Sobriety gives me what alcohol never could
where the light is
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,763
Sobriety gives me what alcohol never could
I had my last drink on December 17, 2007. I have been reflecting on where I am in my life today and what really blows me away is that everything I wanted from alcohol I now have through sobriety.
I used to drink to try to: relieve stress; have fun; make friends; meet women (sex); appear “cool”. I wanted to be this “work hard, play hard” kinda guy that everybody else wanted to be. Concerts, football/hockey games, clubs, parties, fishing camping…not worth doing without booze. Too boring.
At the end, my evenings out turned into three day benders without fail. I would “come to” in a hotel room, bottles & garbage everywhere, dirty, hating myself and everything I had done. Blown work assignments, again disappointing/ hurting my family, $600-$1,000 of crumpled credit card & ATM withdrawal slips in my pockets. Bloated and shaking, bloodshot eyes.
Today, I still have stress in my life (some of it major) but I can deal with it through AA, spirituality, working out, mountain biking, and talking to my friends. Easily resolved.
I have way more excitement in my sober life. I love going to concerts and sporting events sober, I appreciate it so much more. Sometimes I take a good looking female friend with me.
Can’t beat that! I even go to clubs if there is a good band playing and parties to share some laughs with my friends. I take my kids & friends fishing or I go by myself. Way more fun than going with guys whose main mission is to get hammered.
I’ve made tons of friends through AA and have rekindled some old friendships that I had let slip away. I have a circle of down to earth, caring friends. We have fun and also have each others’ back.
My 19 year marriage ended about 15 months ago. Sober and single for the first time in my life. Scary! I honestly believed I needed booze to meet women and to start relationships. Not even close. There are many incredible women out there who are into a sober guy like me. And they certainly aren’t even remotely interested in hanging around a practicing alcoholic.
And as far as my appearance goes, I am healthier and I look it. I’ve been told over and over how happy I look and that I look younger! I also dress better, fit clothes better...I just take way better care of myself.
But for me, the most important thing is my kids – a nine year old boy and a seven year old girl (I have 50/50 joint custody). They know I love them and would do anything in the world for them. They laugh and smile so much – just incredible.
So if you are just starting out and feeling deprived, guess again. It’s alcohol that in fact keeps you from being who you want to be, from truly enjoying the riches that life has to offer. It's just so ironic.
I used to drink to try to: relieve stress; have fun; make friends; meet women (sex); appear “cool”. I wanted to be this “work hard, play hard” kinda guy that everybody else wanted to be. Concerts, football/hockey games, clubs, parties, fishing camping…not worth doing without booze. Too boring.
At the end, my evenings out turned into three day benders without fail. I would “come to” in a hotel room, bottles & garbage everywhere, dirty, hating myself and everything I had done. Blown work assignments, again disappointing/ hurting my family, $600-$1,000 of crumpled credit card & ATM withdrawal slips in my pockets. Bloated and shaking, bloodshot eyes.
Today, I still have stress in my life (some of it major) but I can deal with it through AA, spirituality, working out, mountain biking, and talking to my friends. Easily resolved.
I have way more excitement in my sober life. I love going to concerts and sporting events sober, I appreciate it so much more. Sometimes I take a good looking female friend with me.
Can’t beat that! I even go to clubs if there is a good band playing and parties to share some laughs with my friends. I take my kids & friends fishing or I go by myself. Way more fun than going with guys whose main mission is to get hammered.I’ve made tons of friends through AA and have rekindled some old friendships that I had let slip away. I have a circle of down to earth, caring friends. We have fun and also have each others’ back.
My 19 year marriage ended about 15 months ago. Sober and single for the first time in my life. Scary! I honestly believed I needed booze to meet women and to start relationships. Not even close. There are many incredible women out there who are into a sober guy like me. And they certainly aren’t even remotely interested in hanging around a practicing alcoholic.
And as far as my appearance goes, I am healthier and I look it. I’ve been told over and over how happy I look and that I look younger! I also dress better, fit clothes better...I just take way better care of myself.
But for me, the most important thing is my kids – a nine year old boy and a seven year old girl (I have 50/50 joint custody). They know I love them and would do anything in the world for them. They laugh and smile so much – just incredible.
So if you are just starting out and feeling deprived, guess again. It’s alcohol that in fact keeps you from being who you want to be, from truly enjoying the riches that life has to offer. It's just so ironic.
SR Fan
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 7,910
Great post! Thanks for the positive inspiration....... it really is ironic, as you said, that we think we'll miss out on all the fun and end up enjoying our lives more than we did while drinking.
High on Life
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Been to Hell and Back
Posts: 1,157
I totally get what you're saying, I can see glimpses in the 5 months I've been sober showing me how amazing my life can be like this. It's definitely not easy, but it sure is worth it.
Congrats
Congrats
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