Relaxation

 Well Top ‘O The Mornin’, dear reader(s), I report I am doing so much better! I feel calm and relaxed now in the morning, the worry and anxiety has pretty much completely diminished, and I must say it’s a great thing to be feeling this way! I was extremely productive yesterday, putting clothes away, showering, clearing the clogged tub drain, did two loads of laundry and cooked a marvelous spaghetti dinner. Today I plan to fold my clothes, put them away, go to the drug store and the grocery, and perhaps start work on organizing one of the bedrooms here. I’m going to take things slow, work in reasonable chunks of time, just put one foot in front of the other as I do. 

Mom and I are planning to go on a road trip to a merry go round with my niece and her two kids in two days. Mom wants to ride one, and I’m delighted by the prospect of seeing her enjoy the ride. We are stopping for lunch at a diner along the highway, and after the merry go round we are going to a wildlife sanctuary where you can see and feed birds. The kids will love that. I’m excited to spend time with my family, and take a little trip which gets me out of town. Maybe some day Michael and I might take our own trip somewhere, with Lily of course, perhaps to a cabin in the woods or some place like that.

I’m feeling deeply grateful for my sobriety this morning, thankful for how my life has opened up since I ditched the booze and weed and joined AA and met sponsor Shawn. I see peaceful possibilities now, I see my marriage saved, indeed I see my life saved. I know those who didn’t make it, those who died young, and it just makes me grab on to life more. I will continue my search to find new friends who respect and understand how important sobriety is to me, and who also understand the strength and perseverance it takes to manage a dual diagnosis of alcoholism and bipolar disorder. That’s my full time job, actually, managing my conditions, and I’m going to give myself a pat on the back for a job well-done.

The birds are chirping outside and it sounds cheery and welcoming. I think I may send Dr. Levy a text thanking him for all his wisdom of managing my anxiety so I can function again and have relief. I’m truly blessed to have him as my psychiatrist. OK, I’m off to start my day. Later, folks.