It's like jumping off the high dive...
 

At first, it's scary. There's all this trepidation. What if you hit the rocks? What if you belly flop? What if you die???

But eventually you work up the nerve and you jump.

And it's amazing. It's a rush. It worked!!! You're alive!!! In fact, you feel a little MORE alive than before you jumped.

And so you climb back up the high dive and you go to jump again. The butterflies are still in your stomach, you still have that anxious feeling, but this time it's a little easier to jump.... and the way down is a little more thrilling. You're a little more aware. You're buzzing with life.

And then it gets easier and the thrill gets greater and you smile and you let out a whooop and maybe you even start to dive and add a somersault or a twist..... and it becomes a part of you, this thrilling new facet of life.

Sobriety can be like that too.

Even something as simple as saying "I don't drink" can petrify us. So many rocks to land on. So many scary what-if's. But we say it that first time and it feels OK, good even.

And if we keep on saying it, the fear fades, the anxiety lessens....

Until one day we find ourselves hosting a dinner for the new team we're leading in our new job at a wonderful restaurant - ordering wine for the table, smiling and laughing and having a fantastic time. One of our team at some point raises his glass in a small gesture - "You're not drinking"?

And with a big smile we say "No.... I don't drink. Used to - but that was another life. The way I want to live now and until a happy old age doesn't include alcohol". And it feels true and it feels exhilarating and it doesn't scare us at all.

At least, that's how it was for me tonight - hosting my new team for the first time.

It can be scary - this sobriety - but it really does get easier, better and so much more thrilling than that old life.....

:ring

That is a little bit of a rush - overcoming an obstacle. Nicely done!

You continue to lead the way, blazing a trail I want to follow. Gracias, mi amigo.

Glad to know my town is treating you well.

Sending you some big, ole, huge Texas hugs! ;)

I don't know how you did it.

I highly recommend Amici Signature in Carrollton. What a fantastic menu! They put my team and I up in their separate upstairs dining room..... Small restaurant, huge style, chef came out to personally greet and chat with us, it was the total experience.

I did it a little bit at a time, and I did it by becoming a sober person. I did it by finally deciding that's how I really wanted to live my life and by making active choices and changes to support that decision.

I'm not saying that is the way it'll work for everyone..... But it felt so good to be the leader and the host and to experience first hand that I can have a great time, be one of the guys, be accepted and seen as a great person and be not only credible but respected - and not drink. As silly as that probably sounds to 'normal' folks... It terrified me in business for a long time.

It doesn't anymore.

Free,
That was beautiful, thank you for sharing :-)

Nice job Free Owl!

Love that place!

What kind of work do you do FreeOwl? And you said you are from Michigan...care to share where? (sorry for the poetry)

I'm in cybersecurity.

From north of the bridge, just south of Heaven.

;)

A yooper?

Youbetcha, eh!!

To the top, for Julesonya

Great thread FreeOwl. Very well put.

Thanks for that post!