6 months this past weekend!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Kennesaw, GA
Posts: 193
6 months this past weekend!
Hey all!
I celebrated 6 months sober and clean on Sunday this past weekend! I picked up my yellow chip from my home group. My friend who gave me my initial white chip for this go round was also there, which put things into perspective on how quickly time moves. A guy came up to me that has 15 years and told me thank you. I asked him what he meant and he said that seeing me get that chip just reminded him that the program works and that if he continues to work it, he would stay sober himself. I thought this was pretty cool.
I've had a lot of positive changes happen in the past month. I was accepted to KSU and will be transferring jobs and moving to start school in early January. I'm a little nervous because I'll be switching geographical locations, but one of my first priorities is to look for groups in the area and get in with a support group.
Beyond these external changes, what's most significant is how much better I feel about myself on a consistent basis, and how much more positively I interact with people in my life. When I am drinking, it's not only the drinking binges, or the hangover days right after that are rough. It's everyday living that becomes a strain and a struggle. Even in between drinking days I am a different person: less functional, less positive, more cynical, and just unable to fulfill my potential as a person in this world. I've learned for me that to maintain sobriety it's important to never forget these things. Never forget where I came from and why I put in the work to stay sober.
For those of you starting out for the first time, or starting out again, just remember that it gets better everyday. Find a program or method that you can truly put your weight behind and get busy. Like anything that is unknown it will seem scary and frightening, but positive things fall into place quicker than you can imagine.
There is an "old timer" at my home group named Smitty. He says, "We don't live in a world that requires us to drink. We create our own world where it's impossible not to drink." I've always gotten a lot out of that.
Hope you all are doing well! I'm very thankful that this site and its caring members are here to provide consistent and compassionate support! This site is an integral part of my recovery. Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!
I celebrated 6 months sober and clean on Sunday this past weekend! I picked up my yellow chip from my home group. My friend who gave me my initial white chip for this go round was also there, which put things into perspective on how quickly time moves. A guy came up to me that has 15 years and told me thank you. I asked him what he meant and he said that seeing me get that chip just reminded him that the program works and that if he continues to work it, he would stay sober himself. I thought this was pretty cool.
I've had a lot of positive changes happen in the past month. I was accepted to KSU and will be transferring jobs and moving to start school in early January. I'm a little nervous because I'll be switching geographical locations, but one of my first priorities is to look for groups in the area and get in with a support group.
Beyond these external changes, what's most significant is how much better I feel about myself on a consistent basis, and how much more positively I interact with people in my life. When I am drinking, it's not only the drinking binges, or the hangover days right after that are rough. It's everyday living that becomes a strain and a struggle. Even in between drinking days I am a different person: less functional, less positive, more cynical, and just unable to fulfill my potential as a person in this world. I've learned for me that to maintain sobriety it's important to never forget these things. Never forget where I came from and why I put in the work to stay sober.
For those of you starting out for the first time, or starting out again, just remember that it gets better everyday. Find a program or method that you can truly put your weight behind and get busy. Like anything that is unknown it will seem scary and frightening, but positive things fall into place quicker than you can imagine.
There is an "old timer" at my home group named Smitty. He says, "We don't live in a world that requires us to drink. We create our own world where it's impossible not to drink." I've always gotten a lot out of that.
Hope you all are doing well! I'm very thankful that this site and its caring members are here to provide consistent and compassionate support! This site is an integral part of my recovery. Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!
Came to Believe
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Montgomery AL
Posts: 507
That's awesome simplex. Congrats on the yellow chip. I think that was pretty cool about the guy with 15 years saying thanks too. Seeing someone else get a chip, whether they getting one for more time or less time than me, always serves as a reminder that the program works for those who work it. Thanks for the inspiration.
--Fenris.
--Fenris.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: London, England
Posts: 50
Congratulations on 6 months of sobriety. That is excellent. 
I love what you say about how being sober has changed you as a person; how you are more positive and interact better with people when sober. That's been my experience too, which was totally unexpected. I am actually nicer, funnier, more confident and relaxed in sobriety, which is odd, because one of the (many) reasons I drank was because I was convinced that I was duller without it.
Keep on going. It's great to hear that sobriety is working out so well for you.
I love what you say about how being sober has changed you as a person; how you are more positive and interact better with people when sober. That's been my experience too, which was totally unexpected. I am actually nicer, funnier, more confident and relaxed in sobriety, which is odd, because one of the (many) reasons I drank was because I was convinced that I was duller without it.
Keep on going. It's great to hear that sobriety is working out so well for you.
Community Greeter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,518
What a wonderful post, simplex. We're so proud of you.
How right you are - everyday living becomes a strain and a struggle. It's insane how we think we're doing ourselves a favor by staying numb & in a fog.
How right you are - everyday living becomes a strain and a struggle. It's insane how we think we're doing ourselves a favor by staying numb & in a fog.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,308
Good on you Simplex,
I too am experiencing the benefits you listed after 6 months of sobriety. It is good to remind others that we can get sober if we find a program and really work it. I use AA and this forum.
I loved the quote from the "old timer". I now realize that I had created a world where I had to drink. This is the core of my not wanting to stop , I felt I had to drink to survive in this world, (the one I had created).
Thankyou
CaiHong
I too am experiencing the benefits you listed after 6 months of sobriety. It is good to remind others that we can get sober if we find a program and really work it. I use AA and this forum.
I loved the quote from the "old timer". I now realize that I had created a world where I had to drink. This is the core of my not wanting to stop , I felt I had to drink to survive in this world, (the one I had created).
Thankyou
CaiHong
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