ZeldaFan

I'm in my second weekend sober and Sunday will be two weeks for me. I thought now would be a good time to think about all the great things I have gained from giving up alcohol.

Things I'm enjoying with my new sobriety:

• Clearer head and better focus
• Sleeping the night without waking up sweaty, sick and thirsty
• Feeling refreshed in the morning
• Restored interest in my hobbies
• Riding my bike again and working back up to 30 mile rides
• Settled stomach and renewed appreciation for food
• Not having to keep the AC at 70 to avoid sweating
• Reduction of anxiety and depression
• Stable hand and better handwriting
• Not having to hide from friends and loved ones
• Improved skin tone and whiter eyes
• No longer worrying about co-workers smelling alcohol on me from the night before
• Cooking dinner for myself every night
• Having people tell me I'm like my old self again
• Remembering what I have watched on TV and phone calls
• Enjoying a clean home
• Having full and productive weekends
• Finally sharing my alcoholism with close friends who are supportive
• Remembering to actually brush my teeth at night
• Clean sheets
• Renewed desire to leave the house
• Enjoying the great company and support of the SR community!

Sobriety truly is a gift that is well worth the fight. Whenever I start to hear the beast whispering in my ear, I think back to this mental list. Even just a few of these items are enough to shut up that voice. Thanks for all the support on my journey!

Renarde

Amen! Thanks for sharing!

mecanix

• Better finances
• More tollerant and stable in mood
• Better able to read others emotions
• Better able to intuatively handle situations
• Funnier
• Nicer
• Easy going
• No resentments seething away

I like your list , thought i'd add a few of my own , i hope you don't mind ..

Bestwishes, m

GracieLou

Laughing!

I was watching Star Trek, TNG last night. The Episode was a "Fistfull of Datas". I have seen this episode several times, maybe more than several, but this time I laughed through most of the episode. It was down right funny. Maybe only fan of Star Trek would get the humor but I was down right happy after watching it.

I find myself having full out belly laughs today. Six months ago I could barely muster a smirk. Now maybe everyone does not agree with what I think is funny, but I am okay with that. I am happy and laughing. I did not realize how much I missed it until I was sober enough to really laugh. It sort of scared me a bit. Like were did that come from?..lol

ZeldaFan

mecanix, those are all wonderful additions to the list!

Gracie, I absolutely love Star Trek, TNG! I have seen every episode and re-watched them all in college with my roommate. I don't recall the Fistfull of Dates episode but I will have to re-watch that one now. You know, since I get the Star Trek sense of humor

jazzfish

What a great list!

No more sticky feeling as if you are constantly oozing some sort of grease.
Increased patience, can react to things like an adult.
Actually aware of when teeth are dirty and need cleaning.

ZeldaFan

Another thing I forgot to mention but have noticed over the past few days is my vision. I had LASEK back in January and, while it worked well, I always felt it could be a little clearer over long distances. It takes about 2-3 weeks to get results when having LASEK vs LASIK and about six months for "optimal results". July came and went so I just figured it was as good as it was going to get. Over the past week, my vision has gotten even better! Perhaps all the alcohol was hampering the final stages of healing.

lala34mc

Seriously - the sticky feeling! Ugh!

ZeldaFan

Oh yeah. That one was always horrible. Or remembering you called someone but have no clue what you said to them. Worst of all, realizing this while hungover.

venuscat

Very grateful, smiling; HUGE Trekky here!!!!

What an awesome post ZeldaFan!!!!

Thank you so much. ♥

Can I add one more?


*Improved relationships ~ able to be the giving, loving friend/sister/daughter/auntie/niece/girlfriend that I used to be a LONG time ago.

Love V xx

venuscat

(don't know how to get the bullets???? hmmmmm )

ZeldaFan

venuscat absolutely add more! There can't be enough positive things in this thread

There should be a bullet option in your menu bar in the reply box. Does yours not have that?

venuscat

LOL...now I do!! I am a nong!!!
But a happy, sober one

V xx

Mountainmanbob

having a fighting chance today

to be

the man who God wishes for me to be

while drinking I was on the fast train to hell



prayers today are much better

in the old days my prayers were pretty embarrassing

hard for one to pray when they are stone drunk

on their knees leaning on the bed and about to fall over

knowing deep down inside -- this is no way to approach God


Mountainman

SnowDawg

Well said! All the above! Good work.

107L

Congrats Zeldafan!

Took control of my business, fired the little **** who was fleecing me behind my back.
I started thinking about the happiness of my family... started early morning walks (waking up at 5.30am with brain in full working order!!!) worth it to see tails wagging
Hands still shaking but not as much as the morning after!

Keep passing the open windows xxx

Oldselfagain

I'll add to the list:

Enjoying Sunday evenings after NOT drinking all weekend and actually looking forward to the week ahead.

jaynie04

Feeling like my best days are ahead of me instead of behind me..

Waking up to read joyful post's like ZF's and feeling privileged to be part of a community that is putting their lives back together!

Thank you ZF! Great thread!