Many of you already know my story.
I relapsed with almost ten years sobriety. 100% no mind altering substances for 9 years, 10 months.
I was spun out on meth and drinking like a fish I needed help, I called a friend who use to “party” like i did.
He introduced me to what saved his ass. AA. I wasn’t thrilled about it. A couple weeks later, it was working, I jumped in with both feet.
I got a sponsor, They suggested 90 meetings in 90 days. I did way more. I jumped right into the steps, i had sponsees when I had been sober for a year. I did all the service positions. I had two homegroups. When people shared about their relapses I paid extra close attention. I was not ever going to down that road.
I was very active in an online meth forum.
At five years sober, recovery allowed me to start a successful business. Start a family, buy my dream property.,
I felt like I would never drink again at five years sober.
This time, online recovery was the foundation for my beginning. This place. Many of you helped me.
COVID hit AA wasn’t an option.
I did reconnect with AA, but our fellowship isn’t very stable anymore. I know someone will suggest that I make it more stable. I fish. I’m not interested in that responsible of a service position. Being a fisherman wont allow it. I’m not giving up fishing.
I’ve tried a couple different sponsors. I finished the steps with my last one. I didn’t get much out of him walking me through them. Getting to know him I realized he was/is sicker than me. I ghosted him.
I feel better not talking to him anymore. I haven’t been to a meeting in a couple of years. I’m OK with that.
I have many sober dreams coming true because Its what I do to occupy my time that I don’t spend drunk anymore. My beer money investments are on the cusp of making me money. I have new opportunities open up for me all the time.
Its triggered fear of success. I’m working through it. Its new. I’ve been feeling it for a year. Its magnified recently. Just like the opportunities.
This time I feel like I wont drink today. This time I know there isn’t any amount of work that I do will guarantee 100% that I will never drink again. I can always find a way to not drink today if I look for it.
Hi Jason - Your story is one full of hope. I followed your rise and fall and rise again. And this time, it seems your sobriety is much more integrated into your life as the foundation rather than the mission, if you follow me.
You bring hope and humor to your posts and responses. And having been swept overboard at least twice, (most recently on film!), you know deeply the meaning of humility, of being right sized. Hope, humor, humility. Not bad attributes to strive after, friend!
I love your journey…you inspire me with your honesty and path and never giving up on your self. Super huge congratulations on your 5 years Jason!!! I cannot imagine the strength required of a fisherman in getting and staying clean.
And thanks too for all the fish / ocean / nature photos…I sure miss the coast…you make it come alive again in your pics. I guess I missed you getting swept overboard and I am okay with that!! Glad you are safe…and sober and here!!!
I love following your journey! You inspire me Jason. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing all the ups and downs in your life. Extremely relatable. You bring hope to many.
Congratulations on 5 years!
Loved the post and your writing. As I approach 1 year I am very mindful of the future even though living one day at a time. One’s alcoholic brain can play tricks on you. Cunning and baffling for sure. I am glad you are here to share your thoughts and success.
Thanks for your positivity, and may your sobriety journey continue!
When I hit my 1st five year mark, I proclaimed I got my brains back. Someone with more experience commented that now I could use the next 5 years learning how to use them right!
Hey Mr. Fisher, thank you so much for sharing this I had a similar experience 10 years sober and then I relapsed. Coming up on 2 years and loving every bit of it.
What did I learn? That AA gave me a foundation, but when I moved away from it I no longer had my sober community. Going back didnt necessarily work for me either…it was unstable, my homegroup had changed drastically, my sponsor of 10 years died and I was a new mom. I saw AA differently, I saw who I was differently…and that wasnt just my disease its where I was in life.
This time around I have found this place, this community and youre with me always I try to stay active here, and I know that like many chronic issues people do experience challenges. When we find something that works we want it to always work and always work the same way. I credit AA with saving my life and giving me the foundation Im standing on, and then I got to keep growing. Its a beautiful thing. Im going to keep my community close this time, and Im learning to take care of me too…something I felt hardpressed to do when I became a new mom. I like my community, I need it and I know you all help me during the times I need it and hopefully I can send that out to others too Just thanks for sharing this. I relate, and liked hearing too about another soul who still has love for AA but is trekking another way too. Keep it up & congrats on the 5 years xo.
Thanks for sharing! Congrats on two years.
Its hard to come back to recovery. This place saved my ass. 24/7. I have stayed connected to this place as I walked through some major challenges. Plus, it gives me the opportunity to share my experience, strength and hope. Some days I visited every five minutes. I can check in from the water. I build up my defense against the first drink when I get home with this place.
I’m glad your here!
You and a few others on here always make my day better. You’ve endured some hard ass pain, some really rocking accomplishments and a swim or two… hehe
Fear is what can try and crack our foundation, as you well know. But, you are armed with that knowledge as you’ve worked the steps before and saw how it can try and get at us.
I got to a meeting about 3 wks ago. First one in about 3 months. I still like them but feel like if I’m not seeing different folks than the same 4 here in our tiny town I’m missing out on hearing something, seeing the newbie, different shitty tasting coffee. I don’t know.
You are a solid alcoholic/addict in recovery and well done on every day since you came back to the fearless side, my friend!
Happy happy soberversary Jason
I don’t know what to add to all the lovely previous posts. You are an inspiration, I’m grateful you share your journey. Have a good, sober day!
So happy for you Jason. Massive thanks for always sharing your life, your journey, your honest truth. For travelling this path together, for being part of my journey too. It’s inspring for me how we are so far apart in distance, in lifestyle, in everything really, yet I see and feel many similarities too. Huge congrats on five years and on to the next five friend.
Congratulations on your 5 years, Jason! Your journey is very inspirational, so are your pics and videos out on the ocean! (Except the one where you’re falling off the boat! )
I’m so glad to be on this journey with you and to have this place is a blessing. Thank you for all your posts, My husband and I love to see the fishing and the ocean vids and pics…! God bless you and your family Jason let’s keep going together.
I try to stay active here, and I know that like many chronic issues people do experience challenges. When we find something that works we want it to always work and always work the same way. I credit AA with saving my life and giving me the foundation Im standing on, and then I got to keep growing. Its a beautiful thing. Im going to keep my community close this time, and Im learning to take care of me too…something I felt hardpressed to do when I became a new mom. I like my community, I need it and I know you all help me during the times I need it and hopefully I can send that out to others too 
)
let’s keep going together.