Hi Fish,
I learned the hard way. In the past I threw away more than a year's sobriety thinking (stupidly) that my system must have reset itself and that I could go back to normal drinking. Of course my drinking soon escalated and it took several years to get back on the wagon. This time I knew deep down this was now a decision for life - and now I treasure my sobriety in a way that I didn't before.
Those early days are a pain, and can be difficult. But you only have to do them once.