One year!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 500
One year!
First off I have to say that the year went by faster than I'd expected. For the first 6 months I really didn't focus on much but recovery. The first few months were extremely difficult for me. SR has been a huge lifeline, I have never been embarrassed to ask a question and there have been so many thoughtful responses this last year that would sometimes bring me to tears when I was at a breaking point. it really still feels like the beginning for me. I've kept a video diary over the last year and I watched it today from a month before I quit drinking until now. It was really interesting to see the changes.
What I have learned so far is that nothing happens over night. Patience is almost like a new motto for me for everything now. It really is an accumulation of efforts every day with the foundation being sobriety. It's really nice not to think about when I have to drink. I know that whenever my son needs me I will be there.
Finding new music really has helped me feel a deep happiness amongst the harder times this year. I highly recommend it. I feel like there is a soundtrack in life, and it's been nice to make new sober memories and thoughts to a great new soundtrack.
In general I try to be authentic with everything I do now. I say no to people If I don't want to do something. (that might be a given for most people but I just gave in or avoided people altogether) I ask for help when I need it (I never did that either). I sleep if I have to. I take time out just for me everyday. I own my thoughts and actions for better or for worse (i still offend people sober). But I also think about things before saying them now.
There is still so much that needs to be fixed from all of the damage I have done in the past. I really didn't think my decisions through properly when I was drinking and it's a huge ball of yarn to unravel. There are days when I feel incredible and then there are days when I feel still quite anxious. And I still have to tell myself that I deserve to be happy in life. I think there is something deep down that relates to suffering more than happiness and that is what I think I want to work on this year of sobriety.
Thank you SR for your existence and to everyone with such thoughtful advice and support this past year and to the years to come. So grateful to be here and sober.
What I have learned so far is that nothing happens over night. Patience is almost like a new motto for me for everything now. It really is an accumulation of efforts every day with the foundation being sobriety. It's really nice not to think about when I have to drink. I know that whenever my son needs me I will be there.
Finding new music really has helped me feel a deep happiness amongst the harder times this year. I highly recommend it. I feel like there is a soundtrack in life, and it's been nice to make new sober memories and thoughts to a great new soundtrack.
In general I try to be authentic with everything I do now. I say no to people If I don't want to do something. (that might be a given for most people but I just gave in or avoided people altogether) I ask for help when I need it (I never did that either). I sleep if I have to. I take time out just for me everyday. I own my thoughts and actions for better or for worse (i still offend people sober). But I also think about things before saying them now.
There is still so much that needs to be fixed from all of the damage I have done in the past. I really didn't think my decisions through properly when I was drinking and it's a huge ball of yarn to unravel. There are days when I feel incredible and then there are days when I feel still quite anxious. And I still have to tell myself that I deserve to be happy in life. I think there is something deep down that relates to suffering more than happiness and that is what I think I want to work on this year of sobriety.
Thank you SR for your existence and to everyone with such thoughtful advice and support this past year and to the years to come. So grateful to be here and sober.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Midwest
Posts: 4,860
Originally Posted by cusper 
What I have learned so far is that nothing happens over night. Patience is almost like a new motto for me for everything now. It really is an accumulation of efforts every day with the foundation being sobriety.
And thanks for the insights you shared. Sometimes, we can create false expectations for early sobriety -- like a magic wand makes everything better instantly. The observation above, as well as your entire post, is a healthy reminder to be patient as our lives are reshaping themselves in recovery. It's really worth it, as you point out!
Trudgin
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,348
Originally Posted by cusper
for the first 6 months I really didn't focus on much but recovery.
Patience is almost like a new motto for me for everything now. It really is an accumulation of efforts every day with the foundation being sobriety. It's really nice not to think about when I have to drink. I know that whenever my son needs me I will be there.
Patience is almost like a new motto for me for everything now. It really is an accumulation of efforts every day with the foundation being sobriety. It's really nice not to think about when I have to drink. I know that whenever my son needs me I will be there.
Congratulations on a year!!! Good for you and those around you!!!
Well Done!!!
At close to 6 months, these words in your post really struck me - most of all patience.
I was highly impulsive - making snap decisions and judgments across the board of life. In new sobriety I have been taught/learned to slow down.....
The brain is much more useful when not distilled.
Thanks for the inspiration!!!
Great job!
FlyN
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