A Year Of Sobriety - Part Three

A year, 12 months, 365 days since a drop of alcohol passed my lips, since smoke hit my lungs, since I stayed up all night, since I threw up, since I suffered hangxiety.  In this epic year, I’ve changed jobs, got a new car, lost 3.5 stone in weight, got rid of a toxic relationshit & gained addictions to walking & Magnums, Curly Wurly’s & podcasts.   I found my sobriety twin Steve, my SSS Emma & countless new fantastic sober friends through various online support groups Club Soda Together, Team Sober UK, Recovery Buddha & Gary Topley - alcohol awareness specialist. I can’t thank you all enough. My blog has gone from strength to strength gathering followers from places such as New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Germany, France, Spain to name a few. I’ve made video blogs & been interviewed for podcasts. I’ve heard the worst stories that alcohol can do to a person but also epic success stories from people who had no hope. I’ve cried a lot, laughed loads, been pissed off at the injustice that I can’t have ‘just the one’. I’ve sober dated & sober kissed & sober ran the other way. I’ve been on a sober holiday & went on a sober boat party. I fell in love with Russell Brand, discovered audio books, started counselling, went to gong baths & hung in a cocoon.  I decluttered my flat, employed a cleaner, E-Bayed my old clothes, bought new clothes, purchased a bloody cagoule (yes really) & resized my rings.  I drank shit loads of Elderflower cordial, ate too many Curly Wurly’s, way too many Magnums & thousands of Lindor Balls. I discovered I do actually like cheese.  I got a tattoo & I decided I would never drink again. Sobriety is so much more than not drinking alcohol. It is a way of life, a freedom like no other.  Without alcohol, I can do all the things I couldn’t do before. I sleep well, eat well, exercise regularly, love myself .. all the ingredients for a happy life.  Alcohol clouded my judgement about myself. It made me feel a failure, unworthy, fat, unloveable. I am none of these things without it.  Alcohol made me believe it was my friend, that I needed it in my life to be more confident, funnier, sexier, a better person. Alcohol is a lying bastard. Will I drink again? Why on Earth would I? Alcohol made me sad, depressed & distorted my view of the world and myself. I never want to lose sight of the person I have become without it. I am worthy. I am loveable. I am sober. I am free. #year2day1 With mahoosive thanks to Jen & her amazing Team Sober UK - https://m.facebook.com/groups/1622901908009979 Laura & fantastic Club Soda - https://joinclubsoda.co.uk Gary & his fab group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/715729241889906 Penni & her awesome group - https://m.facebook.com/groups/1524386261221269 And EVERYONE who found me. You all rock 🙋🏻🐟