11 months in
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 750
11 months in
Hello everybody its been awhile since I posted so I thought I would update. I just hit the 11 month mark and I am kind of in disbelief! I have tried getting sober so many times in the past with very limited success. Always failing after a week or two, maybe a month or two here and there, so I thought I would take a look at whats different this time. It really feels different and I feel I have a great chance at recovery LONG TERM!
This time around I have never once put recovery on the back burner, even though I may get sick of facing it daily I keep doing it and its always rewarding in the end. I read here daily, and post every now and then, and being a part of a community like this is a first for me, so I attribute my success to SR, and will continue doing what Im doing.
Another part of my program is attending AA, I go 2 to 3 times a week but more importantly is that I have adopted the program into the rest of my life, and got myself a sponsor and am working the steps. This was a major undertaking as I was very against AA in the beginning but at 6 months I met my sponsor and she encouraged me to check out a meeting and from then on I have overcame many obstacles.
Finally, I had to change my environment. I was in a relationship that was just not working, it was toxic and I just could never really recover in that situation. I don't blame my addiction on it though, I just know happiness was not in my home and now that I am out on my own and raising my beautiful children as a single dad, I am experiencing happiness and serenity. My children are much happier too!
Now all this does not come without stresses and bad days, thats a big thing I had to learn. I had to learn that putting down the alcohol and drugs doesn't just make life awesome, but it gives me a foundation to make life awesome, and that is happening. When the stress gets to me and I feel awful I let it out, share it here, or with other people I am slowly meeting in sobriety. My sponsor gets to hear me whine all the time! Getting out of my head is a major game changer, i used to be so isolated, and catastrophic in my thinking, never letting people know the real me. Being a drunk also didn't make me feel to confident, so hiding was natural.
School is going good, essays and mid term exams are done and being sober and mature really makes education a joy. Again, I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be in life, I've let go of these unrealistic expectations of perfection that I'd formed along the way and am open to new definitions of happiness. I'm also learning that sobriety really isn't about the destination but more so the journey. Hope this makes sense!
Everybody have a good day!
This time around I have never once put recovery on the back burner, even though I may get sick of facing it daily I keep doing it and its always rewarding in the end. I read here daily, and post every now and then, and being a part of a community like this is a first for me, so I attribute my success to SR, and will continue doing what Im doing.
Another part of my program is attending AA, I go 2 to 3 times a week but more importantly is that I have adopted the program into the rest of my life, and got myself a sponsor and am working the steps. This was a major undertaking as I was very against AA in the beginning but at 6 months I met my sponsor and she encouraged me to check out a meeting and from then on I have overcame many obstacles.
Finally, I had to change my environment. I was in a relationship that was just not working, it was toxic and I just could never really recover in that situation. I don't blame my addiction on it though, I just know happiness was not in my home and now that I am out on my own and raising my beautiful children as a single dad, I am experiencing happiness and serenity. My children are much happier too!
Now all this does not come without stresses and bad days, thats a big thing I had to learn. I had to learn that putting down the alcohol and drugs doesn't just make life awesome, but it gives me a foundation to make life awesome, and that is happening. When the stress gets to me and I feel awful I let it out, share it here, or with other people I am slowly meeting in sobriety. My sponsor gets to hear me whine all the time! Getting out of my head is a major game changer, i used to be so isolated, and catastrophic in my thinking, never letting people know the real me. Being a drunk also didn't make me feel to confident, so hiding was natural.
School is going good, essays and mid term exams are done and being sober and mature really makes education a joy. Again, I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be in life, I've let go of these unrealistic expectations of perfection that I'd formed along the way and am open to new definitions of happiness. I'm also learning that sobriety really isn't about the destination but more so the journey. Hope this makes sense!
Everybody have a good day!
under new management
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 2,339
"Now all this does not come without stresses and bad days, thats a big thing I had to learn. I had to learn that putting down the alcohol and drugs doesn't just make life awesome, but it gives me a foundation to make life awesome, and that is happening. "
I love what you wrote here, beautiful insight, Justincredible!
Congrats on 11 months and on building such a great foundation for your life!
I love what you wrote here, beautiful insight, Justincredible!
Congrats on 11 months and on building such a great foundation for your life!
Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 1,042
11 months! wow wow wow.
Thanks so much for sharing, I find your post so real and grounded, so encouraging to me (and I'm sure many others). So, thank you for giving back. Enjoy your new way of life, you're earning it.
xx
Thanks so much for sharing, I find your post so real and grounded, so encouraging to me (and I'm sure many others). So, thank you for giving back. Enjoy your new way of life, you're earning it.
xx
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 10,912
Just incredible 
I am very glad to read all this. Great progress and perception as always, and in many areas of your life. That maturity (the kind that is based on both experience and the ability to see things as they are) you mention definitely shines through!
I am very glad to read all this. Great progress and perception as always, and in many areas of your life. That maturity (the kind that is based on both experience and the ability to see things as they are) you mention definitely shines through!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 750
Originally Posted by Aellyce 
Just incredible
I am very glad to read all this. Great progress and perception as always, and in many areas of your life. That maturity (the kind that is based on both experience and the ability to see things as they are) you mention definitely shines through!
I am very glad to read all this. Great progress and perception as always, and in many areas of your life. That maturity (the kind that is based on both experience and the ability to see things as they are) you mention definitely shines through!
Originally Posted by FarToGo
11 months! wow wow wow.
Thanks so much for sharing, I find your post so real and grounded, so encouraging to me (and I'm sure many others). So, thank you for giving back. Enjoy your new way of life, you're earning it.
xx
Thanks so much for sharing, I find your post so real and grounded, so encouraging to me (and I'm sure many others). So, thank you for giving back. Enjoy your new way of life, you're earning it.
xx
Thanks everyone else for the positive feedback it really helps!
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
