Catch Yourself Before You Fall Into An Addiction

How many people do you know that have fallen into an addiction? They don't get addicted because they are out for a death wish I can tell that much. I had fallen into an alcohol addiction myself, but over many years of drinking alcohol I had fallen, and caught myself, and picked myself up.

Catch yourself before you fall into an addiction. These addictions whether be drugs, alcohol, hoarding, sex, eating and many more things that people get addicted to are controllable if you have the strength to walk away and not let those demons inside you take over your life.

I was one of those people that just didn't have the strength to say no and walk away from the demons that controlled my life. I admit, I was weak and didn't really care what happened to me, but as I didn't know, I wasn't only ruining my life, I was ruining the ones that loved and cared for me, my family and wife.

The way to catch yourself before you fall into an addiction is to don't start doing drugs or drinking alcohol to start with. Yes, I know, you may think I am talking crazy, How can we predict if we will get addicted to any type of drug when first starting our experimenting with drinking or using?

Don't get me wrong I am not anti-drinking because I loved to drink, and loved how it made me feel, but the point is, I didn't know when to stop. I didn't know when enough was enough. I didn't know how to catch myself before I became fully addicted to alcohol. I'm sure any alcoholic, such as myself, the first thing we think of when we open our blood shot eyes in the morning, is what time is it, and when should I start drinking alcohol again?

Now being clean and sober for over 5 years now, and looking back on those dim days of my life, I can not believe I let those demons control my life like they did, and how they control millions of other people's lives all over the world the same way.

It is pitiful and sad that this liquid can destroy a humans life and everything that belongs to us humans, including spouses, families and friends.

We must be stronger than our addiction. Many of us will learn the hard way, and in some cases it will unfortunately be death by addiction. A overdose, drinking so much that you get alcohol poisoning and losing our good health, our looks, our families and friends all for the love of alcohol.

Think about it as I did. Is it really worth all of that because we are just plain weak and can't stand up to our demons and shut them down in their tracks. Learn the word "NO." Learn to live without your crutch.

Remember God gave all of us only one life, so we should use this beautiful gift of life to the fullest and not destroy it with drugs and alcohol. If you are addicted to anything, think about giving your only life a second chance.

You can read more in my other blog Crushing Alcohol Addiction.

Are You Proud Of Your Sobriety Date?

For anyone that has been addicted to drugs or alcohol for a good part of their lives, sobriety seems like it would never be in their future, but I am here to tell you, anyone can get and stay sober if you want to change your life as I did over 5 years ago.

When the person with an addiction decides they want out of this horrible addiction they have the question comes to mind, "will I be able to live a life without alcohol or drugs?"
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That was the very question I asked myself 5 years ago when I stopped drinking alcohol. It sure was hard. When a person has had drugs or alcohol in their life for so long and depend on it throughout their everyday life, it is very hard to just say goodbye, in fact it is a scary thought.  At least it was for me.

The happiest and most scariest day for me was the day I decided to surrender to the demons that have ran my life and other lives for so long.  I finally got out of the denial I lived in for so long thinking, "I don't have an addiction and anyone that thinks I do are totally nuts."  I just like my alcohol.  Dead wrong statement for sure! I was addicted, and like I said, when I finally admitted it I was on my way to recovery and a sober life.

For all the alcoholics and drug addicts out there that have got sober the question is, "Are you proud of your sobriety date?"  I know I am and can't wait till that date comes around each year.

October 27th 2009 is my sobriety date.  The time flew by and I still can not believe I have been clean and sober for 5 + years. granted in the beginning it was a tough ride wondering to myself, "will I be able to do this life change?"

I stayed positive and kept telling myself.  "I will not let my demons run or ruin my life for one more second."

Be proud of your sobriety date as I am.  Brag to all that told you that you were an alcoholic or drug addict.  Show them it is possible for anyone with an addiction to change their life around.

Now 5 years later I write each and every night on many different websites trying to get the word out to people that are struggling with an addiction, that there is always hope for all involved.  So make up your mind to change your life and just do it.  You will be surprised of just how strong you really are, when in fact you thought you were doomed for life with your addiction.

How An Alcoholic Can Make A New Life For Themselves

BACK IN MY DRINKING DAYS 5+ YEARS AGO

When you are an alcoholic you feel inside that this will be your life forever, but that is not true whatsoever.

Anyone can change their life if you truly have the desire to make that change, and if change is not in you vocabulary then I guess being an alcoholic is what you will be forever. It's up to you, and you only!

It is up to each and everyone of us alcoholics to make a difference, not only for ourselves, but all those that love and care for us.  They too want us to have a healthy and happy life which in turn makes the family healthy and happy as well.

"How an alcoholic can make a new life for themselves" is very easy if you have the willingness and the strong desire to change.

Honestly, I don't know any alcoholic that wants to stay an alcoholic for the rest of their lives. The problem is that they (including myself) are trapped in this horrible addiction and think there is no way out, but there is a way out and that is to make up your mind once and for all that you need and want to be clean and sober.

Get out of the denial you have lived in for many years and face the fact that your life is going down hill very fast, and sooner or later you will indeed hit that rock bottom, sad to say, but very true.

SOBER AND HELPING OTHERS NOW

Anyone can change their life and don't let anyone or anything stand in your way of doing so.  Don't listen to your drinking buddies, because once you tell them you are stopping drinking they will be all over you. They will try their hardest to talk you out of quitting drinking, because after all they are your true friends right?  NO they are not true friends, they are people that have an addiction just like you do.

Ever heard of alcoholics that hate to drink alone?  It is a truly lonely experience, because I know, I drank alone many many times all because some of the people that I did drink with stopped drinking.

Come on guys and gals, lets stop fooling ourselves, because you know as well as I do that continuing to drink and abusing alcohol the way we do, our lives are being cut so short just because we are so stupid.  Saving your life is easy my friends.  All we have to do is STOP DRINKING AND ABUSING ALCOHOL!

I did it over 5 years ago and I know for a fact you can do it as well.  Put your mind to it and think nothing but positive thoughts, telling yourself, "you can and will beat this addiction to alcohol!"

Are You Going Crazy Without Alcohol In Your Life?

This is a question for those that have had an addiction to alcohol and have then found sobriety. "Are you going crazy without alcohol in your life?"

I know as far as my life with my own addiction to alcohol, it was indeed very hard to make that decision to stop drinking alcohol forever.

When you have had alcohol in your life for so many years and it become a huge part of your life it is so hard to just say goodbye, I have had enough of this torture

I have to admit in the beginning of my journey to living a life of sobriety it was hard and I was truly going crazy, because I didn't know what to do with myself.  I was so used to having a beer in my hands and now I have nothing by maybe a coffee or water.  Those two things gave me no buzz as you might know.  I longed to get that buzz I was so used to, but I knew if I broke and took that one drink of alcohol I would be right back to where I was drinking and abusing alcohol each and everyday.

I can relate to all those that are going through this torture.  As time passed by it did get easier having no alcohol in my hands and I started to think of things that would keep my mind off the alcohol and the buzz I loved to have.

Here is what I think about when those urges and cravings come about to have a drink of alcohol:

• I think of all the bad things I said and did while being drunk.
• I think of how I felt each morning I woke up after drinking all night.
• I think what I put my family through each and everyday I drank.
• I think of all the money I spent on something that was killing me slowly.
• I think of my physical appearance and how it declined each day that passed.

I could go on and on about the negative things alcohol brings upon a person, but I am sure you know what it does not only to the alcoholic, but the ones that love and care for the alcoholic, such as your spouse, children, parents and close and dear friends.

Once you and I have gotten sober it is then our job to stay sober no matter what life throws out way. We can not break and turn to the bottle just because something didn't go right or a problem has come up.

Whatever the case may be we all can handle it without alcohol, because as you all know alcohol fixes nothing, in fact it only makes things much much worse than they really are.  So, get and stay sober no mater what happens in your life.

There will always be times that you are going crazy without alcohol in your life, but you will survive and that craving will pass as long as you don't give in to the demons that are knocking at your door to get back into your life.

What Kind Of Role Model Are You?

Since the very day we are born we look up to our parents, because after all they are ones that gave us life right?  We look up to them through the years as our role models.

What kind of role model were they all through the years they brought you up to be a decent and respectable adult?

What happens if the very ones that brought you life into this world are alcoholics or drug addicts?  What type of role model are they to you now having this addiction?

As you become an adult, and have your own family, "what kind of role model are you?"  Are you the same as your parents were?

How can anyone such as children look up to a parent that has an addiction to alcohol or drugs? They are not the role model that you would like to look up to right?

Any child brought up in an environment of nothing but alcohol and drugs can't have a great future can they?

They sure can have a great future, as long as they don't follow the footsteps of their parent that were poor role models. They still love and want them be a role model, but unfortunately, their parents chose a different type of life and were not able to be a great role model for their children.

When you become a parent and have your own children, be the best role model you can to them.  Your children want to look up to you, and idolize the very people that brought life to them.

Teach them the proper way and show them what life is really all about.

Alcohol Abuse - DEATH by Self-Destruction

For anyone that abuses alcohol must know what the outcome will be in the future right?  If you don't know, then this title should tell it all. Alcohol Abuse - DEATH by self-destruction is how I would word it.  Sooner or later your alcohol abuse will catch up with you and it will not be a pretty thing.

Sooner or later your alcohol abuse will start to effect your health, if it hasn't all ready.  We really don't know what our bodies are doing inside right?  Sooner or later our body will tell us, and then it may be too late to fix or heal anything.

All of us alcoholics are killing ourselves slow, but sure.  It is really sad to see all the people that abuse alcohol ruining their lives with drinking too much and not knowing when enough is enough.  For these alcoholics it is never enough.  I would know, because back 5 years ago it was never enough alcohol to please me and get me to that state of mind alcohol did to me.

Probably many of you that read my articles are getting sick and tired of hearing about alcohol, and if so, that is too bad, just leave the site. I will continue to write about alcohol, and what your life will be like if you don't change your ways, until my fingers no longer move on this keyboard.

I know what can happen because alcohol was my life for many of years until I finally realized where my life was headed, and it was not good. So, I got out of the denial I lived in for so long and changed my life for the better, and I have to tell you, it was the best thing I could have ever done in my life.

No one just wakes up one morning and says to themselves, "I think I will abuse alcohol or do drugs to self-destruct myself."

That is not how it happens as you may know.  We start off drinking alcohol, and in many cases nowadays, at a very young age, just to see what alcohol feels like and how we would feel drunk.  Then you like the way alcohol makes you feel, BUT now it takes more alcohol to get to that buzz you had the first time and then it escalates to more and more alcohol and before you know it you can't live without it. You are addicted and alcohol now is running your life.  The same thing goes for drugs, although I never used them, so I am not a expert on telling you what drugs do, but I do know it too will kill you in the end just as abusing alcohol will do.

Don't self-destruct yourself with something that is very avoidable.  The way out of this self-destructing life is to simply NOT DRINK OR USE DRUGS.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE!

Abusing Alcohol - What Is Your Future Looking Like ?

There is nothing at wrong with having a social drink now and again, but for many people such as myself, having a social drink once in awhile is impossible.

For millions of people, one or two drinks is not enough, and that includes me. Sure I loved to drink alcohol just as much as the next person, but a social drink just didn't cut it.  I needed more and more in order to get to that feeling alcohol gives everyone.

Abusing alcohol, what is your future looking like, I have to ask you?

Do you feel if you continue to abuse alcohol the way you are now your future will be bright and healthy?  In my opinion, I don't think so.

Alcohol makes us feel as if we can conquer anything in the world.  It makes us feel like we know everything.  It makes us feel we are indestructible, and the next morning it makes us feel sick, hungover and wondering why did we drank too much.

It is really worth abusing our bodies with alcohol and for others, drugs.  We all know, or at least we should know, alcohol and drugs will catch up with us sooner or later, and when it does, we will be very sorry we abused alcohol and drugs the way we did over the years.

Here we are in a new years 2015, so how about starting it off with a new outlook on life and try your hardest to stop drinking and abusing alcohol, and in other cases using drugs.

We are all here on Earth but one time, so make that one and only life you have a wonderful and sober life, and start the New Year of 2015 a great one, and one to be proud of.

By saying being proud of, means, that you changed your life and realized that alcohol and drugs will kill you in the end and you have made that decision to change and live that one life you have clean and sober.

Lets make 2015 a year to remember by living life with sobriety.  You will thank yourself in the end!

ALCOHOL ADDICTION - Where Is Your Life Headed?

Unfortunately, there are millions of people that have an alcohol addiction, and in other cases addicted to drugs as well. It is so sad to see so many people in the world having these addictions that will in the end ruin their life, and the lives they share, and in other cases, DEATH by self-destruction.

Here are a few things from my own experiences of being addicted to alcohol, and have been tagged as an alcoholic for the rest of my life. I made my bed so I must now lie in it right, BUT I was strong enough to admit that I had an alcohol problem and I did something to change my life.  I stopped drinking alcohol and couldn't happier.

Alcohol addiction, and where your life is headed is something to really think about if you care to live a longer, healthier and happier life.

I thought many times over the many years I drank alcohol that I should really slow down or quit drinking alcohol for good, BUT I didn't have the willpower to just stop drinking and never touch alcohol  again.

I thought, "how can I survive without alcohol in my life. Wouldn't life be boring I thought to myself."  "What would my drinking buddies think if I decided to just stop drinking?"

Well, back in October of 2009 it finally hit me and I thought, "where is my life headed if I continue to drink and ABUSE alcohol?"

1.  I thought long and hard of my past with drinking and abusing alcohol.
2.  I thought of the hurt I put on others by my actions, and things I said to the ones that loved me and          cared for me.
3.  I thought of all the money I was blowing on alcohol when my family needed more important things        such as food.
4.  I thought about all the quality time and family gatherings I missed out on because I wanted to stay          home and drink.
5.  I thought about my health and what my physical appearance started to look like.
6.  I looked in the mirror and said to myself, "I look like crap and not what I used to look like."

Do any of these statements ring a bell to you yet?  I hope so because I think all of us alcoholics have thought about this, and deep down wanted to get sober, but we just didn't have to willpower to stop.

Well, for myself the statements above made my make a change in my life and a HUGE change in my family's life as well.

Any of us can do this, as I did, if you truly want a new life for yourself.  It just takes some Massive Action on your part to make this happen for you.  It won't be easy, BUT anything good in life doesn't come easy and that includes GETTING and STAYING SOBER.

God Bless all of you that are suffering from an addiction. You can do it!!! It is worth trying and trying HARD. You will not be sorry you changed your life, I Promise You!

Are You Afraid Of The Holidays Coming Because Of Your Past Addiction?

Well everyone, the Holidays are right around the corner, and for those like myself, it is tough to watch others drink and have a good time during these upcoming Holidays, or is it?

Are you afraid of the Holidays coming because of your past addiction?  I bet you are, just as I am afraid.  Yes, the temptation is always there, and everywhere you look people are at Holiday parties, in bars, clubs etc. drinking and having a so called a good time, till the next morning right?  That is something I will never miss, those massive hangovers.

Listen everyone, I know it will be hard for all of us that have had a past with battling our addiction of alcohol, and for many others, drugs.  We are battling our addiction every single day, but we all have to be stronger than the addiction that once ran and almost ruined our lives, and the lives of the very ones that loved and cared for us, and hopefully still do.  I hope and pray we all got sober before it was too late.

I have been clean and sober since October 27, 2009 and have gone to many parties, bars and other functions that alcohol was at my hands reach.  In fact, my daughter got married and even though I bought all the alcohol for the reception, I had not one drop, not even a toast, because I know myself, and know if I were to take just that one sip and taste what alcohol feels like back on my tongue, I would be doomed and right back to my drinking and abusing alcohol once more.

I can not do that to myself and ruin all the hard work it took to first off, stop drinking, and secondly, the work it takes to stay sober each and everyday.  It truly isn't worth that one sip or that one drink my friends.  I hope you feel the same way and have the strength and willpower to say NO Thank You, I don't drink anymore.

Be proud of your sobriety, and tell those that may ask you if you want a drink during these Holidays, or any day for that matter, No I stopped drinking, but Thank you anyway, I'll pass on that.  

I love to brag about my sobriety as you should too.  After all, we worked our ass off just to get sober and still working each and everyday just to stay sober. 

Don't be afraid of the upcoming Holidays.  Just sit back and enjoy yourself SOBER.  You will thank yourself for not drinking, or even having that temptation.  It is not worth it, for that one more and probably many more buzzes ahead if you are too weak and break.  Be strong and proud of your sobriety.  Your body will indeed thank you too.

I have learned since I have been sober, I have more fun at parties and functions that alcohol is being served than I ever did when I depended on alcohol to make me think WOW I had a blast at the party last night, etc. IT IS FAKE FUN REALLY.

Why Alcoholics Are Afraid Of Sobriety

For all those people out there in the world that loved to drink and abuse alcohol, something has happen to many of them, and that is, they couldn't live one day without alcohol.  They turned into an alcoholic and they ask themselves "why alcoholics are afraid of sobriety?"

There are millions of people in the world that are suffering with this addiction to alcohol and they are afraid to change their lives and live their life clean and sober.

It is truly hard to stop drinking alcohol.  I know this because I was one of those alcoholics that never wanted to change my life for the simple reason, I depended on alcohol as part of my everyday life.

I was afraid of sobriety as many alcoholic are.  We are so used to having alcohol each and everyday and hesitate to change because we don't know what we will feel like without alcohol on our lives, so we continue to drink and abuse alcohol.

The more we drink, the more we want and need to get to that buzz we had the last time.  It takes more and more to get to that point of feeling good, buzzed or just plastered drunk.

It truly is a sad thing, because each day we drink and abuse alcohol we are missing out on one more precious sober day.

For myself, I loved to drink just as much as the next person.  I couldn't go one day without drinking and getting to that point of feeling buzzed or drunk.  Many of us are functioning alcoholics, as I was and I am not ashamed to say so.  I messed up my life and the people that shared my life.  I takes a strong person to say, " I have had enough and I want my sobriety back into my life."

Sometimes it takes many years to realize that a change has to be made as it took many years for me to do so, but I finally did it and couldn't be happier today.  I never knew what a day, week or month felt like being sober.  In fact, now as I write this I have been sober for over 5 years and I continue to write about alcohol addiction in hope to help someone out in the world that is suffering from the addiction I had.

So you ask, "why alcoholics are afraid of sobriety?"  The answer I can come up with is through my experiences with drinking and abusing alcohol.
1. We are so used to having alcohol in our bodies each and everyday.
2. We are afraid of being without alcohol even for one day, for the fear of how we will feel without it.
3. Many alcoholics are afraid of what their drinking buddies will think of them if they become clean and sober and decide to change their life around.
4. Many alcoholics are of getting sick with the DT's if they stop drinking alcohol.  (In that case those people should seek a Rehab. Center to detox in a safe manner with the proper medical help.)

Don't be afraid to change your life for the better, because in the long run, you will thank yourself for making that change.  REMEMBER: Everyone of us are here on Earth just one time, so why would we want to live our one and only life drunk, and miss out on the precious things life has to offer, and that includes having quality time with our loved one, such as your Parents, Spouses, Children and in many cases Grandchildren. 

How Families Suffer With An Alcoholic In The Family

No one really knows how families suffer with an alcoholic in the family, unless you have been there yourself.

As many of you know from my past post and my writing on various other sites, I was and still am an alcoholic.  The name of alcoholic will be with me till the end of time, but you know what, I am good with that.

October of this year, 2014 I have been clean and sober with not. a drop to drink.  Since my sobriety I now realize what I had put my family through while I was drinking and abusing alcohol.  I feel horrible now, but I made good for all the years I was addicted to the poison that almost ruined my life and my marriage.

I can not stress enough with my post and articles I write, that alcohol ruins and kills.  It may take some time, but it will happen sooner or later, sad to say.

Granted, I loved to drink alcohol and loved the feeling that alcohol gave me, but as many years went by I began to realize that this addiction to alcohol I have is getting me nowhere except on a downward spin into hell.

If you or someone you know are addicted to alcohol, sit back and look around you and see how your addiction is making your family suffer.  You have the addiction, but your family and dear friends are suffering right along with you, and in fact, possibly suffering more than you even will know. The are crying inside to try and figure out what to say to you to make you realize that you are killing yourself, slow but sure.

The families want to help, but so many times the alcoholic refuses to listen, nit even one bit.  The family members are wrong, and the alcoholic lives in denial. This is what I felt and thought all through the years of abusing alcohol.

Please try and and help yourself start a new life, and a new life for those that love and care so much about you.

Look into your future and see where your life will be if you continue to drink and abuse alcohol as you are right now.  I can guarantee your future will look very bad.  So, in that case, do something about your life and make that change by stopping drinking, and I will promise, your life and those lives around you will look brighter and brighter each day you are sober.

Fighting For Your Life In Recovery

When someone has been addicted to alcohol or drugs for most of their lives there comes a time that many will say, "enough is enough".  This was my life while drinking and abusing alcohol for many years.

I started drinking alcohol at the age of nineteen because of something that came into my life that I felt I couldn't handle being sober, so I took up drinking thinking this would be the fix all of my problems, and was I ever wrong.

Nothing got fix, in fact with drinking and abusing this drug over the years I depended on alcohol each and everyday as a result.  As the years went by I realized, "I am an alcoholic!" I thought that just drinking to feel good would wind up me being an alcoholic in the future.

There was one thing though.  I knew deep down inside that I was addicted to alcohol, but I just never wanted to admit to others, and I in turn I really lived in denial.  I told myself, and other I could stop drinking alcohol anytime I wanted, but I knew for a fact that this addiction to alcohol got the best of me and it showed according to others that knew me, including my wife and children.

Fighting for your life in Recovery would be the next thing I would have to do, once I finally got out of the denial I lived in for so long, and decided to get and stay sober.

As you all might know, especially those alcoholics out there that are reading this, it is not a easy thing to say goodbye to the one thing you love and depend on each and everyday.

If I wanted to save my family, and in the long run, save my own life, I would have to surrender to the demons that had control of my life and the lives of my family.

On the night of October 26, 2009 I finally made up my mind to surrender once and for all to the demons of alcohol.  I sat in the garage as I usually did all alone ready to open my first of many beers for that night and all of a sudden a voice came in to my head.  That voice was the voice of God,

Many of you may not believe it, and then some of you just might.  I wrote a hub on this experience of the night of October 26th and it is titled "A Life Changing Whisper."

That was the night that changed my life.  To be able to hear the words of God in my head.  I sat with a beer in my hand not even opened yet.  I sat and listened to the words spoken to me and to tell you truth those words frightened me to death, because I knew right then that I MUST do something to change my life right that moment.

I put the beer down, that I never opened, and said to myself, "tomorrow October 27, 2009 will be the change in my life, and I will never ever pick up a alcoholic drink for the rest of my life."

October 27th is only day away as I write this and it will be 5 years clean and sober for me.  This is something I never thought I could ever do.  I thought all those years that I drank, why stop drinking now, the damage is already done with all the years I drank and abused alcohol, so why bother now was my words for many years."  I was wrong in that statement I said to myself.

So ever since that day in October of 2009 my life has changed in so many ways, but believe me it was not easy to say goodbye to my addiction, BUT I did it and so can you!

Remember, each and everyone of us only have one life to live, so why would we destroy it with an avoidable addiction to either alcohol or drugs?

I truly can't believe in a few days I will be clean and sober for 5 years! My sobriety not only changed my life, but I have changed the lives of my wife, children, families members and dear friends, and I am not talking about the so called friends I drank with because they are all out of my life ever since I stopped drinking alcohol, for we now have nothing in common.  Sad to say, But very true.

So just remember, you need to fight for your life while in recovery, because everyday there may be some type of temptation or urge to drink again.  I (we) will always be alcoholics no matter how you look at it, but we all must be stronger than the demons that once ran our lives, and other lives that we were so close to.

Be strong each and everyday of you new life. Stay clean and sober and try to help others as I do to make them understand that there is HOPE for every alcoholic and drug addict. 

If you get sober and just happen to relapse, get back up and try again until you get it right. Anything is possible in life if you truly want it bad enough and that includes a life of  long term sobriety!

My Zazzle Store Is Starting to Earn Money

Hello everyone!  This post is much different than any of the posts I write here on The Clean Life Blog.  I am excited that my Zazzle Store is starting to Earn money.  To tell you the truth I forgot that I even had a store such as Zazzle.com.

I made up the store over a year ago and designed a few Tee shirts, hats and a couple other items.  The other day I went to my Gmail and there was a email from Zazzle.com so I clicked the link and it took me to my earning and what had been sold.

I was very surprised because as I said I forgot I even sign up in Zazzle to design item to sell in my own store called THECLEANLIFE.

I sold 4 shirts that read, "LIVING LIFE SOBER".  I was happy to see the royalty money I earned for just those 4 shirts, so I logged in and started to design more items like a made man and then sold a Long Beach Island Throw Pillow.  Zazzle is really a great site to earn money if you have a good imagination and the Knack to design different one of a kind item.

I am still trying to navigate through the site because for some reason this link does not show all 71 item I have designed.  It only shows 12 items for sale, but I will place the link right here for you to check out what I have so far, and until I get the site running right.

Thanks for reading and let me know what you think of the site so far.  There will be lots more items coming soon.  If you have any suggestions of an item you think you would like just let me know and I'll try my hardest to make it up for you.

Thank you!
Mark (The Clean Life)

Never Lose Hope On A Life Of Sobriety

Many people that have an addiction to alcohol want in the worse way to be sober, but their addiction is holding them back from getting and staying sober. Many times the alcoholic is simply not ready for sobriety to be back in their life.  I was one of them. For many years I tried to get and stay sober with no success.

I did get sober twice in the years I drank.  The first time sobriety lasted for about a year and the second time I tried to stay sober lasted only two years until I went back to my old ways of drinking and abusing alcohol.

The reason for these two failures of trying to stay sober was that I simply wasn't ready to stop drinking and live a life with long term sobriety, BUT I never gave up hope on myself.  I knew sooner or later I would finally admit that something had to be done with my life and live with long term sobriety.

You can never lose hope on a life of sobriety.  The road to recovery is tough when you have an addiction to alcohol or any drugs for that matter, but if you continue to keep hope alive you will achieve that life you wished for.

If you truly want to change your life, and know that you indeed need to change your life, than anything is possible in life, and that includes long term sobriety.

Like I said earlier, it took me three times to get and stay sober, but I never gave up hope that one day I would finally surrender to the one thing that was running and ruining my life, and that was my addiction to alcohol.  The third time was the charm for me and I thank God each and everyday for giving me the hope, the willingness and the strength to get sober and stay sober.

You truly need to love and believe in yourself in order to have a wonderful life of sobriety.  You also need to get out of that negative mood you are in because of your addiction.  For myself, I was a very negative person and always wondered why nothing would ever work out the way I wanted it to.  Once I became sober and changed my attitude in life to nothing but positive, everything I wanted and dreamed of started to become a reality for me.

As hard as it was to finally make that life change and become sober, it was worth every bit of hard work, and my life shows it now.  I am a much happier person.  I continue to keep a positive attitude even when times are tough, and I never once reached for an alcoholic drink just because things were a little rough.

If you never give up hope, your life will indeed change as mine did.  Sometimes it may take longer than you wanted it to take, but if you continue to try your very hardest to change your life, it will happen.  Like I said before, it took three tries before I nailed sobriety and got rid of the demons that were in my life for so many years.  Three is a charm so they say!

So my advice to all those that are suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol is to NEVER give up hope on yourself.  Your life is so precious, and all of us were put on this Earth for a reason.  All of us should enjoy the life we were given and not destroy your one and only life with an addiction.

Lets everyone try our very hardest to make that change, and take Massive Action in order to make that change.  Some of us may have to stay distant from our friends that we drank with in order to keep that temptation and urge to drink again from coming over us.  As for myself, I did just that, and in the long run I lost many friends because now we had nothing in common such as drinking and getting drunk with each other.

It seemed like they all ran away because my life was now much different than their life was. I was sober and they still had their demons running their lives. I never preached to them about sobriety, although they saw that I was a new man because of my sobriety.  My hope is for one day they see the light as I did back in 2009.

NOW LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN MY LIFE BECAUSE I NEVER GAVE UP HOPE!

• Even though I had lost many friends because of my sobriety, I gained many new sober friends in the end. Great sober friends are really awesome.  To be able to speak a conversation with out blurring your words, and to not get in any drunken fights because the alcohol is altering your thinking and acting is a wonderful thing.

• Back when I drank and abused alcohol my relationship with my wife and children started to decline, although we still loved each other very much, it still wasn't the same when I drank.  Today, now being sober the relationship with my wife and children are unbelievable.  It is so amazing how being sober and happy can change so many lives that are in your life.  People now are excited to be in my company and I get along with each and everyone of them.  No one wants to be around a drunk person unless that person is also drunk. Misery loves company so they say, and believe me I was very miserable when I drank.

• When I had a couple of drinks there were many people that stood and talked to me at parties or other occasions, BUT after those couple of drinks as I continue on my way to getting drunk I started to feel the effects of the alcohol and then people would shy away from me because they knew what the future hours would bring as far as my continuing to drink. Now being sober I still go to those parties and occasions, but without a drink in my hand and still have those conversations that last the complete night without anyone walking away because of me getting too drunk. Sober conversations are always the best believe me.

• I truly believe, and I hope that I am a service to many people that read my articles here on my blog and on so many other websites.  I write just about everyday regarding alcohol addiction and ways that I have found that helped me get and stay sober since October of 2009. Writing has been my life since 2009 when I got sober.  Each article I write gives me more hope knowing that maybe one of these articles will touch someones life and will help them to understand that having an addiction of any sort is not the end of their life.  Never give up hope on your new life.  All of you that have an addiction have the chance to make that life change.  The only thing you have to do is to want your life back no matter what it takes to get it back.

• Writing about my alcohol addiction experience indeed helps me to stay sober each day.  Some may wonder how writing keeps me sober and my answer is... as I write, I think about the way my life was years ago when I abused alcohol, and then I think as I write, how many people I maybe helping that have been suffering with their addiction as I was for so many years.  It brings me great joy and happiness to know I may help someone in the world, even if it is only one person. 

I pray for all those that are suffering with an addiction, and hope everyone can get clean and sober and live that one and only life they have with happiness, contentment, love and sobriety. 

Why Do So Many People Abuse Alcohol?

Here is a question for us all of us that drink and abuse alcohol.  "Why do so many people abuse alcohol?"

These are my thoughts, and my experiences of why I drank and abused alcohol, and maybe some of my thoughts here may reflect on your life as a person that abuses alcohol to the extent of being addicted to it.

• I thought that drinking and abusing alcohol would solve any problem I might of had at that moment and beyond.
• I thought that more people would take a liking to me because I was cool and drank alcohol.
• I felt as if I could really speak my mind more openly without being nervous when speaking.
• I thought that I knew all the answers to everything when I drank.
• I thought that I was a fun person when I drank and acted like a fool.

The fact is that I just loved the feeling that alcohol gave me.  When I first tried alcohol at a very age it was just out of curiosity and a experiment with the guys.  That curiosity and so called experiment turned into an addiction to alcohol.  I couldn't live a day without it as the years went by and was so used to having the buzz that alcohol gave me, it turned out to be a huge part of my everyday living.

I didn't mean to get addicted to alcohol.  I didn't wake up one day and say, "I want to be an alcoholic."  This goes for anyone that has an addiction of any sorts.

I never knew by drinking alcohol as just an experiment with my friends would turn out to be a horrible addiction to it.  This crap we call alcohol, if we are not careful will take hold of your body and soul and then watch out, because once those demons get hold of you it will be hard to get rid of them.  It took years and years to get my demons off my shoulders.

PLEASE don't let alcohol get the best of you because we all know that once addicted your life will slowly change for the worse.  You will begin to loss everything one by one as I came so close to doing until I finally had the strength and willpower to say NO MORE and finally surrendered to my inner demons.  

I have to tell you that by quitting drinking has changed my life completely around all for the better.  If I knew, in which deep down I did know, I would of stopped drinking alcohol years ago, but that is the past and now I am working on my recovery and my long term sobriety and know I am beating the demons inside of me each and everyday.

Don't let alcohol ruin your life and the lives of all the people that are in your life.  Be strong and have the willingness and desire to change your life as I did.

If I could do this and get sober so can anyone that has an addiction to alcohol.  Keep that positive attitude in your life every single day and believe if you want sobriety back into your life than it will happen just like it happened to me.

Don't get me wrong, I am not against having a couple of social drinks with family and friends, BUT if you can not control your drinking and drink responsibly then you should consider not drinking at all.  That was the huge problem I had.  I could not just have one or two drinks and call it a day.  It was never enough alcohol for me once I got started drinking. I needed to feel that buzz my body longed for each and everyday. If you feel you can not get sober on your own then PLEASE ask for the help you need to help you get sober and live that beautiful life of sobriety!

You can read more of my articles written on HubPages on addictions, sobriety, positive attitudes, Jersey Shore Living and much more right HERE.
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How Remembering Your Past Alcohol Addiction Helps With Your Recovery And Long Term Sobriety

This has helped me in many ways over the past years of my sobriety.  How remembering your past alcohol addiction helps with your recovery and long term sobriety.

I have been sober since October 27, 2009, and I must say it has been a journey to say the least. Many times during those years of recovery the urge and temptation to drink alcohol again came over more than I can say.

Once the urge or temptation came on me I admittedly thought of my past drinking days and what I did to myself and those that loved and cared for me. I remembered the wrong things I said, and the wrong things I did.  By thinking of my past addiction, and the things I did and said put a stop to the urge and temptation to drink alcohol again.

I knew and learned over the years that drinking alcohol solved nothing, and in fact only made things worse.  I drank alcohol all those years thinking that whatever was wrong in my life it would just go away by drinking and abusing alcohol.

If you are in recovery and those temptations and urges come over you, like they do me, just remember those bad days of your addiction and hopefully that reminder of those days will put a stop to picking up that drink of alcohol.  It really works for me and I truly think it will work for you, BUT you have to be stronger than that temptation and those urges to drink.

Another thing that pops into my mind when that urge to drink comes over me is all the years I have been sober and if I were to touch that drop of alcohol all those years would be in vein,, meaning I would have to start at day one in my sobriety and that is something you or I would never want to happen!

So, this is what really helps me to stay clean and sober, and hopefully this will help you to remain sober when that temptation or urge to drink comes over you.

Granted, I am sure that urge will come over you, more than once during your recovery, as it does me, but if you think of what your past was while drinking and abusing alcohol, and give that urge some time to pass, you will be just fine.  Just do yourself a favor and never give in to the demons that will always be inside our bodies. You must be much stronger than them, and if you keep that positive attitude and stay strong (you and I will be just fine!)

God Bless all those that have made it to sobriety and have had the strength to surrender to their inner demons, and God Bless all those that are still coping with their addiction to alcohol, but never fear, with the right frame of mind, having a positive attitude and having the willingness to stop drinking forever, all will be fine for you.  

It is not the end of the world because you have an addiction, but it could be if you don't change your life around for the better.  

I DID IT AND SO CAN YOU!

I Quit Drinking Alcohol So Now What?

So I quit drinking alcohol so now what is the question I asked myself, and I am sure many people that have quit drinking have asked the same question to themselves.

Now what?  Well you are about to start and new and joyous life, BUT you have to stick to your guns and never let those alcohol demons back into your life.  This is where it gets hard for many alcoholics after they have stopped drinking alcohol.

They are bored.  They don't know what to do with themselves because they were so used to having a drink in hand and being in bars and pubs drinking them up with their drinking buddies.  At least this was the life I had, and I am not speaking for anyone else, but I am sure those that have this addiction to alcohol understand exactly what I am talking about.

WHAT IS NEXT YOU MIGHT ASK?

• You quit drinking, and you are now sober, and the next step is to stay sober.
• You  can now enjoy your life sober and start spending quality time with your loved ones that maybe you never did when addicted to alcohol.
• You will be able to start saving money that you were spending on alcohol and not on your families.
• You can now see for your eyes how you are starting to change not only physically, but mentally.
• You can start living the life you so well deserve.
• You need to stay away from things, places and people that will tempt you to start drinking again.
• There will be so many things will be able to do now being sober, such as getting behind the wheel of you automobile without any worries of getting into an accident because of being drunk, being pulled over and getting that DUI. 
• YOU WILL BE FREE!

Granted, there will be days in the beginning, and even far into sobriety, but you can not give in no matter what it takes to say NO!

I have had many times in my recovery that I just wanted to throw in the towel and take a drink. Why?
The reason was maybe that day something went wrong in my life or something just didn't work out like I'd planed it to.  I stood my grounds to my demons and say NO I can not do this!

Back in October of 2009 I made a promise to myself that no matter what happens in my life, good or bad I will never pick up an alcoholic drink again, and I am a man of my word and would never break a promise especially to myself.  Sure it was hard to say NO I can't do this, but as the minutes passed by that urge and temptation to drink passed.  I knew if I gave it some time that feeling and urge to drink would go away, and it did.

You have to be a strong person and much stronger than your inner demons.  The demons are waiting for you and I to mess up and start drinking again.  This way if you and I do drink alcohol again our demons will have full control of our lives once more, but this time if we break and drink it will be harder to get rid of this demons that are out to kill us.
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So get sober, stay sober, and start to live the clean life like I have since 2009 and will continue for many years to come.

How Having A Positive Attitude Can Change So Many Things In Life

For someone like myself, living with an alcohol addiction for so many years, I didn't know the words, "Positive Attitude."

I lived each day with a negative attitude, and feeling sorry for myself because I knew deep inside that I had an addiction to alcohol, but I just didn't want to do anything to change my life. Now being sober, I know how having a positive attitude can change so many things in life.

There is nothing worse than thinking and acting negative.  You will never get anywhere in life with that kind of attitude. It took many years for me to get straightened out in my life, and once I did, Positivity took over, and life looked so much different with my new attitude, not only towards myself, but life itself.

Here are just a few things that changed in my life once I got clean and sober and began thinking and acting with a positive attitude.

• My entire married life my wife's and my dream was to live by the Ocean, but no matter how hard I tried to make that dream into a reality, nothing worked out.  I truly believe that my addiction to alcohol held me back in so many ways, along with my negativity that came with my addiction.

I got clean and sober in October of 2009, and everything began to work out, and the reason that is, and my beliefs are, that I was not willing to help myself before, and when things didn't work out as I wanted them to, I just drank more figuring alcohol was the fix all. I am now writing this down the street from the Ocean. My dream has now become a reality!

• My marriage and family life was falling to pieces slow, but sure. 

Now sober, I couldn't ask for a better family life and marriage. My best friend, and also my wife stood by my side through thick and thin when I was addicted to alcohol, and now I am proud to say I have sobriety, and we live with nothing but positivity in our lives.  I now realize that your attitude in life can change so many things, for the good or for the bad.

Our attitudes can make or break our lives, so get out of the negative world and start living with that Positive Attitude.  You will be amazed of how your life will change, just by you changing your life, and your attitude towards life.

How Life Can Change Just By Changing Your Life

HERE IS WHERE MY WIFE AND I SIT HERE ON LONG BEACH ISLAND.

For anyone that has an addiction of any sort, such as alcoholism or drugs, we tend to be simply down in the dumps most of the time, and the only thing that somewhat makes us happy is to drink or use.  At least this is my opinion, and my experiences with drinking and abusing alcohol for many years.

After that first one or two drinks, you start to forget all the problems you may have because you just care and only care about getting to that drunk you had the day before.  Mine you, this is my experiences and I am not speaking for anyone else that drinks or uses drugs.

Then it comes the time where you are feeling no pain because of the alcohol, and you begin to start feeling sorry for yourself and start crying in you booze.  "Why me?"  "Why doesn't anything ever work out for me?"  "Why don't I have what others have in their life?" Does any of this sound familiar to you?

It sure does to me, and it is very familiar indeed. You have to realize how life can change just by changing your life. I know it may sound stupid, but it is the truth and it really does work.  Changing your life and your lifestyle will indeed give you a brand new life in the end.

Just by changing your life, meaning giving up alcohol or drugs, and get out of the denial you have been living in will truly change everything, including your life.

Back in October of 2009 I decided to change my own life meaning, I finally got out of the denial I was living in and surrendered to my alcohol demons.   Ever since that night sitting in the garage all alone drinking my last beer of my life I knew deep down inside that getting and staying sober has to be far greater than drinking my life away and slowly killing myself along the way.

You don't have to be an alcoholic.  You have a choice of being drunk all the time or living a clean and sober life.  The choice is in your hands so make the right decision and change your life around all for the better.  Your body and those that love and care for you will thank you, Trust Me!

I have hundreds of articles I have written on HubPages.com so click here to read them.  They might just change your way of looking at life, and hopefully help you to change your life and life a life of sobriety.

Abusing Alcohol And Your Life Ahead

I have nothing against anyone that drinks alcohol, but abusing alcohol and your life ahead can be disastrous in the upcoming years.

What I mean here is that drinking to much, or doing to much of anything can be harmful.  For a guy like myself, I only wished I could drink only one or two social drinks, but in my case, and in many cases, we that abuse alcohol just don't when we have had enough to drink.  We continue to drink until we have had our fill of alcohol for the day and get to that buzz or high we all long for.

I have been sober since October of 2009 and have not touched a drop of alcohol, although there were many times I had that urge or temptation to pick up that drink and get drunk just like the old times.

I made a promise to myself back in October of 2009, telling myself I will never touch another drop of alcohol no matter how good or bad my life get.  I continue to keep a positive attitude at all times and continue to tell myself that drinking and abusing alcohol helps nothing in life, in fact it only make matters worse.

You will never realize what you were doing to your bodies and those people that loved and cared about you until you have been clean and sober for some time and then it hits you exactly what you have been doing to destroy your one and only life.

Drinking alcohol and having a good time is okay by me if and only if you drink alcohol responsibly and not drink and abuse alcohol.  That is the part that just didn't go right with me and so many other people that have an addiction to alcohol. 

If you are one those that are abusing alcohol than you really need to sit back (in a sober state of mind) and look into your future and see the life that is ahead of you.  If you truly look hard enough you will see that your life will be going nowhere except downward to rock bottom.

Once you see what is going to happen, and you except this, you might want to make a huge change in your life as I made that change in my life.  I am not telling you what to do because it is your life, but I am just warning you of the outcome that is ahead if you continue to drink and abuse alcohol. It won't be a pretty thing, so act now and get yourself sobered up, and live that one and only life you have with long term sobriety.

There is hope for every alcoholic, if you really want to change you life.  Your life is not over just because you have a addiction.  Your new life is waiting for you!  Now, all you have to do is to go after that new life and make good of it.  Sobriety cost nothing except your acceptance that you need help and you are willing to change your life for the better.

Put the drink down once and for all and start living the life you were put on this Earth to live.

If you think alcohol will not ruin your life, you are dead wrong.  You just have to wake up and see it for yourself, and not let someone like me tell you in an article like this one.  I write these articles because I went through all of this and finally realized after many years of drinking and abusing alcohol that my life was going nowhere and I needed to change, so I did, and could not be happier.

Alcohol will ruin your life if you let it!

Read more of my articles here on the Clean Life, and my articles on HubPages.