Image: On the left, at peak drinking time / On the right, a few weeks ago, almost one year sober.

“Wow I can’t even believe I’m typing this! If you’re reading this it’s because I made it.  I made it to one full year without alcohol.  On May 6, 2013 I took my last drink.  I will never forget how it felt.  I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I was tired of being the party girl, I was tired of feeling like shit, I was tired of disappointing and embarrassing my friends and loved ones.  I decided I needed a big change. Trying to drink in moderation hadn’t proved to be the best option for me.  It never worked.  Enough was enough.  I tried something that I never did before – stopped drinking alcohol completely.

When I started this sober journey I wasn’t sure how long it would last and now I can’t imagine going back to how my life was before.  The positives have been plentiful and the negatives have been slim to none.

Here’s what I’ve learned in my one year sans alcohol:

1.  MY SENSES ARE HEIGHTENED X1000 – A Year Without Alcohol

2.  I’M JUST BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND WHO I REALLY AM – A Year Without Alcohol

I’ve been learning that there are things I thought I liked that I really don’t like and things I like that  I never knew I did.  I’m learning how to socialize and be myself with friends and family without the crutch of alcohol.  I learned that waking up on the weekend without a hangover, having a cup of coffee, and going for a run is exactly what I want to be doing.  I’m learning that person who was under the cloud of constant alcohol black outs for the last several years was not me.  I am not the stupid embarrassing things I did, I am a real person who does not mix well with alcohol.

3.  ALCOHOL WAS NOT FUN FOR ME ANYMORE – A Year Without Alcohol

4.  MY LIFE IS MANAGEABLE – A Year Without Alcohol

5.  I AM WORTHY OF LOVE – A Year Without Alcohol

I’m positive I have been sabotaging my romantic relationships for a long time.  Why? Now that might take years to find out, but the drinking just helped fuel this problem.  It supported, encouraged, and justified bad decisions of all kinds, especially those related to men.  What I didn’t realize until the drinking stopped was that I am capable of being in a normal relationship and I do in fact, deserve to be loved.  You see, I had this way of thinking that since I was fucked up, I was meant to be in a fucked up relationship.  Now I know that is crazy talk.  I am lucky enough to be in a loving, healthy relationship with an amazing man who has helped show me that I deserve all the love in the world and I am finally starting to believe him.

6.  TOXIC PEOPLE ARE JUST LIKE TOXIC HABITS – A Year Without Alcohol

7.  I’M NOT PERFECT AND THAT’S OK – A Year Without Alcohol

I never thought that sobriety would be my preferred way of life, but now I can’t imagine going back to my party girl ways.  I never dreamed I would feel SO happy, full, and healthy living a life without drugs and alcohol.  I was always that girl who needed alcohol to have fun and now I am a testament to the fact that you don’t need it to enjoy yourself. I wake up every day feeling relieved that I never have to feel hungover.  I hope that by sharing my story other party girls (and boys) will have the courage to put down the drink and live the life they have always imagined.  The best is yet to come.”

You can read the entire post of A Year Without Alcohol by Kelly Fitzgerald, I have included just an excerpt.

Credits: The Adventures of a Sober Señorita via whydontyoutrythis.com

I only included Kelly’s descriptions of her experiences of improved relationships and learning who she is, since relationships and self-discovery are two of my areas of focus as a Holistic Counseling Services. All of her points are informative and helpful. This line stands out the most to me, “What I didn’t realize until the drinking stopped was that I am capable of being in a normal relationship and I do in fact, deserve to be loved.” Many people who are in the throws of addiction, rarely feel like they are capable of maintaining healthy, positive relationships rooted in love, honesty and respect for self and a partner. This is so important! You can have healthy relationships again with hard work and support. For some people, this may be a new concept, since many in recovery have never enjoyed healthy relationships, thinking they are permanently broken and unrepairable. It is not true and needs further exploration.

For more information about recovery, alcoholism, addiction and creating healthy relationships, please contact me or someone you feel is the right person to support your journey forward.

More posts you may enjoy:

Doubt

A Sober and Healthy Life

How Successful People Stay Calm

17 Lies We Need to Stop Teaching Girls

Things Your Couples Counselor Already Knows About Your Relationship

Do Something Good For Someone Else and Don’t Get Caught – Kindness

Michael Swerdloff

Providence Holistic Counseling Services