Friend of mine got sober a few years back, took a risk, and started his own business. He sells branded “Good Baklava” (Turkish baklava specifically - I’m sorry @Menelaos Fthenakis) at festivals, parks, sporting events, and online! He’s currently struggling to keep his business afloat, so if anyone is interested in having some delicious baklava shipped to your door, now’s a great time to order! Just in time for the holidays! Here’s the link: https://goodbaklava.net

In addition to the promise I made to myself of going on 3 long walks a week over 10k steps, I’m going to make another promise of listening to my body more acutely and honestly when it comes to food. This means only eating when I’m hungry, stopping when I’m 70% full, staying away from sugar as much as possible, and paying more attention to emotional eating. I’m on day 2 of this and feeling good.

Let's all wish our great group member, Erin, a Happy BIrthday today!

Happy Wednesday nite. I am still taking swim classes....had one tonite.. ...last 2 classes I had 2 anxiety attacks..i panicked...for whatever reason, once I hit almost 7 feet...i panicked bc I couldn't touch the floor..im 5*2......so I was called out. Embarrassing ...happened again tonite...but I'm going back Friday nite and if I panic...I guess, oh well...I think I need to clear my mind of sadness, thinking of whats up with me...mean people..etc...so Friday, no thoughts except *get past 7 feet*...we'll see... Ok...sorry long post...just a update on my swimming journey....or swimming struggle.. I read it can take a year for adults to learn to swim...so let's see. Everyone have a nice peaceful night. ☘

What is the Promise You Are Willing to Make to Your Future Self? You tell yourself that you want to be in great shape, have a great relationship, do work you love, feel good about yourself and your life. These are goals for your future self. But in the moment, you too often betray that promise to your future self. You eat like crap, you isolate if you are not in a relationship, or you yell at your current partner if you are in one, you scroll instead of taking the steps to that better career, you beat yourself up. What will change that pattern? You make a real promise, a commitment, to that future self. Not the kind of promise you make to get out of getting into trouble with your mom. Not the kind of promise you make to someone to avoid feeling uncomfortable saying no. Not the kind of promise you make with your fingers crossed behind your back. Those kinds of promises are not real commitments. A real commitment is inviolable. Making a vow to be monogamous means you don’t screw around. Making a commitment to be there for your kid means you show up every day. Making a commitment to a job means you show up on time and put in a day’s work. Making a promise to your future self should be on the same level. If you are unwilling to keep a commitment to yourself, don’t say it. If you say I may, or I’ll try, that probably means you won’t. But be honest, don’t promise if you really mean I probably won’t. You may be afraid to make a commitment for many reasons, the first of which is you’ve rarely if ever been able to keep the promises you’ve made to yourself before. But people who have never been consistent in their lives make promises to their future selves and keep them. Alcoholics who drink for decades stay sober for the rest of their lives. Cheaters become trustworthy. Criminals become honest citizens. People who chronically fail, succeed. It doesn’t happen all the time for everyone, but it does happen. It begins with this first commitment: I’m going to do whatever it takes to enable me to keep these promises to myself. I’ll get whatever help I need. I will surrender my will to a higher power embodied in the voices of those that I can trust to help me. If I do nothing else, I will keep those promises I make to myself.