New here; my story
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 15
New here; my story
Hello; I am a 33-year-old in New York. I recently made the choice to become sober. I have, in the past five years, gone from light drinker, to functioning alcoholic, to twice-a-week-wasted, to moderate drinker. I began drinking at age 13 and it was not something that I went any length of time without, ever since.
About 4 months ago, I decided for the first real time in my adult life to start living without alcohol. I went two months without a drink, and then had several drinks in a few-week period that ended two weeks ago. It's been two weeks now and I finally feel a real connection, an audible click, that tells me that this is the real thing.
My main "wow" moment came actually from having those few drinks after my two-month hiatus. I realized that I was not just drinking them for the taste alone.. that drinking one drink gave me absolutely No buzz.. so, I rationalized that I cannot "just have one" because it is pointless and I might as well drink soda or something else that is tastier. So.. I am done drinking.
My username refers to the "extra, great hours" that sobriety is adding to my life. A hangover would cost me about 6 hours of time in recovery.. those were 24 lost hours a month, on a very minimalist estimate, as it was sometimes more.. so, I am literally adding hours and days to my life, and I will be "truly living" longer.
I enjoy reading this forum, and decided to join for a more personalized experience. Hats off to sobriety
-Jen
About 4 months ago, I decided for the first real time in my adult life to start living without alcohol. I went two months without a drink, and then had several drinks in a few-week period that ended two weeks ago. It's been two weeks now and I finally feel a real connection, an audible click, that tells me that this is the real thing.
My main "wow" moment came actually from having those few drinks after my two-month hiatus. I realized that I was not just drinking them for the taste alone.. that drinking one drink gave me absolutely No buzz.. so, I rationalized that I cannot "just have one" because it is pointless and I might as well drink soda or something else that is tastier. So.. I am done drinking.
My username refers to the "extra, great hours" that sobriety is adding to my life. A hangover would cost me about 6 hours of time in recovery.. those were 24 lost hours a month, on a very minimalist estimate, as it was sometimes more.. so, I am literally adding hours and days to my life, and I will be "truly living" longer.
I enjoy reading this forum, and decided to join for a more personalized experience. Hats off to sobriety
-Jen
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,756
Welcome to SR! I quit drinking over four years ago and don't miss it one bit. My life is far better than it was when I was drinking. I am so glad I quit. I think you'll be glad too. 
I quit drinking over four years ago and don't miss it one bit. My life is far better than it was when I was drinking. I am so glad I quit. I think you'll be glad too. 
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Upper Midwest
Posts: 1,730
Welcome, Extrahours. I love the username. My days were increasingly consumed by my being either buzzed, drunk or hungover. So much lost time. With a few months of sobriety under my belt, I am amazed at how much more I am able to accomplish in a given day. It really is like having extra hours in the day, isn't it?
Welcome to SR. I am glad you are here with us.
Welcome to SR. I am glad you are here with us.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Yorkshire UK
Posts: 7
Hi! Congrats on a great start. Also new here and relate to pretty much all of that. Of all the many downsides to boozing i think the lost time is one of the worst - if i totted up all the wasted hours it would be some prison sentence!
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: "I'm not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost ..."
Posts: 5,273
Extra hours, extra money, extra space in my brain...I've gained so much by quitting and lost absolutely nothing. It's a life changing decision that I have never regretted. Glad you've joined us.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 15
Update! 6 weeks drinkless. I went through a holiday gathering, a weekend tattoo convention (in which there were ample, ample opportunities and invites for drinks) and a few other gatherings with drinks. I can't say that I didn't want them because that is implying that this is easy.. but nope.
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