Ok, I have to admit something.

[Rhiannon12866]

17. I'm still here and I was here on DU.1, too.

Remember that whole agonizing lead up to the Iraq war. I've also voted Republican, though not for a lot of years, since I live in a Republican area and most local offices don't even have a Democratic challenger. I tend to vote a straight ticket these days, which means I don't vote for every office.

But what I most identify with is that I've had a problem with alcohol, too. I've gone years without drinking, but then my world fell apart and I couldn't stop. I tried on my own, but I couldn't do it for long. That's when I turned to AA.

I know that there's all kinds of criticism of AA here because of the Higher Power concept. That was a real problem for me, since I'd describe myself as a liberal atheist. But I surrendered to the fact that I was powerless over alcohol and started going to meetings and taking suggestions. And AA taught me how not to drink.

The basic concept that worked for me was knowing that I only have to not drink today. If I decide to tomorrow, that's always an option. But I know that I can just make it through today without a drink. I've gotten a lot more "tools" from AA, but that's what let me start putting sober time together. Assuming I make it until next month, I'll have four years sober.

Since I'm a liberal, I accept that different beliefs work for different people, more power to them. Nobody that I've met is judgmental. I just put one foot in front of another One Day at a Time and life is much better. I actually have fun, these days.

I promise you that if I can do it, you can, too. Let us know how you are. I've met lots of people who have been in your place. You're not alone in this. I've been there and I care...