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bif

(23,882 posts)
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 07:26 AM Sep 10

Yesterday was my 6th anniversary of sobriety

Somehow I missed it. I don't really keep track of dates. I must say, it's been an interesting journey.

To all those new to recovery, if I can do it, you can too. Just hang in there. Someone gave me some great advice early on, and I'll always be grateful to her for these words of wisdom:

Don't focus on who you were, but who you want to be.

58 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Yesterday was my 6th anniversary of sobriety (Original Post) bif Sep 10 OP
Congratulations! I'm at 3 1/2 years and counting... Dennis Donovan Sep 10 #1
Congrats bif. NoMoreRepugs Sep 10 #2
Congratulations! AloeVera Sep 10 #3
Good for you. bullimiami Sep 10 #4
Keep looking forward. Congratuations, it ain't so easy as some might think. marble falls Sep 10 #5
Congratulations. Keep on, keepin' on. sinkingfeeling Sep 10 #6
Congrats, Bif! SheltieLover Sep 10 #7
34th year of recovery from narcotics. multigraincracker Sep 10 #8
Congrats to you! We're riding the same anniversary boat. KY_EnviroGuy Sep 10 #14
Congrats Mark! FalloutShelter Sep 10 #9
So happy for you! Clouds Passing Sep 10 #10
Happy anniversary, Bif. You've been sober 2190 days, one day at a time. KY_EnviroGuy Sep 10 #11
You're a hero.... bleedingulcers Sep 10 #12
Congratulations! joshdawg Sep 10 #13
Not all heroes wear capes Dear_Prudence Sep 10 #15
Congrats. 32 and counting here n/t if..fish..had..wings Sep 10 #16
Congratulations bif. I'm coming up on 2 years myself. yonder Sep 10 #17
Buy a big ice cream cone. You deserve it. twodogsbarking Sep 10 #18
That's my reward! bif Sep 10 #20
Congratulations!!! Good on you. LoisB Sep 10 #19
congrats . AllaN01Bear Sep 10 #21
A real accomplishment. It takes courage. Ramsey Barner Sep 10 #22
This is a big deal, Bif. Major congratulations! rurallib Sep 10 #23
I gave up drinking bif Sep 10 #41
Whatever it takes! Way to go! rurallib Sep 10 #43
I understand your mixed feelings Rorey Sep 10 #46
For the longest time, I had a lousy attitude about it. bif Sep 10 #49
You are where you are Rorey Sep 10 #56
Congratulations bif! RainCaster Sep 10 #24
What's 90 in 90? bif Sep 10 #39
90 meetings in 90 days- always suggested for the newly sober RainCaster Sep 10 #50
That sounds like an AA thing. bif Sep 10 #52
It is RainCaster Sep 10 #53
Whatever works, is my feeling! bif Sep 10 #54
Congratulations! onecaliberal Sep 10 #25
Congratulations. Keep going! NNadir Sep 10 #26
Congratulations 👏 so happy for you 👍 TommieMommy Sep 10 #27
Congratulations! AltairIV Sep 10 #28
Happy 6th! mahina Sep 10 #29
Nicely done bif! Permanut Sep 10 #30
Good show! ChazInAz Sep 10 #31
Very happy for you! catrose Sep 10 #32
Congratulations!! DemonGoddess Sep 10 #33
Congratulations LetMyPeopleVote Sep 10 #34
39 for me. last month. I remembered a couple of days later. rzemanfl Sep 10 #35
Congratulations! Danmel Sep 10 #36
Congrats! I almost forgot today is mine. 21. johnnyplankton Sep 10 #37
Congratulations orangecrush Sep 10 #38
Congrats! Joinfortmill Sep 10 #40
I'm 71 years old and coming up on four months. Mr.Bill Sep 10 #42
Good for you, Mr. Bill! Rorey Sep 10 #45
Good for you!!! Rorey Sep 10 #44
Keep coming back WmChris Sep 10 #47
Congratulations bif! sdfernando Sep 10 #48
Congratulations! One day at a time.....👍🏻 louslobbs Sep 10 #51
Happy 6th sobriety anniversary! 10 Turtle Day Sep 10 #55
Thanks for the kind words, everyone! bif Sep 11 #57
Sorry I missed this, congratulations! Rhiannon12866 Sep 30 #58

AloeVera

(1,801 posts)
3. Congratulations!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 07:34 AM
Sep 10

Almost 15 years for me. Life is beautiful sober. Keep reaching for who you want to be, it's the journey that matters.

multigraincracker

(33,955 posts)
8. 34th year of recovery from narcotics.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 07:50 AM
Sep 10

I was self medicating for childhood trauma that I didn’t realize until I found a great psychiatrist that solved those feelings. Have never found the need for those drugs after that.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,595 posts)
14. Congrats to you! We're riding the same anniversary boat.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 08:54 AM
Sep 10

Next Saturday, I'll have 34 years of freedom from alcohol addiction and a 77th birthday coming in November.

It's been one hell of a ride.

Jokingly, I'll say I never intend to repeat 90 meetings in 90 days ever again.......

Clouds Passing

(2,053 posts)
10. So happy for you!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 08:36 AM
Sep 10


Every day, I love my sobriety more. I hope you feel that way too.

Be true to your spirit.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,595 posts)
11. Happy anniversary, Bif. You've been sober 2190 days, one day at a time.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 08:46 AM
Sep 10

Hope you can treat yourself to something special. Maybe a sobriety pocket token or some carry-out food.





We need to be grateful to ourselves on occasion!......

yonder

(10,002 posts)
17. Congratulations bif. I'm coming up on 2 years myself.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 08:59 AM
Sep 10

Thanksgiving Day, to be exact and boy howdy, am I ever thankful.

rurallib

(63,148 posts)
23. This is a big deal, Bif. Major congratulations!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 09:09 AM
Sep 10

What did you give up and how did you finally do it?

bif

(23,882 posts)
41. I gave up drinking
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:25 AM
Sep 10

My family did an intervention (which I have mixed feelings about, frankly). I then went into a rehab facility for as long as my insurance would cover it. I think it was three weeks.

Rorey

(8,513 posts)
46. I understand your mixed feelings
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:49 AM
Sep 10

I think most of us would be resistant to something forced, but ultimately YOU were the one to make the decision to stop. I'd say you really did your own intervention (but let them pat themselves on the back if it makes them feel better ).

bif

(23,882 posts)
49. For the longest time, I had a lousy attitude about it.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 11:27 AM
Sep 10

I kept saying to myself, "You guys decided I needed to quit, not me." And if I had made the decision, I would have moved on a lot more quickly. But ultimately, I've realized it's for the best.

And literally, for the first five years, I thought about booze every day. Then something happened around the five-year mark where I stopped thinking about it. I've actually adopted a superiority attitude about not drinking. It's kind of funny, but if you told me I'd feel that way 6 years ago, I'd laugh at the thought.

RainCaster

(11,503 posts)
24. Congratulations bif!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 09:14 AM
Sep 10

I heard at last night's meeting someone say that we should repeat that 90 in 90 thing everytime you move to a new town. That way you will more quickly learn the personalities of all those who are here to help you.

rzemanfl

(30,272 posts)
35. 39 for me. last month. I remembered a couple of days later.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:04 AM
Sep 10

When I worked for a living, I had an appointment book with me all day every day and didn't miss dates.

Congratulations.

johnnyplankton

(446 posts)
37. Congrats! I almost forgot today is mine. 21.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:09 AM
Sep 10

For anybody who's just getting sober, it gets better. Just not right away. But it's SO worth it.

Mr.Bill

(24,747 posts)
42. I'm 71 years old and coming up on four months.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:28 AM
Sep 10

I had an accident that put me in the hospital for 20 days. I fell and my head hit the concrete and I had a traumatic brain bleed and and don't remember what happened for a week. Then spent the rest of the 20 days in a rehab hospital. No one told me, but I decided to quit everything I was doing, which was mainly drinking a lot of bourbon. It's been surprisingly easy to do so far. Has this happened to anyone else? It was literally a near death experience, and I wasn't even drinking that evening.

Rorey

(8,513 posts)
45. Good for you, Mr. Bill!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:44 AM
Sep 10

For my daughter, it took the words of her doctor telling her that she would die if she didn't stop. She had some very rough attempts at quitting. It was hell being at her bedside in the ER, knowing I was going to lose my "little girl". She's in her 40s, so not a little girl, but she'll always be MY little girl.

Rorey

(8,513 posts)
44. Good for you!!!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:39 AM
Sep 10

My daughter is an alcoholic. She hasn't had a drink in at least 4 years. I think that maybe the reason that she didn't note the date of her first day of the rest of her life being sober was because she had tried and slipped quite a few times before it became "real".

My oldest son is also an alcoholic, and he has never even attempted to quit as far as I know. I stopped believing I could be an influence quite a few years ago. I love him, but it's his choice. I had to accept that. I also accept that I probably will outlive him because of his choice.

I love your words of wisdom. It's great advice for everyone. No matter how much any of us dwell on the past, we can't rewrite it. Experiences, good or bad, are lessons.

WmChris

(216 posts)
47. Keep coming back
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:55 AM
Sep 10

The promises will materialize if we work for them. Keep trudgin the road to happy destiny. 🫠

sdfernando

(5,363 posts)
48. Congratulations bif!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:58 AM
Sep 10

So glad you took the journey and I'm proud of how far you've come! One step at a time, one day at a time...and look where you are now!....Congrats!!!!

10 Turtle Day

(420 posts)
55. Happy 6th sobriety anniversary!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 07:51 PM
Sep 10

Life is so much better with a clear head! I celebrated my 35th in the spring. Not with a drink but with reflection on how good my life is and how none of it could have happened if I were still drinking.

Rhiannon12866

(221,049 posts)
58. Sorry I missed this, congratulations!
Mon Sep 30, 2024, 04:57 AM
Sep 30

And it's been my job for 2 AA groups to order and pass out anniversary coins - so here's yours! Well done!!!



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