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Drinking Moderately

Lessons we've learned from abstaining for 30 or more days

Abstaining for 30 days is not a magic bullet, but it's been a great tool for many of us.

Some of us have spent months building up to doing a 30, honing effective moderating skills along the way. Some have done one soon after discovering MM.

When the time comes, it often serves as a gateway to fresh understanding, heightened motivation, and newly integrated skills.

Here are a few first-person accounts of lessons learned, insights gained, and plans for the future.

 

Defusing A Trigger   Benefits I've sought from drinking • Deconstructing a trigger • Analyzing my options • Making my decision
What Am I Saying "No" To? Goals • Saying "yes" often means saying "no", too
Activities, Rules, Imperfections and Goals Alternate activities, new rules • Imperfect, but not stuck • Specific plans, positive goals
One Beer! The challenge • Agreed to try praying • Changed routines during the 30+ • Rebelling with NA beer • One beer!
Personal Inventory After A 30 Attitudes toward drinking • Coping with your urges • Reactions of others • Moderation planning • Self-awareness • Positive lifestyle changes • Self-image
I Choose Clarity And Awareness! In-depth plan • Additions to the plan • Altering and tweaking • Living through the triggers • Trading triggers for tidbits of info • Choosing clarity
After My Second 30 Same old stuff not enough • Fresh awareness • Consciously pondering the alternatives • Excited, not complacent
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Revised 07.26.2003 mm@moderation.org