Grateful For 5 💥 Years Sober!

[Dazercat]

Grateful for 5 years
There’s been so much for me to be grateful for in my sobriety.
I don’t know where to begin. I’ll probably just ramble on a bit.

I came here, (TS,) to Stop Drinking! I haven’t had a drink for 5 years! Why would I leave?

I remember when I first started my journey. I was so worried about how I would be able to fly anywhere without a drink I thought it was going to be pretty appropriate that I’m flying home on my 5th sober birthday and drinking never crosses my mind now. Actually I’m flying home New Year’s Eve sober. But close enough. It’s my story But I think back and laugh now. I’ve traveled many places by plane without drinking and quite enjoy myself now. And it really is so much easier. And a hell of a lot cheaper. Those airport bar prices are astronomical I guess that’s why we just take it ODAAT.

I think having more compassion with family, friends, and strangers. Or maybe just a compassionate attitude is a new thing I love having. Like the other day, the Walgreens had the Advil locked up. I had to ask the pharmacist about that. She said there’s a bell over there. Ring it! Someone will come unlock the case for you. It took me a few minutes to find the bell. It took the store clerk a few more minutes to come unlock the Advil. And instead of reacting angrily. I asked him why? He said, “people steal it.”
I said, “I’m sorry. Now you have to come over here and open up the case whenever someone wants Advil?”
I told him that sucks for you guys!
I know before I would have been all pissed off at Walgreens and probably even at this poor guy. Just doing his job. It felt good to be compassionate and I recognize it happening in me.
It’s not all about me.

I’m also a lot less judgmental now. I like that about me. The quickest way for me to loose my serenity is when I’m judging people.
And I’m finally starting to see that what I don’t like in others are things I see in myself that I don’t like. I’ve always hated that bull shit early on in recovery. Especially in Al-Anon. But I’m starting to see it now.

So, I’m flying home now to see my cat. He’s very sick. Might be cancer in his colon. We cut our family trip short. And I just can’t wait to be there for Maverick. He’s my little HP. He’s gotten me through so much the last 5 years. Anything that gives me serenity can be my higher power. Now I get to be there for him. It’s so fucking sad. Loosing a pet is so fucking hard. But being there and actually feeling it and knowing you’re in your right mind. Doing the very best you can. With a clear head. This is rewarding enough for me on my 5th soberversary. I wish he wasn’t so sick and possibly dying. I don’t have the facts. Yet. Except, drinking isn’t an option and won’t help anything. And in fact it would make things worse. And he still might have cancer.

I go to AA now. Once or twice a week.
After almost 3 years of sobriety I felt like I needed more. I’ve always been afraid to go to AA. There was a fear of what I didn’t know. I’m not going to say people don’t tell me what to do in AA. Some do. Most don’t. But I can honestly say. I don’t have to do anything in AA or Al-Anon I don’t want to do. I listen. I keep an open mind. And I share when I can. And I take what I like and leave the rest.

Al-Anon has been a great program for me in my recovery. They get some of their best people from AA
I got AA.
And I will always have Talking Sober.
That first 4 years and about 10 months of my sobriety I was living with my beautiful, active alcoholic, of a wife. I got to admit, I didn’t know what kind of a living hell I was going through until now. She’s sober now!! Today. I don’t know how long it’s been. And she’s not working my program. I don’t know what kind of a program she needs to be working. Or anyone else for that matter. I just know what works for me.

Active daily Gratitude practice.
Helping and welcoming other addicts on TS and at meetings.
Showing up to meetings. I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do. Just show up.
Listening to, or reading other people’s experiences strengths and hopes.
And don’t pick up that first drink. I’ve never ever had just one. And I’ll never be cured of this disease of alcoholism.

Edit on Jan 2.

After a rough day again yesterday. Maverick ate today! On his own!
We are not out of the woods yet. But I’m not going to have to force feed him this morning. We have an appointment with a specialty vet in LA on Friday.

A beautiful friend on TS told me New Years Eve in a pm That she is “Grateful for where she is at.” I don’t know her whole story. But she’s been through some shit. And that really resonated with me.

My golden nugget for 2025 will be, “I’m Grateful For Where I’m At”

Life is in session folks! We all have the same choice.
One Day. Or Day One. We get to decide.

Love you guys

[mxelle]

@Dazercat

Maverick ate today! On his own!

Well done Glad to have you here on this sobriety journey, and on the meme thread since day 1 for me.

[SassyRocks]

Congratulations on your 5 years @Dazercat and all the joy and change and challenge sobriety has brought to your life!! I learn a lot from you and am eternally grateful to share this journey with you.

Hope you and your kitty have some wonderful snuggles soon.

[JasonFisher]

Time flies! It doesn’t feel like it at first but the next thing you know… 5 trips around the sun without a drink!

Congrats Eric!

[Von100]

@Dazercat congrats on 5 years. Sorry about your kitty.

[Lisa07]

Congratulations on 5 years, Eric!

Thank you for being such a supportive friend over the years. You have made such an impact on me and my sobriety, I’ll always be grateful.

They told me in AA that we get our marbles back at 5 years, and it takes the next 5 to learn how to play with them.

[JazzyS]

So grateful for you my friend! So happy to be celebrating your 5 years of sobriety today

Thank you for sharing your journey. Showing is that life isn’t easy but with sobriety we are able to work through it with clarity, compassion and understanding. You are leading with great example.

So grateful that you are grateful for where you are at . Wish you continued success and love… keep fighting the good fight.

PS…so happy to hear that Mavy is eating in his own. He’s celebrating your sober birthday with you

[LittleMissL]

Congratulations Eric. You are amazing & you are someone we look upto as a great example working your sobriety

[EarnIt]

Oh, my friend! It’s amazing to see you at the 5-year point. I still remember when you showed up and started “your thing.” I have enjoyed your posts ever since, even when I have been missing a long time and come back!

Congrats and know that this time, I am not going anywhere. Aren’t you happy about that?

I will just go by Néple Syrup.

[Tragicfarinelli]

Wow just wow.
Congratulations

[Mno]

Enormous congrats Eric. On 5 years, on your wife being sober, on Maverick eating. Lots to be grateful for right? Right. I’m grateful for your presence here. On to the next five. And I think @Lisa07 is right. Although I feel I simply found some marbles recently. I never had any in the first place. Now I do. Le’ts learn to use them now friends, together!

[tailee17]

I love your writing. I love you are here. Just face it I love you.

Congratulations so very much for 5 years…I appreciate your honesty on your struggles and accomplishments. I find hope in all you post.

So sorry to hear about your Kitty…Please find comfort in the time you have…

[Kadiatou]

Congratulations !!! I read with a smile because it’s great. And this :

“The quickest way for me to loose my serenity is when I’m judging people.
And I’m finally starting to see that what I don’t like in others are things I see in myself that I don’t like.”

Thank you for sharing

[Ray_M_C_Laren]

Well done big Scottish hug coming your way from this old guy

[SoberElla]

that’s a nice story, congratulations!
I always worry how I’m going to be able to be at the airport waiting for my flight without a drink but as you said, we get to decide

[Laraellelarissa]

5 years in 2025 !!!
Quite the marker and accomplishment!
You are an inspiration through and through.

Congratulations!! Wonderful share and just overall gratitude for all you have done for the community.

Here’s to ….

Sending prayers to you and Maverick.

[Rookie]

Congrats Eric and thank you so much for sharing. It is hard to read everything on here but I do my best not to skip your posts. Happy to hear your wife is doing well.

[Thirdmonkey]

Congratulations. You are a wonderful friend. Thank you for sharing.

[Cjp]

Bravo bravo awesome share of your experience strength and hope! I so appreciate you.

Sending healing vibes Maverick’s way

[Nordique]

I said it in the selfies thread and I’ll say it again here…Congrats Eric!! Thanks for sticking around and sharing your journey with us