Normal Monday overall.  Good weather, work went well and I am feeling more positivity within myself and my ability to do my job.

I find it amazing what effects alcohol was having over me without me even realising it.

Reading the AA Thought of the Day in the morning, made me think at points today.

Was hope born into me the day I walked into AA?

For me, my journey and introduction to AA started in rehab.  I had attended a meeting many years before rehab, but I was not wanting help at this point and therefore did not see the value in it.

I will never forget my time in the Castle and will always be eternally grateful for rehab and the AA programme for giving me my life back and saving me from continuing the path that I was on. Destruction!

When I moved out of admissions and into the main facility, it took me a few days to adjust, but then I realised, I am not the only one with a problem.

Previously I use to look at drunk people, whose lives had hit rock bottom, and think to myself, I am not like them.  I have a house, a job and can drink and live at the same time.  How wrong I was!  I realised that I was in denial and that I was no different to any other alcoholic.  My life was unmanageable.

My time in rehab provided me with the realisation of how much my addiction had changed my life for the worse and gave me an understanding of what effects alcohol has had on my life, my family and my friends.  Rehab also provided me with a safe space to detox, re-evaluate my life, understand my triggers and learn techniques and ways to remain abstinent.  I was always aware that I was in a bubble though, and that the real journey would start when I got back out into the real world.

Rehab gave me hope that I would be able to live a new life, a life of abstinence.

I will also never forget my first AA meeting on the outside.  I was nervous about attending, not knowing what to fully expect, but upon arriving I was made to feel very welcome.  Everyone introduced themselves to me and made me feel comfortable.  I looked around the group and realised again, I am not alone in my recovery journey.

Listening to other people share their experiences and the time that they have been in sobriety, filled me with a lot of hope that I too can remain sober.

It also gave me hope to hear how other people had a more fulfilling life than previous, and that the AA was a lifesaver for them too.

From my first AA meeting, I had hope that I can remain sober and create a better life for myself.