Day 282.
“My older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. He was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead.
Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.'”
Bird by Bird: Instructions on Writing and Life, Anne Lamott
If Anne Lamott is not on your radar, you’re missing a great lady to have by your side in the daily pressures and grinding down on you that life sometimes offers. Anne is warm, generous and so very loving. And is one of those people who knows just the right thing to say to put everything into perspective.
Her recent book title – Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy – displays Anne at her most human. That of having mercy for yourself and those around you in the face of things and struggles and annoyances. If you struggle with the day-to-day grind of life, or you are simply striving on some days to just not drink – check out Anne.
I’ve been struggling terribly over the last couple of days. Family systems and some bewildering actions by others around me had me feeling quite down. All my buttons are being pushed at the moment, and events simply aren’t turning out like I’d hoped – or are just taking too bloody long!
Wine is the siren call telling me to just go ahead, it’ll be so nice to feel comfortably numb again. Just turn the evening over to Rioja and it’ll all be fine.
And well, wine will take the edge off of it all. I was so tempted … so, so tempted. I wanted to escape it all for just a few hours. Dear reader, this is really the closest I’ve been in months and months and months to driving to the off-licence and picking up some bottles. Instead I fell back on another old bad habit – but in full awareness. That is of eating, eating and eating. Sugary, gooey and cheesy. BAD! Ice cream, pizza – stuff like that. Comfort and gluttony. I’ve been eating so consciously and so healthily these past nine months – for as long as I’ve been sober. So it was literally a shock to my system. I had the sugar rush, and felt doped up and sated. But also sick. At least I didn’t drink, I told myself. But I also realized I can’t possibly turn to food like this. It’s just another crutch!
I am faced with many personal challenges at the moment. Where do I start, how do I get through each one (None are tragedies – all are just life stuff that happens).
Then I think of myself putting my arm around me and saying: ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’
If you’ve got 15 minutes to spare, here’s what Anne is all about – in her TED talk – ‘everything I know for sure.’
We are human and sometimes need comfort and, yes, even crutches. Be kind to yourself.
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}}hugs{{ ❤️
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I love Anne Lamott. I first read this book over 10 years ago in high school and it left quite the impression on me. Glad to see its found its way into your life ❤️ stay strong! You’ve got this.
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thank you ❤️
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You’re not alone. 8 months in, and Shitty, stressful stuff in my life and terrible parenting moments have left me wanting to down a bottle. This too shall pass, bird by bird, we can do this. Thanks for your blog. I love it.
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thank you so much… it means a lot to me that you are a reader of my musings! ❤️
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Mary — you may be aware of this, but some people who’ve tracked with sober-attempters say that 8 to 8.5 months is a bumpy spot in the road. Take care… and you can do this!
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Thank you, thank you for this. I didn’t know this and it helps so much. To know this is a rough spot for many gives me a bit of peace and hope. ❤️🙏
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Anne Lamott absolutely rocks. I’m glad you wrote about your current struggle, and I’m glad you reached for a non-alcohol numbing agent. Sure, food and sugar aren’t good long-term strategies (I struggle with both of them as well), but YOU DIDN’T DRINK ALCOHOL. That is so key. Way to go!!
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thank you! makes me feel so connected with a strong good community when you post here. }}hugs{{ ❤️
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I absolutely love your blog. Keep going!!! I am unbelievably 1 year and 1 month no booze and i really struggled at 8, 9 months. I still struggle sometimes, but its so so worth it. Being sober is the most rock n roll thing ive ever done. Xxxxxxxx keep going honey
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thank you so much for reading!!!!
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p.s. i love the rock and roll comment… us rockers gotta stick together!!!
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I love your blog (but you already know that!) – this is awesome! Loved Bird-By-Bird too. 8 months took me down last year (thank you Adrian for confirming that is a rickety place – was for me anyhow). This is a great community for me, especially today at #DAY125! ❤️
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Oh my goodness, you remind me there is a world of good, kind, struggling people out there ❤️ you inspire me to keep posting my thoughts here. thank you. an COGRATS on major triple digits!!!!! go you!,,,,
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Thank you for this. I, too, love Ann Lamott and I am also in a rocky patch at the moment. You and Ann were a massive help yesterday. I forwarded your post to a friend who said it was an answer to a prayer. You touch people with your blog – please keep going and keep writing. You are a gift.
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thank you… This made *my* day to think my ramblings reach others and they relate!!!!! thank you ❤️❤️
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