Twenty six years without a drink.

[Devlyn]

Today is my anniversary. I'm not proud of the fact that ticking off years since I last drank means so much to me. However, being an alcoholic is part of me, all I can do is embrace my past, but keep moving away from it. For anyone on the road to recovery, stick with it, the long term benefits are worth the struggle. You can do it! Hugs, Devlyn

[Catherine Sarah]

A MIGHTY big congratulations to you Hun, for an awesome effort.
You need to be extremely proud of yourself for that achievement.
I know how individual our journeys are, but it's moments like this we need to celebrate.
It's the positive aspects that we need to focus on. The improved self esteem and confidence,
the simple fact of knowing it was started with just a decision. And WOW, look what you've done.
For a start, this is a group Aussie for your achievement.
Now go and get yourself a Vegemite and Peanut Butter sandwich and a glass of Sharpe Bros. lemonade. The GodMother will be here soon to help you blow out the candles. Karen and kelly will be in as soon as they have had their beauty sleep.  ( ..... Oh dear ! Do you have that long to wait?)

Do you need a fire permit to have 26 candles on a cake?

Huggs
Catherine

[Shantel]

Congratulations Devlyn! Wow!  I come from Finnish/Norwegian stock and share that same propensity for alcoholism. I can honestly say that up to a month ago I was what one would call a maintenance level alcoholic because I did enjoy my two doubles each evening. However, I learned that the drinks coupled with my HRT produced some nasty leg cramps so I finally re-read chapter five in the big book and quit altogether. Anyway, it was those awful Aussies fault, they got me started back in the day with those frosty pints of 6% lager. 

[veritatemfurto]

Congrats Dev!  I'll raise a glass in your honor (chocolate soy milk of course:P)

Last time I had any alcohol was in 2009. didn't need much only a shot of Morgan was enough so I''m glad I never really got into it considering my family's pinch of Irish  and how drunk my ex's parents were with pain pills... not a good mix.

cheerio

Mel

[Gretchen]

Happy B-Day Devlyn, you can't hear it but I am clapping.

[Devlyn]

Thank you friends. My biologics don't acknowledge the occasion, but I knew I would find support from my Family here! Hugs, Devlyn

[Jamie D]

Today is my anniversary. I'm not proud of the fact that ticking off years since I last drank means so much to me. However, being an alcoholic is part of me, all I can do is embrace my past, but keep moving away from it. For anyone on the road to recovery, stick with it, the long term benefits are worth the struggle. You can do it! Hugs, Devlyn

That's fantastic.  You are to be commended.

[Sarah Louise]

I'm at 37 years without a drink.

[Catherine Sarah]

A mighty big congratulations to you too Sarah.
Apart from feeling mighty proud of yourself, for such an achievement,
you must be feeling soooo much healthier for it as well.

Be proud.
Huggs
Catherine

[Devlyn]

Sarah, that is very good! I am proud of you, naturally! Keep up the good work, hugs, Devlyn

[Padma]

Congratulations - keep making the good choices for yourselves, good people xxx

(I haven't had a drink since I began HRT 5 months ago - because I haven't wanted to avoid being myself any more.)

[kelly_aus]

OMG, how did I miss this thread?

Congrats to both Dev and Sarah! I don't honestly remember the date I quit meth, but I'm at about 10 years clean, so I do understand what addiction is like..

Hugs,
Kelly

[Devlyn]

Nice work, Padma! I hope that someday you're posting big numbers here, too! Hugs, Devlyn oops, new post, thanks, Kelly, and congratulations to you as well! Hugs, Devlyn

[Gretchen]

Congratulations - keep making the good choices for yourselves, good people xxx

(I haven't had a drink since I began HRT 5 months ago - because I haven't wanted to avoid being myself any more.)

HRT was big for me as well when it came to my alcoholism. I didn't need to hide me anymore and I couldn't let me out while drinking. 20months

[Sarah Louise]

I quit when I was 30.  One night I found myself waiting for my kids to go to bed so I could have a drink (it made me remember the years of being at the Moose Club (glorified bar) all night 6 night a week with my parents.  I decided I didn't want my kids going through something like that so the next morning infront of the kids I poured every bottle I had down the drain.

I have not had a drink of liquor since, even though there are still days I would kill for a shot of bourbon or vodka.

[Padma]

Oddly, I fended off alcohol for a number of years because I knew it would make me tell the truth, and I didn't dare tell the truth. Now I can tell the truth, and I don't drink it because I don't like myself as much on it as off it, and I like liking myself.

People are puzzled that I live on the back of a pub when I don't drink, but there's just no appeal. Plus living in close proximity to drunk people is kind of like visiting friends with kids when you're in danger of feeling broody .

[Shantel]

Good for all of you, it's so toxic anyway! Like I said I finally put my two shot evening cocktail to rest once and for all quite recently. But when I was much younger I had a real big problem with it coupled with a Jekyll and Hyde personality when I went over a certain limit. It was hard on my face dealing with knuckle sandwiches from insulted bar patrons.