Reflections on 16 months sober
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 165
Reflections on 16 months sober
Hi everyone! It's really hard for me to believe that next week I'll have 16 months sober after so many "Day 1" posts - with the typical brutal hangover, remorse, anxiety and shame. For this alcoholic, in-patient 28 day rehab was the right decision for me - a life saver. Then I needed to make a lot more right decisions - joining an AA home group day 1 after rehab, getting a sponsor that same day by raising my hand and asking and playing the tape forward when the inevitable cravings happened. I made coffee and did other works of service in AA, went to new meetings and generally said yes to anything that was asked of me by my sponsor and others in the group. I now am the Treasurer for a weekly meeting on Friday nights and am making new friends within the fellowship.
I feel gratitude for the blessings of a family that stuck by me, the real friends I now have and for newfound respect - from others and for myself. My son has adjusted to his new school this year, after a rocky start, but he's had a sober mom through it all. That business partner who abruptly left on my first day, first hour back from rehab has been replaced with a great employee. My higher power had a better plan for me, that I now understand. The promises are coming true for me and I'm riding out the usual ups and downs of life without a drink. I'm working the steps with my sponsor - on step 6. Some days are stressful and I still struggle with my emotions and insecurities. Today was one of those days that I needed to manage anxiety. So I decided to post this as a way to stay grateful, say "thank you" to all who have given me great advice on this forum
and to give hope to someone struggling through another Day 1 who reads this.
I will never have alcoholism beat but I have a 24 hour reprieve every day, if I choose, by staying close to my fellowship and higher power. It's the only thing that has worked for me.
I feel gratitude for the blessings of a family that stuck by me, the real friends I now have and for newfound respect - from others and for myself. My son has adjusted to his new school this year, after a rocky start, but he's had a sober mom through it all. That business partner who abruptly left on my first day, first hour back from rehab has been replaced with a great employee. My higher power had a better plan for me, that I now understand. The promises are coming true for me and I'm riding out the usual ups and downs of life without a drink. I'm working the steps with my sponsor - on step 6. Some days are stressful and I still struggle with my emotions and insecurities. Today was one of those days that I needed to manage anxiety. So I decided to post this as a way to stay grateful, say "thank you" to all who have given me great advice on this forum
and to give hope to someone struggling through another Day 1 who reads this. I will never have alcoholism beat but I have a 24 hour reprieve every day, if I choose, by staying close to my fellowship and higher power. It's the only thing that has worked for me.
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 51,569
It's wonderful to hear how things have turned around for you, Beanie. 
Turns out, it's much easier to handle life with a clear head - just the opposite of what we once thought. Congrats on your 16 months.
Turns out, it's much easier to handle life with a clear head - just the opposite of what we once thought. Congrats on your 16 months.
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Originally Posted by Hevyn 
It's wonderful to hear how things have turned around for you, Beanie. Turns out, it's much easier to handle life with a clear head - just the opposite of what we once thought. Congrats on your 16 months.
Turns out, it's much easier to handle life with a clear head - just the opposite of what we once thought. Congrats on your 16 months.Way to go Beanie - so glad you are in a good place and working a great program. Keep going!
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