Today, I am celebrating my one year of not drinking. I am so happy and grateful to be here, in this much better place. I think that I have learned some things along the way and I hope that it might be helpful to someone if I share them.
1. We are all on our own unique journey to sobriety. I needed to figure what worked for me and to be confident that I knew myself well enough to follow that path.
2. If quitting doesn't work the first or second time, look for new tools to add to your toolbox. Do it differently.
3. Quitting alcohol was enough of a goal for a year so I gave myself a break and focussed on "being" rather than "doing."
4. Life is, in fact, possible without alcohol. Once I removed the lens of a wine glass, I could see so many unexpected possibilities open up.
5. Sobriety doesn't solve all the problems in your life but it does allow you to see them with clearer and wiser eyes.
I have set a new goal of year two for my sobriety. Now that I have made it through all the firsts of a year, I will see what this next year brings. I am sure that there are lots of possibilities out there and I am ready to discover them.
