April 17th - my sober anniversary
The difference a year makes
April 17th, is my sober anniversary.
Tomorrow, I’ll be one year sober.
Life and my outlook on it, who I am, my nervous system, anxiety level, and mental health is very, very different than it was a year ago.
And I am so, so thankful.
I wrote “April 17, 2024: on the mirror in my bathroom and made a commitment to myself and to the world not to drink again.
And the results - a year later, more content, sleeping better, less anxiety, a more regulated nervous system, peace, joy, gratitude.
The rock bottom and coming to the end of the road was rough -
But, as was told to me when I first came in -
Rock bottom is also a great a place to build from.
A much, much better foundation than the one I had before.
Reflecting on my experience(s) over the last year, and really—over the last few years, and even beginning in 2015, after my dad died, and my abusive relationship with alcohol began -
I am able to sit with my pain and grief now, and not repress - either through alcohol or any other substance, or even through pushing down the feelings.
And it’s liberating.