9/9/18. Tomorrow's my 5th anniversary of sobriety!

[bif]

I honestly didn't think I'd make it this far. It's been an interesting road I've been on. My wife and two daughters did an intervention and put me into recovery. I was pretty resentful for many years. I'd say to myself, "You guys made the decision, not me. I'd be a lot more committed if I chose to quit." Well, I've finally gotten over that. And these days, I rarely think about drinking. I've almost developed a superiority attitude. Like, I don't need to drink. I mentally scoffed the other day when I saw someone at the grocery store loading wine bottles into one of those 6-pack cloth bags!

I've come a long way, that's for sure! For all you in early recovery, hang in there. If I can do it, so can you!

I forgot to give SMART Recovery a great big thanks for keeping me on the path.

[magicarpet]

1. .

[MLAA]

2. Congrats on you major milestone!

[KPN]

3. Wow! Congratulations bif! I don't know a single "former alcoholic" or whatever the right term is

who isn't a happy person because of it. That's the definition of a successful life in my book -- being happy. Nothing matters more than happiness.

[MOMFUDSKI]

4. Fabulous!

Keep on keeping on

[Joinfortmill]

5. Congratulations! My addiction was nicotine. It was fierce getting off of it.

Almost 20 years now. Every once in awhile the urge passes through me. Gives me the shivers. Stay cool, man.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

6. CONGRATULATIONS!

[Blues Heron]

7. congrats! Its a little like flying a plane with a really stiff yoke

pulling out of that spiral is a monumental effort, and flying straight is also hard!

[Runningdawg]

8. Bravo!!

Any words of wisdom for the wife of an alcoholic? Besides get out - which would leave me homeless?

[bif]

9. If all else fails, consider an intervention.

[Runningdawg]

10. Attempted several years ago - he ended up in jail and almost died from the DTs

No insurance, no money for rehab.

[BWdem4life]

12. One word

Al-Anon.

https://al-anon.org/

(For you. Changing another person is not usually possible, they have to make that decision themselves - although interventions have occasionally been successful if the timing is right.)

[Runningdawg]

16. No thanks. I tried it years ago. W-A-Y to much praying to jesus for this atheist.

[BWdem4life]

17. Well if they are praying to Jesus they're doing it wrong.

Well I wouldn't go either if they were pushing religion, I'm agnostic.

[BWdem4life]

11. Enjoy it...

That's the last fifth you'll ever have.

[RainCaster]

13. Good for you, bif!

25 months for me. Also because of an intervention, wife and kids. Best thing that has ever happened to me, except for her saying yes 43 years ago.

24 hours at a time. That's all I have to do.

[Bristlecone]

14. 5 years is a long time. Congrats.

I’m sure some ice cream will make its way into your celebration.
🍨

[Rhiannon12866]

15. Congratulations, well done! And I agree, you've shown it can be done...