1 year Sober Today.

From Alcohol that was my Drug of choice.
I’ll start this thread by saying I’m not starting this thread to congratulate myself here.
I’m starting this thread to start a dialogue for everyone and anyone who would like to share their thoughts on sobriety no matter what it is. Whether they are currently sober or not.

Some of my story. I’m not exactly sure when I felt rock bottom but the real bottom line is I was not a happy man looking at myself in the mirror anymore and I hated it.
I drank beer since was 13-14 growing up in Louisiana with tons of Norwegian alcoholics in my family blood. As an adult I could drink 1 pint or 2 pints of Vodka no problem. But it was.
Truthfully over all of the years of my drinking I started to hate the anxiety and mood swings, hangovers and I also occasionally turned into Mr Hyde at times and I finally flat out had enough of it.
I hated that because I am a proud good man or I like to think so anyway. I had quality parenting that taught me the importance of values, ethics morals and standards. But what was happening in my early 40’s is I was flat out damn tired of Alcohol being part of my life any longer. I was so done mentally with it I just quit cold Turkey one year ago today. Not because of a Hangover from St Pattys day. I was ready to be done for years quite honestly. Just never manned up.
I am proud of myself for being open about this , but I’m a very stubborn MF and like to control all shite in my life that I can. That is dangerous in Sobriety.
But this was something way out of my control and I’m here to admit that. I prayed hard on it talked to God, Baby Jesus as well as Family I trusted when things broke down and options to drink presented themselves but I never gave in, thank you God.
I’m in to way suggesting cold Turkey is the best option or route if you have problems. Usually AA meetings friends, a great belief system in a higher power all of this can help so use all the Tools you need. There should be no Pride in this. This is important and not a game. This is your Life.
Alcohol for me was a black cloud in an optimistic approach I had/have for life. Now the sky is blue and Heaven is the limit. I’ve done my best to make up for lost time with friendships, family and even got a couple chances to apologize to some people who I felt deserved it from rude shite I may have said or done back in the day.
It’s a sacrifice in many ways because there is a new lifestyle you will need to start to live for any success in this life of sobriety. But I can absolutely say without hesitation you will be the a completely different person in a 1 year period and smile looking back.
At times in the beginning I looked back with regret many times in the first 6 months wishing I had done this sooner. Do Not do this. Today can/will be the First day of the rest of your life(without regret)when you make the choice.

It’s not easy but it’s the best decision you will make in your life.

I’ll leave this last comment here and open it for discussion.
About a week or so ago I’m dating this new lady and she knows I don’t drink normally and so we are watching (Full Swing) on Netflix and Justin Thomas was drinking a glass champagne. She asked me,
“ if you won that golf tournament, would you drink that glass of champagne”.
Without delay I said “ No”. She said even a little, why?
I said I don’t drink.
This is the mindset you have to have. There are zero exceptions here to the success of sobriety.

Do what you need to do to change your philosophy in life, find new friends, change your job, change your wife or whomever may be the dead weight holding you back. Be fricking selfish. Your life and quality of life is your choice, and no one else’s.
Time to man up and make that choice.

God Bless and think about it.