Johanne sending you so much love, I want you to know you are enough sober, not sober, relapse or not you are enough and you are worhty of love and kindness especially from yourself. I know its easier said than done. I relapsed many times and fell back into old patterns and cycles, the fact that you are here reading things like this, acknowledging how you are feeling is a good thing, even though it might still feel like crap. You are still here, still trying, and I give you so much credit for that and I hope you can give yourself that credit too. Sending you much love. Keep showing up for yourself, you deserve it, you've got this!
Getting sober from alcohol was the easy part. But I lost myself in the years I was drinking. Figuring out what I actually want in life and who I actually am has been the real struggle this past year. I am still working on it.
I've been sober for only 7 months, but the thing I appreciate most is getting a good nights sleep. No more waking up with a racing heart and being overcome with worrying thoughts.
Thanks for the great share. Sobriety for me has meant that I don't have to be in control and that I will be OK if I don't control everything around me. I have experienced so much more joy in letting go of control. I am no longer afraid of myself or the people around me letting me down or hurting me. It happens and it's OK. I can live with that. Glad you are comfortable with yourself. I am still working on that.
I’ve been sober since May 27, 1989. The most unexpected joy is impossible to definitively identify. But one I was thinking about yesterday, after attending the funeral of an old friend, an alcoholic, who died too young at 63 from complications of a brain injury sustained in a car wreck, was this: not being a completely selfish person. When in our cups, we just don’t give a shit about those who love us and the hell we put them through. He was a good man, who loved his family, but who never did what it took to get and stay sober. Seeing his ex-wife and his sons have to mourn his too-soon death was heartbreaking. My dad died when I was six months sober. He was 61 and his death from cancer blindsided our family. I was incredibly grateful to not be a burden to my grieving mother at that point. I’m not sure how much emotional support I was able to offer, but at least she didn’t having to worry about me drinking and driving the week of his memorial service.
A great piece! Thank you for sharing the pain and the joy, the power of surrender and your travel along the littered path of choosing sobriety for yourself.
THIS is exactly my experience put into one piece. People who haven't gotten sober don't understand this and never will despite their best efforts. This is what I'll use to try and explain it to them.
Hell yes to all of this, Jamie! Thank you for sharing your beautiful wisdom. ❤️
Thank you Dana! Happy to be a part of such a wonderful community!
Tap the heart? I struck it quite forcefully, thank you. Just to show how much I "heart" this post.
Haha I struck this comment with equal force! Thank you so much!
I have relapsed many times I am sick of feeling like I am not enough and getting thoughts I shouldn't be getting
Sending you wishes for steadiness and serenity, Johanne. Hang in there.
I will try it's very hard
Johanne sending you so much love, I want you to know you are enough sober, not sober, relapse or not you are enough and you are worhty of love and kindness especially from yourself. I know its easier said than done. I relapsed many times and fell back into old patterns and cycles, the fact that you are here reading things like this, acknowledging how you are feeling is a good thing, even though it might still feel like crap. You are still here, still trying, and I give you so much credit for that and I hope you can give yourself that credit too. Sending you much love. Keep showing up for yourself, you deserve it, you've got this!
♥️♥️♥️
Getting sober from alcohol was the easy part. But I lost myself in the years I was drinking. Figuring out what I actually want in life and who I actually am has been the real struggle this past year. I am still working on it.
I am still working on it too Andy. You'll get there. Well done on your journey so far.
I've been sober for only 7 months, but the thing I appreciate most is getting a good nights sleep. No more waking up with a racing heart and being overcome with worrying thoughts.
Congratulations on 7 months! Glad to hear you are feeling those positive changes.
Thank you, very enlightening and helpful for me. Newly in recovery at 64 years old. There is a lot I have to learn and this is a very good read.
Congratulations on being newly into sobriety! I wish you all the best on your journey! ✨️
Thanks for the great share. Sobriety for me has meant that I don't have to be in control and that I will be OK if I don't control everything around me. I have experienced so much more joy in letting go of control. I am no longer afraid of myself or the people around me letting me down or hurting me. It happens and it's OK. I can live with that. Glad you are comfortable with yourself. I am still working on that.
Thanks! I have done a lot more drawing and writing in sobriety. And a lot less "half-assing" anything.
I’ve been sober since May 27, 1989. The most unexpected joy is impossible to definitively identify. But one I was thinking about yesterday, after attending the funeral of an old friend, an alcoholic, who died too young at 63 from complications of a brain injury sustained in a car wreck, was this: not being a completely selfish person. When in our cups, we just don’t give a shit about those who love us and the hell we put them through. He was a good man, who loved his family, but who never did what it took to get and stay sober. Seeing his ex-wife and his sons have to mourn his too-soon death was heartbreaking. My dad died when I was six months sober. He was 61 and his death from cancer blindsided our family. I was incredibly grateful to not be a burden to my grieving mother at that point. I’m not sure how much emotional support I was able to offer, but at least she didn’t having to worry about me drinking and driving the week of his memorial service.
OK. You get it. It’s simple. It’s choice. Glad I saw this because I write about similar sentiments. Thank you for sharing.
"Simple" and yet when you're in it, so difficult. Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your kind words Adam.
A great piece! Thank you for sharing the pain and the joy, the power of surrender and your travel along the littered path of choosing sobriety for yourself.
Thank you for your kind words Liz!
THIS is exactly my experience put into one piece. People who haven't gotten sober don't understand this and never will despite their best efforts. This is what I'll use to try and explain it to them.
Yes all we can do is live it and hope through our example it will give courage, hope and strength to those who dont understand it yet.
Exactly what I needed to read this morning. Thank you Jamie.
Wonderful Vivian I'm so glad, you're so welcome. I hope you have a beautiful day.
Brilliant-thank you!
Your welcome
I love everything you share here Jamie - I could have written these words myself! Celebrating you and six years of being fully alive xx