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bif

(24,233 posts)
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 07:26 AM Sep 2024

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 2024 OP
Congratulations! I'm at 3 1/2 years and counting... Dennis Donovan Sep 2024 #1
Congrats bif. NoMoreRepugs Sep 2024 #2
Congratulations! AloeVera Sep 2024 #3
Good for you. bullimiami Sep 2024 #4
Keep looking forward. Congratuations, it ain't so easy as some might think. marble falls Sep 2024 #5
Congratulations. Keep on, keepin' on. sinkingfeeling Sep 2024 #6
Congrats, Bif! SheltieLover Sep 2024 #7
34th year of recovery from narcotics. multigraincracker Sep 2024 #8
Congrats to you! We're riding the same anniversary boat. KY_EnviroGuy Sep 2024 #14
Congrats Mark! FalloutShelter Sep 2024 #9
So happy for you! Clouds Passing Sep 2024 #10
Happy anniversary, Bif. You've been sober 2190 days, one day at a time. KY_EnviroGuy Sep 2024 #11
You're a hero.... bleedingulcers Sep 2024 #12
Congratulations! joshdawg Sep 2024 #13
Not all heroes wear capes Dear_Prudence Sep 2024 #15
Congrats. 32 and counting here n/t if..fish..had..wings Sep 2024 #16
Congratulations bif. I'm coming up on 2 years myself. yonder Sep 2024 #17
Buy a big ice cream cone. You deserve it. twodogsbarking Sep 2024 #18
That's my reward! bif Sep 2024 #20
Congratulations!!! Good on you. LoisB Sep 2024 #19
congrats . AllaN01Bear Sep 2024 #21
A real accomplishment. It takes courage. Ramsey Barner Sep 2024 #22
This is a big deal, Bif. Major congratulations! rurallib Sep 2024 #23
I gave up drinking bif Sep 2024 #41
Whatever it takes! Way to go! rurallib Sep 2024 #43
I understand your mixed feelings Rorey Sep 2024 #46
For the longest time, I had a lousy attitude about it. bif Sep 2024 #49
You are where you are Rorey Sep 2024 #56
Congratulations bif! RainCaster Sep 2024 #24
What's 90 in 90? bif Sep 2024 #39
90 meetings in 90 days- always suggested for the newly sober RainCaster Sep 2024 #50
That sounds like an AA thing. bif Sep 2024 #52
It is RainCaster Sep 2024 #53
Whatever works, is my feeling! bif Sep 2024 #54
Congratulations! onecaliberal Sep 2024 #25
Congratulations. Keep going! NNadir Sep 2024 #26
Congratulations 👏 so happy for you 👍 TommieMommy Sep 2024 #27
Congratulations! AltairIV Sep 2024 #28
Happy 6th! mahina Sep 2024 #29
Nicely done bif! Permanut Sep 2024 #30
Good show! ChazInAz Sep 2024 #31
Very happy for you! catrose Sep 2024 #32
Congratulations!! DemonGoddess Sep 2024 #33
Congratulations LetMyPeopleVote Sep 2024 #34
39 for me. last month. I remembered a couple of days later. rzemanfl Sep 2024 #35
Congratulations! Danmel Sep 2024 #36
Congrats! I almost forgot today is mine. 21. johnnyplankton Sep 2024 #37
Congratulations orangecrush Sep 2024 #38
Congrats! Joinfortmill Sep 2024 #40
I'm 71 years old and coming up on four months. Mr.Bill Sep 2024 #42
Good for you, Mr. Bill! Rorey Sep 2024 #45
Good for you!!! Rorey Sep 2024 #44
Keep coming back WmChris Sep 2024 #47
Congratulations bif! sdfernando Sep 2024 #48
Congratulations! One day at a time.....👍🏻 louslobbs Sep 2024 #51
Happy 6th sobriety anniversary! 10 Turtle Day Sep 2024 #55
Thanks for the kind words, everyone! bif Sep 2024 #57
Sorry I missed this, congratulations! Rhiannon12866 Sep 30 #58

AloeVera

(2,006 posts)
3. Congratulations!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 07:34 AM
Sep 2024

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

multigraincracker

(34,283 posts)
8. 34th year of recovery from narcotics.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 07:50 AM
Sep 2024

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

(14,606 posts)
14. Congrats to you! We're riding the same anniversary boat.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 08:54 AM
Sep 2024

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

(2,686 posts)
10. So happy for you!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 08:36 AM
Sep 2024


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

Be true to your spirit.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,606 posts)
11. Happy anniversary, Bif. You've been sober 2190 days, one day at a time.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 08:46 AM
Sep 2024

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

(10,006 posts)
17. Congratulations bif. I'm coming up on 2 years myself.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 08:59 AM
Sep 2024

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

bif

(24,233 posts)
20. That's my reward!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 09:04 AM
Sep 2024

I have a bowl of ice cream every day I make it through without a drink!

rurallib

(63,284 posts)
23. This is a big deal, Bif. Major congratulations!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 09:09 AM
Sep 2024

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

bif

(24,233 posts)
41. I gave up drinking
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:25 AM
Sep 2024

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 2024

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

(24,233 posts)
49. For the longest time, I had a lousy attitude about it.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 11:27 AM
Sep 2024

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

(11,645 posts)
24. Congratulations bif!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 09:14 AM
Sep 2024

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.

Permanut

(6,713 posts)
30. Nicely done bif!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 09:42 AM
Sep 2024

Coming up in 30 years in a couple of weeks. Life is good now one day at a time.

rzemanfl

(30,299 posts)
35. 39 for me. last month. I remembered a couple of days later.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:04 AM
Sep 2024

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

Congratulations.

johnnyplankton

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

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

Mr.Bill

(24,861 posts)
42. I'm 71 years old and coming up on four months.
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:28 AM
Sep 2024

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 2024

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 2024

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

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

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

sdfernando

(5,421 posts)
48. Congratulations bif!
Tue Sep 10, 2024, 10:58 AM
Sep 2024

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

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

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

(224,162 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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