I think you can be whatever you want to be Andy. For me I didn't so much change into a new person as re-discover an old me I'd forgotten about.
I'm not a zen master - I've very human and I have a lot of things I'd like to change even now...i think the essence of life is to be dedicated to self improvement...but I have a lot of things in me I've made peace with too.
I just don't let any of those things be a reason, factor or trigger for me to drink anymore
D