Celebrating. Sober Style
Guest
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 2,256
Celebrating. Sober Style
180 days ago I stopped drinking. Never thought I'd get to 6 months and it feels like I should celebrate. 181 days ago I would have celebrated with bottles of wine and a ticket to oblivion. Today I'm celebrating with a cup of tea and some quiet reflecting on everything I've gained over the last 6 months. Started writing it down and then it occurred to me that maybe my list could help someone else. Maybe it was worth posting it here. So here it is.
Stuff I've gained over the last 6 months:
1) Optimism
2) Enthusiasm
3) Loads more patience
4) The gift of time (hangovers took up so much of my weekends)
5) Better listening skills
6) Improved memory
7) Clarity of thought
8) Money (saving all my drinking money for a family holiday)
9) Sense of self worth
10) Hope
11) Night after night of lovely, deep sleep
12) Better concentration, leading to
13) Praise from my boss (if you knew my boss you'd understand this is a biggie)
14) Courage
15) New friends
16) Reconnection with my siblings
17) New interests (I walked around an art gallery the other day. And I didn't hate it)
18) Gratitude
19) Energy (this took a while to come back but I'm running half marathons again)
20) An organised, decluttered home
21) Brighter eyes
22) Clearer skin
23) Honesty (I'm not living a lie anymore)
24) Better sense of humour, leading to
25) Loads more laughter
26) An appreciation of the little things (hanging out washing on a sunny day)
27) Overwhelming happiness at the big things (I love my husband, children (and dog!) more than words can ever say)
28) A reintroduction to the real, authentic me
29) A future to look forward to
Stuff I've lost over the last 6 months:
1) A few drinking buddies
2) Weight
Don't know what I expected when I stopped drinking but never dreamed I'd get all this. To begin with I just concentrated on getting through each day. Then as my sober days clocked up, so too did my desire to build the life I always wanted. As soon as I started doing that, the gifts of sobriety just kept on coming. And this is after only 6 months! Imagine how long that list will be at one year....2 years....3 years.....
Thank you so much for reading this far and for every word of advice and support I've read and received on this amazing site. We're all on the same journey and you guys are the perfect travel companions. Thank you
Stuff I've gained over the last 6 months:
1) Optimism
2) Enthusiasm
3) Loads more patience
4) The gift of time (hangovers took up so much of my weekends)
5) Better listening skills
6) Improved memory
7) Clarity of thought
8) Money (saving all my drinking money for a family holiday)
9) Sense of self worth
10) Hope
11) Night after night of lovely, deep sleep
12) Better concentration, leading to
13) Praise from my boss (if you knew my boss you'd understand this is a biggie)
14) Courage
15) New friends
16) Reconnection with my siblings
17) New interests (I walked around an art gallery the other day. And I didn't hate it)
18) Gratitude
19) Energy (this took a while to come back but I'm running half marathons again)
20) An organised, decluttered home
21) Brighter eyes
22) Clearer skin
23) Honesty (I'm not living a lie anymore)
24) Better sense of humour, leading to
25) Loads more laughter
26) An appreciation of the little things (hanging out washing on a sunny day)
27) Overwhelming happiness at the big things (I love my husband, children (and dog!) more than words can ever say)
28) A reintroduction to the real, authentic me
29) A future to look forward to
Stuff I've lost over the last 6 months:
1) A few drinking buddies
2) Weight
Don't know what I expected when I stopped drinking but never dreamed I'd get all this. To begin with I just concentrated on getting through each day. Then as my sober days clocked up, so too did my desire to build the life I always wanted. As soon as I started doing that, the gifts of sobriety just kept on coming. And this is after only 6 months! Imagine how long that list will be at one year....2 years....3 years.....
Thank you so much for reading this far and for every word of advice and support I've read and received on this amazing site. We're all on the same journey and you guys are the perfect travel companions. Thank you
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,777
BRAVO! I am so happy for you. I was just telling myself that I would get back to my running when the time is right. I dont miss it right now but its only a matter of time before the pavement is calling me again.
Keep up the good work! Your list is quite the accomplishment. After some time, you'll be posting "I ran for President. I won. Thanks to sobriety!"
Keep up the good work! Your list is quite the accomplishment. After some time, you'll be posting "I ran for President. I won. Thanks to sobriety!"
Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
Your list is so positive and encouraging, I'm not really there but, I hope to have something positive happen someday. I see other people's miracles and I'm happy for them. Weight would certainly not hurt my feelings to lose!
Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Michigan
Posts: 33
Originally Posted by kenton 
180 days ago I stopped drinking. Never thought I'd get to 6 months and it feels like I should celebrate. 181 days ago I would have celebrated with bottles of wine and a ticket to oblivion. Today I'm celebrating with a cup of tea and some quiet reflecting on everything I've gained over the last 6 months. Started writing it down and then it occurred to me that maybe my list could help someone else. Maybe it was worth posting it here. So here it is.
Stuff I've gained over the last 6 months:
1) Optimism
2) Enthusiasm
3) Loads more patience
4) The gift of time (hangovers took up so much of my weekends)
5) Better listening skills
6) Improved memory
7) Clarity of thought
8) Money (saving all my drinking money for a family holiday)
9) Sense of self worth
10) Hope
11) Night after night of lovely, deep sleep
12) Better concentration, leading to
13) Praise from my boss (if you knew my boss you'd understand this is a biggie)
14) Courage
15) New friends
16) Reconnection with my siblings
17) New interests (I walked around an art gallery the other day. And I didn't hate it)
18) Gratitude
19) Energy (this took a while to come back but I'm running half marathons again)
20) An organised, decluttered home
21) Brighter eyes
22) Clearer skin
23) Honesty (I'm not living a lie anymore)
24) Better sense of humour, leading to
25) Loads more laughter
26) An appreciation of the little things (hanging out washing on a sunny day)
27) Overwhelming happiness at the big things (I love my husband, children (and dog!) more than words can ever say)
28) A reintroduction to the real, authentic me
29) A future to look forward to
Stuff I've lost over the last 6 months:
1) A few drinking buddies
2) Weight
Don't know what I expected when I stopped drinking but never dreamed I'd get all this. To begin with I just concentrated on getting through each day. Then as my sober days clocked up, so too did my desire to build the life I always wanted. As soon as I started doing that, the gifts of sobriety just kept on coming. And this is after only 6 months! Imagine how long that list will be at one year....2 years....3 years.....
Thank you so much for reading this far and for every word of advice and support I've read and received on this amazing site. We're all on the same journey and you guys are the perfect travel companions. Thank you
Stuff I've gained over the last 6 months:
1) Optimism
2) Enthusiasm
3) Loads more patience
4) The gift of time (hangovers took up so much of my weekends)
5) Better listening skills
6) Improved memory
7) Clarity of thought
8) Money (saving all my drinking money for a family holiday)
9) Sense of self worth
10) Hope
11) Night after night of lovely, deep sleep
12) Better concentration, leading to
13) Praise from my boss (if you knew my boss you'd understand this is a biggie)
14) Courage
15) New friends
16) Reconnection with my siblings
17) New interests (I walked around an art gallery the other day. And I didn't hate it)
18) Gratitude
19) Energy (this took a while to come back but I'm running half marathons again)
20) An organised, decluttered home
21) Brighter eyes
22) Clearer skin
23) Honesty (I'm not living a lie anymore)
24) Better sense of humour, leading to
25) Loads more laughter
26) An appreciation of the little things (hanging out washing on a sunny day)
27) Overwhelming happiness at the big things (I love my husband, children (and dog!) more than words can ever say)
28) A reintroduction to the real, authentic me
29) A future to look forward to
Stuff I've lost over the last 6 months:
1) A few drinking buddies
2) Weight
Don't know what I expected when I stopped drinking but never dreamed I'd get all this. To begin with I just concentrated on getting through each day. Then as my sober days clocked up, so too did my desire to build the life I always wanted. As soon as I started doing that, the gifts of sobriety just kept on coming. And this is after only 6 months! Imagine how long that list will be at one year....2 years....3 years.....
Thank you so much for reading this far and for every word of advice and support I've read and received on this amazing site. We're all on the same journey and you guys are the perfect travel companions. Thank you
Guest
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 2,256
So amazing to wake up on day 181 and read all these lovely comments. Thank you so much everyone
For anyone at an earlier stage of their journey, please know that 6 months ago I was at an all time low. There were big problems in every single part of my life and I was just about ready to give up on myself. It seemed like alcohol was the only thing that ever gave me any understanding or support. The turning point came when I finally realised that alcohol was THE problem; the root of every other problem.
My life today isn't perfect and I know it never will be because nobody's life is perfect. But the imperfections don't bother me so much anymore. If anything, they give me something to strive for. I'll always be alcoholic and my AV voice still pipes up most days but it's talking now, not shouting and I recognise that every word it says is a lie.
If I can get to this stage, anyone can. You just need to believe it. I look forward to reading your lists xx
For anyone at an earlier stage of their journey, please know that 6 months ago I was at an all time low. There were big problems in every single part of my life and I was just about ready to give up on myself. It seemed like alcohol was the only thing that ever gave me any understanding or support. The turning point came when I finally realised that alcohol was THE problem; the root of every other problem.
My life today isn't perfect and I know it never will be because nobody's life is perfect. But the imperfections don't bother me so much anymore. If anything, they give me something to strive for. I'll always be alcoholic and my AV voice still pipes up most days but it's talking now, not shouting and I recognise that every word it says is a lie.
If I can get to this stage, anyone can. You just need to believe it. I look forward to reading your lists xx
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