I started a new job when I was 6 months sober, here’s what I’ve learned.
No one cares.
One guy wanted to give me a bottle of liquor as thanks for helping him, he asked before, “Wait, do you drink?” I said no, he said, ok, well thanks for your help.
Another guy was showing me how to compile a report, he asked, “Are you a drinker?” I said no, he said, “Well you might start after doing this report”, we chuckled.
I went to Vegas for a convention, had dinners with 3 different vendors, of course they offered wine and what not, I declined, asked for a seltzer w/splash of crank. During all 3 dinners, not once did anyone ask why I wasn’t drinking.
Last August I went to our largest vendor’s annual conference and same story, open bar, people offering, I declined and asked for a seltzer. Again, not once did anyone ask why.
During that same conference, at the golf tournament, I was paired with a younger man who had no problem drinking. He eventually noticed I was only drinking water, he asked, “You don’t drink?” I said no, he asked, “Really?!. Thats cool, I wish I could do that, I drink too much”. That was the only time I elaborated and said, you know, I wasn’t always sober, so I know what you mean when you say you drink too much, you can make that change, when you’re ready. We talked more about it, hopefully he is soon on his way to recovery himself.
So yeah, in my 2 years of sobriety, not once have I had to justify my sobriety to anyone, and neither should you!
