For me, I always forgot because I didn't do the necessary work to stay connected with the way I felt on day one. Because one thing is for sure, the alcoholic brain does forget the misery. It's unreal how this stuff can bring us to death's door and yet we still go back after a period of sobriety, risking our lives!
You don't have to do that again. This can be your last quit.
What is your plan of distraction? Mine involved lots or sugar and TV. I was on SR 24/7 for the first few months...it was my lifeline to information that kept the sober me alive.
Do you believe that with time, you'll have a better life without alcohol or do you feel you'll always be missing out? That was a big one for me. I couldn't stop until I decided my life will better without booze because I will make it so. And it is!
Trying to moderate was another big one that kept me in the loop. I had to accept once and for all moderation was not for me.
Above all, I never ever EVER romanticize alcohol. As soon as I felt the AV coming on, distract distract distract!
Time can heal, my friend, it really can
P.S. as I write this I can see the post from Scd619x above, ditto!