I don't think we really have a good understanding of what we are giving away. It slowly sneaks it away from you until you think it's the only good thing in your life. So don't get to hung up on that one.
Yes I did stop enjoying life because of the alcohol and yes I enjoy life so much more now. There is a period between quitting and enjoying life when you feel like you have nothing left. No alcohol to ease the pain and you still haven't regained what was destroyed. When it comes firing back on it kind of sucks too. All worth it 100X over.