Gratitude is my #1 recovery tool. I lost the desire for a drink on Day 1. I was lying alone in the emergency room, coming off what I thought was a life-ending panic attack. I looked up at the lights and surrendered. Took me nearly 30 years to arrive at that moment. Since that fateful day, I've had many thoughts about drinking, but they are just that, thoughts. Coming up on 9 years and 10 months sober and yes, those thoughts still come on occasion, but they leave just as quickly. Instead of just "not drinking", I've built a life that fills the hole in my soul. I can't imagine even taking one sip of beer, for I no longer need it in my life. When bad things happen (and they do), I can now deal with them without wanting to escape. That is the true gift of recovery.