One Year
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Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 267
One Year
This week I celebrated a year of sobriety. Around this time last year, I posted after a particularly crushing setback. At that time, I said I hoped to post again next September with a much different story to share. I couldn't honestly imagine accomplishing that, though. I'm amazed and grateful and owe a great deal to this forum and the people here.
At the same time, I've noticed that this milestone almost instantly changed the way I look at the Oktoberfest beers or--even scarier--the rye whiskey when I pass at the grocery store.
I don't feel truly frightened. I'm nowhere close to gambling with this vastly improved, hard-earned life I'm living today. I remember too clearly how the same life felt last year, and I believe that I've finally overcome what for me was the hardest obstacle: those memories fading with time, fooling me into thinking that a period of sobriety means that I'm "better." The experience I'm describing now only underscores that.
My journey is clearly not over. It's much, much, much easier now. It's 1000% worth it (I can't think of a single area of my life that isn't in significantly better shape today than it was 365+ days ago). But it's not over.
The difference now is that I embrace the journey each day. Even the crappy days :-) So I'm posting all this for whatever encouragement it's worth to the newly sober folks out there, and the people who want to be newly sober.
I'm also posting for those who have a few days, a few weeks, a few months. My message is this: congratulations! Keep working toward your milestones and take all the comfort and power from them you possibly can. But don't look at them as destinations. Only stepping stones.
Love and thanks to all.
At the same time, I've noticed that this milestone almost instantly changed the way I look at the Oktoberfest beers or--even scarier--the rye whiskey when I pass at the grocery store.
I don't feel truly frightened. I'm nowhere close to gambling with this vastly improved, hard-earned life I'm living today. I remember too clearly how the same life felt last year, and I believe that I've finally overcome what for me was the hardest obstacle: those memories fading with time, fooling me into thinking that a period of sobriety means that I'm "better." The experience I'm describing now only underscores that.
My journey is clearly not over. It's much, much, much easier now. It's 1000% worth it (I can't think of a single area of my life that isn't in significantly better shape today than it was 365+ days ago). But it's not over.
The difference now is that I embrace the journey each day. Even the crappy days :-) So I'm posting all this for whatever encouragement it's worth to the newly sober folks out there, and the people who want to be newly sober.
I'm also posting for those who have a few days, a few weeks, a few months. My message is this: congratulations! Keep working toward your milestones and take all the comfort and power from them you possibly can. But don't look at them as destinations. Only stepping stones.
Love and thanks to all.
thanks for the encouragement!
That is epic!
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