WOULD YOU EVER... ? (The ACTION Version!)

[Magenta]

I knew someone in my hometown whose alcoholism took over his life, to the point where he stopped even
trying to hold a job. From what I hear, he's been through rehab 3 times -- and it's never done any good.

The stories I have heard!!! One guy shared at an AA meeting I attended that he had been through rehab or treatment or whatever else it is called (???) something like 50+ times! What in the world?!?!?!?!?!?!? And I later heard that he had died in active addiction. I understand how it may be said in light of this that the program does not work, but the fact of the matter is that one must be willing to go to any and all lengths in order to succeed/recover. The literature is clear: no reservations! Absolute surrender! Of course we cannot be told how to do this (surrender, and/or turn our will and our life over to the care of God as we understand Him); it is a process for most, and the literature even covers that by saying: sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. The steps provide the framework for the process, steps which are solidly backed by Biblical principles. I had over eight years clean and sober when I gave myself an out and relapsed. I was at a round-up type of event (huge AA gathering happening over a weekend at a [usually] fancy hotel with speakers brought in from all over the world) about a year and a half later when I heard a speaker from England say that people relapse around eight years because they have not yet surrendered their lives to God. Whoa. That was so true for me! I had not yet become a believer! I inched and inched and inched toward it fighting tooth and nail as some might say to surrender to the God of other people's understanding! However as you may well know I did eventually surrender, or maybe I should say, I realized at some point that I just stop fighting against it... I became aware that I no longer needed any more convincing of the Truth of God's revealed written Word. And that happened while I was attending an Alpha course which is designed to convince people of the Truth of God's revealed written Word! A course I had been invited to by friends in AA... PS~ I have never been through rehab... no, no, no (thanks, Amy LOL).

 

[FollowerofShiloh]

I can just see your dates asking you what cologne you're wearing, and it's like, "Eau De Flam(ay)."

Kudos to you for the work ethic! Yeah, the reason I thought the BK/MCD rule was crazy was because it was like, "Wow, as if surviving on fast food pay isn't hard enough, now you're punishing people who actually want to work!"

I LOVED the story about getting back at people picking on you. When I was first here on CC, they used to have live chat rooms and I was very excited, because I loved coming here and listening in on people. I mentioned it to a co-worker and he was like, "Ok now, you go home and enjoy your online church potluck! How exciting!" Because it was a Friday night and I was fired up about going home to an online Christian Chat.

My Dad actually became an ordained minister (but he specifically counsels people who are trying to get out of debt) when I was well into adulthood. He had thought about becoming a pastor as young adult but God led him elsewhere.

I always tell my Dad thanks for waiting until I was long grown -- I just know I would have made the worst pastor's kid ever!

My parents made us work. They could have bought what we needed but that wasn't their motto. And I liked nice things so it required almost 40 hours to get what I wanted. My parents did pay for my fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, but everything else was my responsibility.

Yes, being a gk and pk was very difficult. I was a fighter because I got picked on most of the time outside being a Jew + Christian hahaha

I even studied martial arts because they would jump me in groups and lite me up good.

 

[Magenta]

Oops, sorry, the round-up was about half a year after my relapse...

A year after my relapse I was going through the Alpha course and at the end of it I was baptized, fully convinced...

 

[seoulsearch]

The stories I have heard!!! One guy shared at an AA meeting I attended that he had been through rehab or treatment or whatever else it is called (???) something like 50+ times! What in the world?!?!?!?!?!?!? And I later heard that he had died in active addiction. I understand how it may be said in light of this that the program does not work, but the fact of the matter is that one must be willing to go to any and all lengths in order to succeed/recover. The literature is clear: no reservations! Absolute surrender! Of course we cannot be told how to do this (surrender, and/or turn our will and our life over to the care of God as we understand Him); it is a process for most, and the literature even covers that by saying: sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. The steps provide the framework for the process, steps which are solidly backed by Biblical principles. I had over eight years clean and sober when I gave myself an out and relapsed. I was at a round-up type of event (huge AA gathering happening over a weekend at a [usually] fancy hotel with speakers brought in from all over the world) about a year and a half later when I heard a speaker from England say that people relapse around eight years because they have not yet surrendered their lives to God. Whoa. That was so true for me! I had not yet become a believer! I inched and inched and inched toward it fighting tooth and nail as some might say to surrender to the God of other people's understanding! However as you may well know I did eventually surrender, or maybe I should say, I realized at some point that I just stop fighting against it, I became aware that I no longer needed any more convincing of the Truth of God's revealed written Word. And that happened while I was attending an Alpha course which is designed to convince people of the Truth of God's revealed written Word! A course I had been invited to by friends in AA... PS~ I have never been through rehab... no, no, no (thanks, Amy LOL).

One of the things I always think about is how much sacrifice and resources should be spent before drawing any lines? Like if I had 3 kids and one was always relapsing, what would I do? Spend everything on that one and have the other two hate me for the rest of their lives for neglecting what they needed?

This is what I think about most -- when families have to start making a hierarchy of who gets more help and why, and what happens to the ones who aren't getting into trouble and wind up falling through the cracks. I certainly don't have any answers.

Lady Magenta, I've seen you bravely sharing your story and helping others here for years. ❤️

I'm very sorry for all the heartache and how difficult of a journey it's been for you, but I'm always encouraged when I see you speaking to others from a place of authority who are going through the same thing.

 

[seoulsearch]

My parents made us work. They could have bought what we needed but that wasn't their motto. And I liked nice things so it required almost 40 hours to get what I wanted. My parents did pay for my fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, but everything else was my responsibility.
Yes, being a gk and pk was very difficult. I was a fighter because I got picked on most of the time outside being a Jew + Christian haha
I even studied martial arts because they would jump me in groups and lite me up good.

I am so sorry for what other people put you through.

I understand about parents who believe in work, lol. When I was about 11/12 my parents were soliciting babysitting jobs for me; at 13 I had a paper route; when I turned 15 they took me to McDonald's to start there (and I still had the paper route.) By high school I was working 3 jobs.

So I most definitely understand -- and I'm sure all your hard work and integrity have served you well.

 

[FollowerofShiloh]

I am so sorry for what other people put you through.

I understand about parents who believe in work, lol. When I was about 11/12 my parents were soliciting babysitting jobs for me; at 13 I had a paper route; when I turned 15 they took me to McDonald's to start there (and I still had the paper route.) By high school I was working 3 jobs.

So I most definitely understand -- and I'm sure all your hard work and integrity have served you well.

I am thankful for what they have installed in me. Growing up defending yourself really makes you prepared to do God's work He has for you. I know Ministers afraid to preach on certain things but not me. I preached against the LBG&TQ invading the Church years ago and was arrested for it. Stood before a Judge demanding me change my tune. I told him the Lord Rebuke You Satan. He bout flipped out cussing and screaming at me. I said is that all you got? Worst he could do was give me 30 days. We had CHURCH in the County Jail and I would go and visit once a month after I was released and when many got out they began attending Church. God put a beat down on that Judge. Died of a heart attack 6 weeks later. Just out for a walk and fell over flat on his face. You don't Mock God and get away with it.

Ultimately, growing up like I did was a blessing of God

 

[seoulsearch]

To me, this is the best part of threads -- learning about other people and their lives.

Please feel free to keep sharing!

But just in case someone is looking for the last question that was asked:

Would you ever go cave diving? (I'm going to expand this to general cave exploration as well.)

 

[Magenta]

One of the things I always think about is how much sacrifice and resources should be spent before
drawing any lines? Like if I had 3 kids and one was always relapsing, what would I do? Spend everything
on that one and have the other two hate me for the rest of their lives for neglecting what they needed?

This is what I think about most -- when families have to start making a hierarchy of who gets more help
and why, and what happens to the ones who aren't getting into trouble and wind up falling through the
cracks. I certainly don't have any answers.

Lady Magenta, I've seen you bravely sharing your story and helping others here for years. ❤️

I'm very sorry for all the heartache and how difficult of a journey it's been for you, but I'm always encouraged
when I see you speaking to others from a place of authority who are going through the same thing.

Dear sweet soul sister Seoul, if I have learned anything it was that I was the author of my own pain and suffering! And wonder of wonders! It was because I rebelled against God and Godly principles, just as any unbeliever may! Haha, though not really funny... I just laugh at myself and thank God for being so gracious toward me for allowing me to survive the stupidity of my youth. I sought freedom from what seemed like worldly traditions and got snared in the devil's devices. And I thank God for setting me free from them, a fact which became so clear to me when I cried out for help to stop the pain and suffering in my life, cried out to that God I did not believe in, cried out to Him for help, and within DAYS I had lost the desire to use mind and mood altering substances after twenty four years of near constant abuse, abuse which came in other forms as well... To the praise of His glory, HE was the One that kept showing up when I sought help in some form, help understanding Who Jesus was/is, help understanding what love is, help understanding why I was the way I was, help understanding even what it was I was recovering from, because even that was not clear to me at first.

To address the issue you brought up, I think detachment with love is what is suggested. We must allow people to suffer the consequences of their actions or else we are enabling them. We carry the message, not the mess, as I have heard it said. We let them know we love them, we care for them, we hurt for them, they are hurting us, we do not shrink back from admitting that vulnerability, while standing firm, we will not allow you to do this to us while you (the offender) destroy your life, for if we allow it, you will destroy our lives also. We will be here for you if ever you wish to change. Oh, my heart truly feels for those who struggle to free themselves on either side of the equation. Al-Anon exists for friends, family, and loved ones of those in active addiction...

 

[cinder]

Cave diving sounds awesome, provided there's a good guide who knows the way back out and when we need to head that way. Lost cave diving with limited air supply doesn't aound nearly as awesome.

 

[seoulsearch]

Cave diving sounds awesome, provided there's a good guide who knows the way back out and when we need to head that way. Lost cave diving with limited air supply doesn't aound nearly as awesome.

I have a friend who got me hooked on a channel that explains cave diving accidents... It's one of those things where it's utterly heart-wrenching but somehow so intriguing at the same time. In some cases, you just wonder what got into people's heads that they didn't take every precaution available.


Would you ever take a ride on a segway?






After all, Weird Al gives them two very enthusiastic thumbs up!

 

[Lynx]

I have a friend who got me hooked on a channel that explains cave diving accidents... It's one of those things where it's utterly heart-wrenching but somehow so intriguing at the same time. In some cases, you just wonder what got into people's heads that they didn't take every precaution available.


Would you ever take a ride on a segway?


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After all, Weird Al gives them two very enthusiastic thumbs up!

Anything that goes that slow should not have a battery. If I have to bother charging something up it needs to go 45 mph, minimum.

Would you travel a hundred miles to try an interesting restaurant?

 

[Karlon]

Hey Everyone,

This is a spinoff thread of Lynx's popular "Would You Ever Eat...?" thread.

Instead of asking Would You Ever Eat (name the food,) this thread is asking, Would You Ever (name the action!)

Examples might include:

* Would you ever... Go skydiving?

* Would you ever... Go for a week without your phone?

* Would you ever... Trust an alligator with your password? (Cough, @Susanna, cough.)

Go ahead and use these examples if you'd like, because I'm going to start off with a different question.

So just like in Lynx's thread, I'll start out by asking a question -- the next person answers a question asked in the thread (it can be any of the questions that interest you -- no concerns about continuity here!), and then end your post with a question of their own.

I'll go ahead and start with:

* Would You Ever?

* Show up for a first date -- right after eating Chicken With 40 Cloves of Garlic?? (I didn't realize that this was an actual established entree! I just thought is was a random name for a generic chicken dish.)


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So... how much do you think you'd impress your date while smelling like 40 cloves of garlic?

Or shoot, maybe you could even cook this for them on your first date. (Yass or Pass?)

On your mark, get set, go!!!

I was once asked by a co-worker if I ate garlic for breakfast .

She was standing at least six feet away from me at the time .

phunnneee!

 

[tourist]

I'd go a week without my phone. In fact, I would go a year. Rarely use the thing. Can't see how peeps stare at it, mesmerized, 24/7/365. I guess that I don't get it.

 

[seoulsearch]

Anything that goes that slow should not have a battery. If I have to bother charging something up it needs to go 45 mph, minimum.
Would you travel a hundred miles to try an interesting restaurant?

I most certainly would, but probably not just by myself. It would depend on if there were other places I wanted to see in the area and could make a day of it. And I would definitely go if I had people to go with.

Would you ever... Go dumpster diving?

 

[Karlon]

I most certainly would, but probably not just by myself. It would depend on if there were other places I wanted to see in the area and could make a day of it. And I would definitely go if I had people to go with.

Would you ever... Go dumpster diving?

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i would look in a dumpster 1st. but i do something like that & have been doing it for more than 45 years. i drive around the countryside looking for items that people littered. i have found clothes, useful wood & metal, washers, dryers, furniture, work horses, tarps, chairs, shovels, rakes, mowers, bicycles, boxes, valuable metal like aluminum, brass, copper, lead, magnesium, tables, blankets, glassware, paintings & pictures, etc. i have decorated my homes for decades with stuff i found. what a coincidence that you posted this because just last week i was trying to figure how much money i saved by utilizing junk that was discarded. truthfully, between saving junk & using it & selling junk, it's got to be around $200,000!

 

[seoulsearch]

i would look in a dumpster 1st. but i do something like that & have been doing it for more than 45 years. i drive around the countryside looking for items that people littered. i have found clothes, useful wood & metal, washers, dryers, furniture, work horses, tarps, chairs, shovels, rakes, mowers, bicycles, boxes, valuable metal like aluminum, brass, copper, lead, magnesium, tables, blankets, glassware, paintings & pictures, etc. i have decorated my homes for decades with stuff i found. what a coincidence that you posted this because just last week i was trying to figure how much money i saved by utilizing junk that was discarded. truthfully, between saving junk & using it & selling junk, it's got to be around $200,000!

I think people who have a talent for this is amazing!!

I watch a few YouTube channels of this and it's astounding what great things you can find. Kudos to you, Karlon for helping to keep more things in use and out of the landfills!

Would you ever... Pay for deeply discounted leftover food at a restaurant, even if you couldn't choose what you got?

Apparently there are apps in some busy cities that are doing this. Restaurants are getting rid of food at the end of the night, so for a cheap price, you can pick up a bag or two -- but you'll have no idea or choice over what you'll get.

 

[FollowerofShiloh]

Would you ever... Pay for deeply discounted leftover food at a restaurant, even if you couldn't choose what you got?

Apparently there are apps in some busy cities that are doing this. Restaurants are getting rid of food at the end of the night, so for a cheap price, you can pick up a bag or two -- but you'll have no idea or choice over what you'll get.

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My cousin Vinny turned me on to some late night Italian food from a well known mob restaurant when I visited him in the Bronx.

It was the best broken leg of lamb I ever had.

Really nice and tender.

 

[FollowerofShiloh]

j/k

 

[seoulsearch]

My cousin Vinny turned me on to some late night Italian food from a well known mob restaurant when I visited him in the Bronx.

It was the best broken leg of lamb I ever had.

Really nice and tender.

I'm definitely not the brightest bulb in the bunch.

My brain skipped right over to "Italian food from a well-known mob restaurant" and the first thing I thought was, "Wait, are normal people allowed in a mob restaurant???!!!"

(And yes, for an instant, I wanted to try it -- in a large group of people, of course!)


Would you ever... Go parasailing?

 

[FollowerofShiloh]

I'm definitely not the brightest bulb in the bunch.

My brain skipped right over to "Italian food from a well-known mob restaurant" and the first thing I thought was, "Wait, are normal people allowed in a mob restaurant???!!!"

(And yes, for an instant, I wanted to try it -- in a large group of people, of course!)


Would you ever... Go parasailing?

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I almost was afraid to make that joke for fear of offending someone.


I have been parasailing and it was a lot of fun