Two Years Sober - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

Ignatian Spirit · 01-01-2006, 02:08 PM

Hi folks...

Today marks two full years of sobriety for me. I took my last drink on New Years Eve 2003 and, somehow, haven't looked back.

At my worst, which was a period of about a year-and-a-half, I was getting hammered four or five nights a week, mostly alone. Strong European beer was my poison, although I'd drink anything that was around. I couldn't stop. Many evenings I would find myself walking to the liquor store against my own will; I didn't want to drink, but something inside me felt otherwise. I was like a man possessed. Even after I had destroyed my relationship with my girlfriend at the time and severed ties with lifelong friends, even after I dropped out of college and gained 50 pounds, I still couldn't stop. I just drank more and more.

I thank God for receiving the power to move forward. I believe that it was the Holy Spirit guiding me along. There is no other explanation. I still have many problems -- who doesn't? -- but at least I'm not killing myself with alcohol anymore.

Thanks, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Nathan

Justme57 · 01-01-2006, 02:10 PM

Hi Ig

Congratulations on your 2 years !

Awesome effort!

HUGX
Lee

**Peter** · 01-01-2006, 02:11 PM

Welcome and congratulations on your 2 years sober. Perhaps you could tell us more about how you manage to maintain your sobriety.

dakota110705 · 01-01-2006, 02:17 PM

Congratulations on 2 years! Your post is perfect for the occasion and gives me inspiration to keep on keepin' on! Thanks and Happy New Year!

Ignatian Spirit · 01-01-2006, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter

Welcome and congratulations on your 2 years sober. Perhaps you could tell us more about how you manage to maintain your sobriety.

Thanks.

I have found that replacing my addiction with positive things, things that I love, does the trick. At first, I took all the money that I was spending on beer -- $40 to $50 a week -- and bought books with it (I've always been a big reader with a wide range of interests). Every weekend I would hit a bunch of the great second-hand bookstores around Toronto and take home a new stack of books -- philosophy, theology, politics, history, plain ol' fiction. It became my new "fix." I still do it, only now I save the money by using one of the jaw-droppingly amazing libraries at my university.

I think this is a pretty common thing. Some people replace their addictions with model airplanes or coin collecting or taking up golf; I chose books.

Justme57 · 01-01-2006, 03:21 PM

LOL@ dipso!

You are so right !

I am also an avid reader, and now have books piled up against all my walls!

I also replaced my drinking with shopping

, lunching, and having numerous "coffee breaks" with friends on the sidewalk, and people watching!

HUGX
Lee

MNGirlyGirl · 01-01-2006, 03:50 PM

Congrats on 2 years! Thanks for sharing your story!

**Peter** · 01-01-2006, 05:10 PM

Thanks for sharing. I too did a lot of reading early in sobriety. Mostly recovery related stuff. It helped tremendously to fill the hole left behind from my drinking.

brigid · 01-01-2006, 05:31 PM

Happy New Year, I have made a resolution to give up the cigarettes this year, had my last one just before 12:00, with a cup of coffee - which is also a no no for me this year.

OK, one day down and the rest of my life to enjoy ... great to see that New Year's Resolutions work for some.

Congratulations on your 2 years!! Great stuff.

love brigid

Ignatian Spirit · 01-01-2006, 05:45 PM

I just quit smoking, too. Put out my last one a few seconds before the clock struck twelve.

So far, so good! I'm on the patch, and it's working reasonably well.

trytrytry · 01-01-2006, 07:16 PM

I.S.,

Congrats on your anniversary. I'm only a month in but look forward to celebrating that two year mark as well. Thanks for the tip. I'm gonna start socking away that money I spent on booze and save up for something good...maybe a new guitar

**CarolD** · 01-02-2006, 09:36 AM

Womderful!!

TorontoGuy28 · 01-02-2006, 10:51 AM

Nathan - congrats on your 2 years ! That's awesome... All the best in '06 !

**BigSis** · 01-02-2006, 11:12 AM

I love seeing these threads... CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Ignatian Spirit · 01-02-2006, 01:02 PM

Thanks, you guys. This is really a great community -- I'll certainly be sticking around.

Don S · 01-03-2006, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignatian Spirit

I have found that replacing my addiction with positive things, things that I love, does the trick.

Wonderfully simple explanation!
Congratulations on two years; you're an inspiration for New Year's resolvers everywhere.
And you and Brigid keep us posted on the cigarettes, too....
Thanks for posting!

Cathy31 · 01-03-2006, 02:14 AM

Wonderful, Nathan!

What a lovely inspiration.

Cathy31
x

collinsmi · 01-03-2006, 06:15 AM

Congrats on putting that stuff down Nathan! What kind of books? Looking for some new reading material myself. Get up to the Ontario Science Center often?

Ignatian Spirit · 01-03-2006, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by collinsmi

What kind of books? Looking for some new reading material myself. Get up to the Ontario Science Center often?

I actually haven't been to the Ontario Science Centre since I was a kid. I always loved it, though -- maybe I should see what's happening over there these days.

As for books, right now I'm reading a lot of theology and philosophy of the Catholic tradition, and American political science of the (neo)conservative tradition.

collinsmi · 01-03-2006, 06:44 AM

Sounds interesting! Just finishing "The American West" by Dee Brown. Seems a little heavy on the great plains, but not too bad.

brigid · 01-03-2006, 04:05 PM

No cigarettes for me so far Don. How you going IS?

I am waking up better already, not sleeping well yet but getting there. How does that work, you sleep less and more lightly but wake up feeling better.

love brigid

01-01-2006, 02:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ignatian Spirit Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 10	Two Years Sober Hi folks... Today marks two full years of sobriety for me. I took my last drink on New Years Eve 2003 and, somehow, haven't looked back. At my worst, which was a period of about a year-and-a-half, I was getting hammered four or five nights a week, mostly alone. Strong European beer was my poison, although I'd drink anything that was around. I couldn't stop. Many evenings I would find myself walking to the liquor store against my own will; I didn't want to drink, but something inside me felt otherwise. I was like a man possessed. Even after I had destroyed my relationship with my girlfriend at the time and severed ties with lifelong friends, even after I dropped out of college and gained 50 pounds, I still couldn't stop. I just drank more and more. I thank God for receiving the power to move forward. I believe that it was the Holy Spirit guiding me along. There is no other explanation. I still have many problems -- who doesn't? -- but at least I'm not killing myself with alcohol anymore. Thanks, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Nathan

01-01-2006, 02:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
dakota110705 Life is what you make it! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: The boonies, Wisconsin Posts: 43	Congratulations on 2 years! Your post is perfect for the occasion and gives me inspiration to keep on keepin' on! Thanks and Happy New Year! __________________ "Life is a sum of all your choices." -Albert Camus-

01-01-2006, 03:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
MNGirlyGirl Good Clean Fun!! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Plymouth, MN Posts: 938	Congrats on 2 years! Thanks for sharing your story! __________________ -- The good news is that your feelings come back...The bad news is that your feelings come back.

01-01-2006, 05:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
brigid body ~ mind ~ spirit Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Geelong, Australia Posts: 579	Happy New Year, I have made a resolution to give up the cigarettes this year, had my last one just before 12:00, with a cup of coffee - which is also a no no for me this year. OK, one day down and the rest of my life to enjoy ... great to see that New Year's Resolutions work for some. Congratulations on your 2 years!! Great stuff. love brigid __________________ Love is ....

01-01-2006, 07:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
trytrytry Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: los angeles, ca Posts: 62	I.S., Congrats on your anniversary. I'm only a month in but look forward to celebrating that two year mark as well. Thanks for the tip. I'm gonna start socking away that money I spent on booze and save up for something good...maybe a new guitar __________________ "May your hands always be busy, May your feet always be swift, May you have a strong foundation When the winds of changes shift."--B.Dylan

01-01-2006, 02:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Justme57 Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Melbourne victoria Posts: 1,980 Blog Entries: 7	Hi Ig Congratulations on your 2 years ! Awesome effort! HUGX Lee

01-01-2006, 02:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Peter Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Leaving Sparta Posts: 2,661	Welcome and congratulations on your 2 years sober. Perhaps you could tell us more about how you manage to maintain your sobriety.

01-01-2006, 03:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
Justme57 Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Melbourne victoria Posts: 1,980 Blog Entries: 7	LOL@ dipso! You are so right ! I am also an avid reader, and now have books piled up against all my walls! I also replaced my drinking with shopping , lunching, and having numerous "coffee breaks" with friends on the sidewalk, and people watching! HUGX Lee

01-01-2006, 05:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Peter Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Leaving Sparta Posts: 2,661	Thanks for sharing. I too did a lot of reading early in sobriety. Mostly recovery related stuff. It helped tremendously to fill the hole left behind from my drinking.

01-01-2006, 05:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ignatian Spirit Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 10	I just quit smoking, too. Put out my last one a few seconds before the clock struck twelve. So far, so good! I'm on the patch, and it's working reasonably well.

01-02-2006, 09:36 AM	#12 (permalink)
CarolD Forum Leader Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dallas, Ga. USA Posts: 16,012	Womderful!! __________________ Each Day Sober Is A Victory!! Joy In AA Recovery!

01-02-2006, 10:51 AM	#13 (permalink)
TorontoGuy28 Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto,Ontario Posts: 528	Nathan - congrats on your 2 years ! That's awesome... All the best in '06 ! __________________ " Failing to prepare, is preparing to fail " " It's not how hard you fall, but how high you bounce back"

01-02-2006, 11:12 AM	#14 (permalink)
BigSis On a tear Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Volcano Country! Posts: 3,157	I love seeing these threads... CONGRATULATIONS!!! __________________ No matter how spoiled the past may be, our future is spotless.... BigSis

01-02-2006, 01:02 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ignatian Spirit Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 10	Thanks, you guys. This is really a great community -- I'll certainly be sticking around.

01-03-2006, 02:14 AM	#17 (permalink)
Cathy31 1 bite&all resistance crumbles Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: IRELAND Posts: 1,884	Wonderful, Nathan! What a lovely inspiration. Cathy31 x

01-03-2006, 06:15 AM	#18 (permalink)
collinsmi Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Colorado Springs CO Posts: 771	Congrats on putting that stuff down Nathan! What kind of books? Looking for some new reading material myself. Get up to the Ontario Science Center often? __________________ "I was violating my standards faster than I could lower them!"

01-03-2006, 06:44 AM	#20 (permalink)
collinsmi Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Colorado Springs CO Posts: 771	Sounds interesting! Just finishing "The American West" by Dee Brown. Seems a little heavy on the great plains, but not too bad. __________________ "I was violating my standards faster than I could lower them!"

01-03-2006, 04:05 PM	#21 (permalink)
brigid body ~ mind ~ spirit Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Geelong, Australia Posts: 579	No cigarettes for me so far Don. How you going IS? I am waking up better already, not sleeping well yet but getting there. How does that work, you sleep less and more lightly but wake up feeling better. love brigid __________________ Love is ....

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