsor correctly, my
experiences are not unique (<g>). Also, talking at such times can be
helpful.

Continuing to wish you well.

JB