A great description of the process, LB.
Everything old is new again. I remember my first sober Christmas, coming up on thirty two years ago. It snowed the night before, I think, because there was a good amount of snow on the ground. I was in great spirits, having been sober for ~eight months at the time, and having worked hard on getting sober. In the early evening, I took my Mom's dog for a walk, down the street where there was a view overlooking a harbor. You couldn't have created a better Christmas Card. I thought to myself, "I never have to be drunk on Christmas again."
Of course, I relapsed twenty five years later, but that day and a few other days are etched in my emotional memory. My psyche does a good job at approximating the thoughts and feelings I had on those days.
You're doing great, man, and it's good to see you making such wonderful progress.