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Just like that, I'm joining the one year and over club.



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Just like that, I'm joining the one year and over club.

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Old 01-07-2014, 03:53 PM
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Just like that, I'm joining the one year and over club.

I never could have thought it would be such a hard distance to achieve. For years I planned in the back of my mind how I would just walk away and never return. Sure that it would be easy and I would just pick a day and stop forever. The problem was, I just couldn't see that far ahead of me even though I thought I could.

Once I started down the sober path I walked the walk and talked the talk, head held high. But the dark voice of alcoholic reason followed me in the shadows everywhere. It ate at me, wore me down and pestered me until I flinched. At the time of my first relapse I didn't even care like it was supposed to happen. I mean doesn't it happen to everybody I thought? Of course it was my Alcoholic voice of reason convincing me it was ok. For a while I believed it, again and again and again until the pattern started to get disturbing.

Bad things began to happen, bad fights with my wife, kindling hangovers, close calls with acquaintances and risky work behavior. A trip to the ER where I was made to look pathetic with tubes in my nose and snickers behind the curtain. Yet, I still continued the madness I just couldn't stop completely.

Then one day a year ago, I just decided I had had enough and couldn't go on anymore and couldn't do it alone. I needed someone to feel accountable to so I booked a meeting with a psychologist and told him I was a hopeless alcoholic. He laughed and challenged me to come back sober so I wouldn't have to convince him otherwise. I was determined to not flunk like a college kid taking an exam. I just couldn't bear the thought of drinking and then going back to him with my head held low and feeling like a loser. I wanted to win and before you know it the fog of alcohol dependence started to lift.

I was released from the chains and as I went further into sobriety my counselor would joke to me that he thought I was supposed to be a hopeless alcoholic. One day I truly believed it, now I was getting more and more sure that there was another side of me emerging. The sober me, the guy I never knew. Now I wasn't so sure I knew the alcoholic me anymore. My comments at my sessions shifted from when I might to how I never would.

It was at that point that I realized I was free, I had made it. No longer a slave to addiction I could truly walk the walk and talk the talk.

I'm still walking and hope you are to.

To all of you out there, keep on keeping on. You're worth it.
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:19 PM
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Congratulations, Sudz. That is just fantastic - you've been all the way around the calendar, and did just precisely what you said you were going to do. Well done.

To all of you out there, keep on keeping on. You're worth it.
Yes, Sudz, you deserve this. You are worth it. Onward.
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:29 PM
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Way to go Sudz!

What a great post.

I can feel my one year mark getting close, but I still have a few months to go.

Your words give me much encouragement.
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:35 PM
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Way to go, it sounds like you're learning a lot on this journey. Thanks for sharing this with us and congrats on that huge 1 year mark. Keep on truckin'!
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:36 PM
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:38 PM
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Thats really great Sudz

do consider joining our One Year and Over Club thread
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...t-14-a-13.html
D
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:41 PM
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Congrats on an amazing accomplishment. It sounds like you have a good therapist too, which always helps.

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Old 01-07-2014, 04:41 PM
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Congratulations
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:42 PM
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Congratulations on a year
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:47 PM
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I love threads like these!!! So inspiring. Great job Sudz. I remember your struggles, you have come so far and that is truly awesome.
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:49 PM
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You are a true inspiration to us all.

Congratulations and respect.
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:52 PM
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Well done. One year. I love posts like these too. I am half way there. Hoping I will join you in six months. I am so proud of you.
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Old 01-07-2014, 05:07 PM
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me to huntingtontx



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Old 01-07-2014, 05:23 PM
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Congratulations!
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Old 01-07-2014, 05:23 PM
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Congratulations Sudz No More! I'm so happy for you! Keep up the great work.

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Old 01-07-2014, 05:24 PM
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Congrats Sudz
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Old 01-07-2014, 05:57 PM
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Old 01-07-2014, 06:34 PM
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Congrats Sudz.
You helped me tonight :-)
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Old 01-07-2014, 07:26 PM
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Congratulations! What an amazing post. It brought tears to my eyes...thank you!
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Old 01-07-2014, 07:31 PM
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Thanks to all of you that helped and supported my husband during the past year! It means a lot to both of us! THANK YOU!!!
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