Times spent with loved ones are deeply treasured gifts

[MajestyJo]

It is good to have a firm foundation in recovery. Many friends and family members I had to detach from many. A good friend made her family homemade wine and was quit put out because I wasn't willing to go to her house and taste it. I never got another invite. I knew that if I went, there was no way I could guarantee that I would have one sip to taste, or one glass could mean more and want the whole bottle so would end up buying one off of her.

I have stayed home and not gone to family on holidays because of my health issues, their issues, and from the beginning, if you mention the fact that I am an alcoholic, which my sister loved to state, my brother-in-law didn't know where to put his face, especially if his relatives were present. I was an embarrassment. It was a great day when my sister and my aunt came to me and asked for one of my hugs.

It was doing what was best for my recovery. My recovery always has had to come first, without me, I have nothing and I can't be there for others if I don't practice self care; that stuff I handed out for years but forgot to do for myself.