Share an accomplishment since you’ve gotten sober and/or clean…
During the height of my drinking, I was 247lbs. This weekend the wife and I ran our 4th 5K in as many months (that’s our agreement. One race a month). I ran it at abt 195lbs. We live in the Atlanta area, which is reasonably hilly. We ran thisone in Biloxi, MS which is at sea level and F-L-A-T. All that said, she cut 1:31 off her best time and I cut 3:19.
Had you told me on 31 Dec 2013 I’d be 7+ years sober and running 5K’s I’d have called you a fool.
This is something you can do. We don’t love alcohol or weed or heroin or whatever our DoC is. It just owns us and we tell ourselves we love it to make it ok in our minds.
My main victory is over my lethargy, my depression (even though I’m on a low dose of antidepressants), my life history, my cynicism, my laziness, my narcissism, my antisocial behaviour patterns, my suicidal ideations. Drugging and boozing fed all those. Being sober and clean has given me the change to fight these. One day at a time.
-My Wife never seeing me Drunk since the day we met.
-Finally feeling Confident in my Sobriety and not hiding it any more. I’m very open about it and you’d be surprised how many people are interested in it.
Excellent, excellent work Chatterbox. Same w me. My son died in 2015. He saw me sober for the last 20 months of his life. That is worth every minute of work.
Yesterday was the first day that I had gone to a brewery for work and didn’t drink. These work visits usually involve tasting many beers, talking beer, talking beer ingredients, tasting more beer, and of course having several beers after all of the beer tasting. Yep, that is a lot of beer. But, yesterday I managed to graciously pass on all the beer offers without question and still get me job done. I call that a win! Wish me luck though, I have to go to three wineries next week.
Please, help me stay motivated and share your wins. I don’t care how big or small they are. This community is a great help along this new new journey. Stay strong and shine on!
This is impressive stuff well done.
For me I’ve had the hardest week with home, work and ending in a car accident and all I want to do is get drunk and stoned but I haven’t. This is a win / miracle.
Thanks for sharing. I was having some form of a pity party today…
Reality check another day at work means you still have a job. Long days mean bigger checks. And extra bonus ive been so busy I haven’t even had time to think about drinking.
So yeah wins everywhere you look if you choose to see them. Thanks for changing my perspective.
Whoa! I feel you. After a week like that, no wonder you feel like getting stoned and having a drink. I definitely agree that is a major win. Stay strong
We have entered a time frame where you say, “I am a vegan” and it’s cool. “I am a Baptist.” Cool. Maybe we are approaching a time where, “I don’t drink.” Cool.
I know for years, I was That Guy. Not crazy, but small town and I’d be at the Mexican place or the pizza joint and everyone knew I was there to drink. I was always very upfront w the fact that I was there to drink, no matter where ‘there’ was, so today I am very upfront about being sober. It is never a condemnation of anyone else, just what I choose to do.
All those things said, just get through today. You never need a drink, you just want one…right up until you take one. You wouldn’t hand over control of your Life to your worst enemy…yet that is what we do if we drink.
Just a sidebar, Dec 12th of last year would have been my late son’s 17th birthday. My wife was working so I went to next town over to look at some clothes (Retail Therapy, don’t judge me, Bro. I consider myself a bit of a low key clotheshorse) I was walking on the sidewalk at the strip mall, the wife texts, I stop to check it…and I look up and am standing in front of a liquor store. The thought did cross my mind, “He should be here. You shouldn’t hurt like this. You shouldn’t wrestle with these thoughts and emotions and struggle w this pain. Go get something. Erase your brain. Drinnk enough to kill those thoughts. Just for a few hours” But that is as far as it went. The whole thought in half a second. Phone back in my pocket and headed up the sidewalk, but it scared me. I love the fact that it scares me. It means I am not allowing myself to be too comfortable. 9 Days later was my 6th Birthday.
If I can ever be of help or support, please let me know,
Chandler
I found out my 9 year old best boy, my dog, had chronic heart disease to the point that he had not long to live, with no idea how long that could be, possibly days, maybe weeks. This news came when I was newly sober. I stayed sober and took exceedingly good care of him and he lived another 4.5 months. He passed away traumatically at home, but we were there with him all the way. And I was sober and stayed sober and I’m sober today with a day shy of 6 months. I am so grateful for that time with him.
well done.
! It is so easy to get lost in the sauce some days. It is the small victories that get us through.