Three Years
 

Three years ago today I put the bottle down forever. I still feel new at it. One of the reasons it still feels so new is that even three years in, I marvel at the calm and simplicity of a sober life. The still and quiet mind makes so much possible.

Life still throws its curves and bumps at me - just like all of us - but sober I can see things coming much further down the road and I can sit with emotions and bad feelings and deal with them as they pass on through. One of the very best gifts of sobriety is the certainty that anger, sadness, grief - all of the emotions that are hardwired in our brains and exist to keep us alive - are of a temporary nature if we are otherwise healthy. This too shall pass.

RS was a pillar of my recovery and I could never thank everyone on SR who helped me so selflessly and compassionately. I've said it before but all of you are an embarrassment of riches that I will always feel deeply grateful for SR and what it did for me, what you all did for me.

Dee and Anna, all the mods, Steely, and so, so many others - you saved my life.

For everyone trying and struggling, you are on my mind every single day, and please please never quit trying to quit. You are worthy of a quiet peaceful life. You deserve that.

Amen

Thank you for this, Surrendered, I needed this. I posted a thread earlier about feeling irritable and grumpy and then out of nowhere this evening I suddenly feel desperately sad!! I’m not used to this “feeling” malarkey haha. Going to bed soon on day 17. Thank you again and congrats on three years

Congratulations, Surrendered - 3 yrs. off the poison is so wonderful.

Years ago when I first came to SR I didn't really imagine I'd be able to stop, but something about this place gave me hope & courage. Nearly 15 yrs. later, I too am enjoying a calm & peaceful life. Not boring or uneventful, as I had feared.

So proud of you & glad you are here.

Wow congratulations Surrendered - 3 years is great :)

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Congratulations on 3 years of sobriety Surrended :)

Congrats on three years sober! :). Thank you for sharing your story. :)

Thank you for your experience strength and hope Surrender.

3 years sober is fantastic. There is hope for us all.

Fantastic post, Surrendered. Congratulations on 3 years of recovery. :)

Congratulations! Three years is fantastic!

Great post Surrendered & love your user name - it really fits..
Congratulations on your Three Years!! :fireworks2

👍👍l

Hi Surrendered, huge congratulations on the three years, and your honest, open post.

you in turn, inspire so many, including me.

thank you!

🎉🎊🎁🎏🪅🪄🎈❤️🤓🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

Congratulations on 3 years sober 🙏

Congratulations Surrendered.

I'm still that month behind you, but what's a month when we're sober? A beautiful sober month, that's all.

We made it to 3 years Surrendered. I'm so glad we did.

"All ye of little faith". 😄

Amen to that. So many nice people on here who deserve the better life that sobriety brings.

Huge well done, Surr19 👍👍

Even after years of sobriety, there is still a newness about it. It's one of those things that is sometimes hard to wrap my mind around; "How can sobriety be so simple when it was so hard?" I've thought about this often, but not very deeply. Mostly, I spend more time just being grateful for it. I seem to be happier just being joyfully content. It's one of those things I tell myself that I don't need to understand. I don't know if this is the correct attitude. It just seems to work for me, and I'm reluctant to tamper with it.

Congratulations on three years, but a much bigger congratulations on finding a better life, which can't really be measured by counting days or years. I believe you are arriving at one of the best places of recovery.

Congrats on 3 years Surrendered ❤️

Congratulations on 3 years!