I'm observing a special anniversary today.

[MarianJack]

Last edited Tue Jan 14, 2020, 07:33 PM - Edit history (1)

30 years ago today, January 14, 1990, was the first day of my sobriety. When I first went into recovery I never imagined the notion of 30 years without booze, but one day at a time, I have now been free of the drunken state for 30 years.

If you are an addicted person, let me say that you can get here from there. 30 years used to be 20, then 10, then 5, then 1, then today.

I can't and won't promise you that life will be PERFECT. I can and will promise you that it will be BETTER.

I don't know what yours or anyone else's "hit bottom" is or will be. I CAN tell you what mine was.

On 1/13/90 I had 14 beers in my refrigerator. I had the day off from work and I drank them all. I was lying on my living room floor (where I usually slept) and I woke up momentarily and saw a rat about a foot away from my nose nibbling on a Burger King wrapper that I had just dropped at my ass. It scared the hell out of me. The thought came to me that the friends of mine whom I routinely told to go fuck themselves when they told me that my drinking was a serious problem just might have a point.

I haven't had one sip of alcohol since.

In jest I frequently say that I stopped boozing because I just got tired of trying to take my pants off over my head. I stole that line from Woody Allen.

Anyway, I don't want to say that I'm proud of this, but I am definitely happier now than then.

That's my 2 cents, and quite possibly overpriced t that.

Thanks for reading.

RESIST!

[H2O Man]

1. Recommended.

[Freedomofspeech]

2. Congratulations!

Happy Special Anniversary!

[Hugin]

3. "I got tired of trying to take my pants off over my head."

Hilarious!

If that's what it takes, more power to it.

[dewsgirl]

4. Congratulations.

You rock. I know how hard it is, 30 years is a long time.

[snowybirdie]

5. Keep on

Keepin on! One day at a time.

[polmaven]

6. Big time congratulations!!

That is a great job!

[backtoblue]

7. Kick and Rec!

[babylonsister]

8. That is really awesome; congratulations!! nt

[lark]

9. Excellent - congratulations.

My son has been clean 9 months and it's been such a life changing time for him and the whole family. I pray every day for his continued sobriety, as I know he is still addicted.

[Scarsdale]

13. Congratulations to your son.

I wish my son would sober up. It is inherited from his father, both grandfathers were addicts, too. Terrible addiction. I am happy when I read about anyone getting sober, and staying sober. 30 years is a great accomplishment. I hope your son reaches that same milestone.

[lark]

42. Genetics can be killer.

One of his granddads was an alcoholic, several of his uncles and great uncles & his dad had hard drug issues at one time. He's paid such a high price in the past, he's finally seen how much better life is off of drugs. Just praying daily he can make it - day by day. Same way you did. I will verbally share this with him, (someone on DU, etc.) he will find your story inspirational. Thank you!

[shanti]

48. Same in my family - genetics

except it's on both sides. Nobody really ever had a chance. Both maternal and paternal gp's were functioning alcoholics. Two on paternal side died from cirrhosis of the liver. Oh, and smokers, all of them. I'm the only one who never touched ciggs. Sis and I both have 4 sons, and 6 out of 8 have alcohol problems. It really is insidious.

[Scarsdale]

49. Cancer can be cut out, treated and

cured. Alcoholism is different. It ruins lives, not just the alcoholic but everyone around them. So much misery is caused by this disease.

[shanti]

61. Agreed

[Freddie]

52. Best wishes to your son!

My son will be clean 4 years next month. His 3rd inpatient rehab finally took. We hope, but as time goes on, feel more comfortable that this time it’s real. One day, one week, one month at a time.

[Docreed2003]

10. K&R

Congratulations!! That's a helluva milestone!

[CaptYossarian]

11. That's great news! I wish you continued success.

[Fla Dem]

12. Heartfelt Congratulations!

[OregonBlue]

14. WELL DONE!!

[jmbar2]

15. Gratitudes from the multitudes of others affected by addiction

You made the world a better place that very first day. I salute you!

[mnhtnbb]

16. Congratulations!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

17. Congratulations MarionJack, I'm right behind you coming up in September.

Seems like a lifetime since that day in 1990, as I've tried to make up for all those lost years. Still trying at 72YO.....

Your story sounds somewhat like mine, as I recall that moment of ego collapse and I drank right up to the hospital parking lot before my wife and I admitted me into detox. Got very lucky and was treated by one of the best alcoholism treatment doctors on the planet, and went to my first meeting in the hospital.

Treat yourself to a brass token and good dinner! Keep on keeping it simple and one day at a time, brother.

KY.......

[kozar]

18. amazing!

I only hope that some day I find your strength!

[dchill]

19. Good for you!

[lunasun]

20. Congrats ! I have an uncle it's been over 35 years . He had to be dried out in a facility

but finally stopped. The younger family can not believe he used to have a drinking problem but he does not hide his past and if offered , tells them why he declines
Plus they do not know him as anything but happy and kind .
As much as you drank and felt sleepy and passed out with a burger at home that same drink would have a different effect on my uncle and would agitate , stirred him , got him in a fight or some trouble out somewhere, so really bad combo that is gone completely
Yay for your 30
one day at a time
🎈🎉🎈🎉🙂🎈🎉🎈🎉

[rurallib]

21. Doesn't it feel good? I am right with you

30 years. Halloween of 1989. No moment of zen.

I was 40 and in a moment of deep thought I realized that at 40 I was the only one still partying. @ 12 beers a day - never really drunk, but pretty much high after 5PM. I grew up with alcoholics and that is what we did - we drank.

My parents were both dead from drink when I was in my 20s. We had 2 kids in HS and I realized I would be just like my parents if I didn't quit.

Oddly for me it wasn't real hard - I was just not doing something I had been doing.
Like you, never a drop since - don't miss it at all.

Major congratulations! Life is so much better sober. Keep it up - hopefully you will inspire others.

Now eating is a whole other story.................

[happybird]

22. Congratulations!

[democrank]

23. Quite an accomplishment, MarianJack!

Hope others are helped by your uplifting message. Thank you.

[rzemanfl]

24. Good work. This coming August it will be 35 years for me. n/t

[Wounded Bear]

25. K & R...

My favorite line was: I'm allergic to alcohol. Every time I drink I break out in handcuffs.

Congrats on your sobriety. I'm running at about 12 years. One day at a time builds up surprisingly fast once you get used to it.

[samnsara]

26. wow!!!!! Congratulations for a job well done!

[Laffy Kat]

27. Courageous post.

Congratulations for your remission of one of the worst diseases imaginable.

[MLAA]

28. Hurray! 🎉🎉💫💫✨🎉🎉💖💖💐

[PatrickforO]

29. Thirty years! A good anniversary.

Alcohol has ruined a good many lives. Good for you that you did not let it ruin yours.

[malaise]

30. Congrats

[MsLeopard]

31. Hearty congratulations!

Good job! You should be proud of yourself.

[sinkingfeeling]

32. Congrats, big anniversity.

[FakeNoose]

33. That's how you do it - one day at a time

Good for you and congratulations!

[mgardener]

34. Congratulations

I admire you.
You must be such a strong person.

[NJCher]

35. Huge accomplishment

Like smoking, it's a really hard thing to do.

Congratulations to you. We should all tip our glasses of iced tea to you today!

[LittleGirl]

36. That's amazing!

I’ve lost a couple of friends and family to alcohol because they continue to drink.
And I don’t want to watch them die or they are already gone.
My 42 year old nephew has been sober a year or so.
Unfortunately he’s a trumper but he’s alive.

[ismnotwasm]

37. K&R

[Peacetrain]

38. Congratulations!!!!

[Sogo]

39. Congratulations!!

[bottomofthehill]

40. Congratulations on your continuing recovery!

I was always fond of telling friends that nothing was bad enough that a few drinks could not make worse. The great Buffalo snow ball story.

To your health!

[Pacifist Patriot]

41. I only have one problem with your post.

1990 was thirty years ago? #$@%*^!!!!

Congrats!

[JuJuYoshida]

43. quitting any addiction is hard!

My congrats to you on a job well done!

[SayItLoud]

44. Happy Birthday! Enjoy. nt.

Thanks for sharing.

[grantcart]

45. Wonderful post and a big thank you to the rat that finally got the message through

[Bernardo de La Paz]

46. +1 for persisting! . . . . nt

[JudyM]

47. Inspirational.

Enjoy that freedom! Congrats!!

[rurallib]

50. BTW - did you ever realize how much money you were spending on booze?

I made a point of saving at least that much every month and it has come to a very nice sum after 30 years.

[HelenWheels]

51. WOW

[DFW]

53. Kudos from one who has never been there

But I have seen plenty of people who have, and removing that monkey from your back is far more difficult than any of us who have never been there can ever imagine.

[kag]

54. My grandfather died of alcoholism.

Technically, it was a stroke, but really it was the smoking and drinking.

I have had my own issues (someday I'll tell that story here, but today is not that day). I know how hard it is, what you've done.

Stay strong, my friend.

And congratulations!

[CentralMass]

55. Congratulations on that great milestone

[Warpy]

56. My ex has about the same

He wasn't a bad guy, just a drunk, and I am glad he was able to face his own demons. I know how tough it is, he would call me when he couldn't get in touch with his sponsor. In the early days, it was 5 minutes at a time, not one day at a time.

So congratulations on moving through 5 minutes at a time to an hour at a time to a day at a time until, whoops, it's been 30 years, how the hell did that happen?

That rat (yuck!) saved your life. I don't know the full story about my ex's bottom, only that he had to have booze with him all the time in case his hands started to shake and the terror started to move in. I am glad he is sober.

I am glad you are sober today. Tomorrow can take care of itself.

[soldierant]

58. I am very, very glad for you.

I don't have the words to tell you just how glad.

[Hekate]

57. Warm congratulations to you and your cohort in this thread.

[GeoWilliam750]

59. Good on you

[OneCrazyDiamond]

60. Good job

Reaching out to others who may be struggling.

Watching my brother made me stop before I had any issue. I wish for nothing more then for him to get it together.

[marble falls]

62. That is a serious accomplisnemt of joyful import! Congratulations! Be proud, for goodness sakes!

[smirkymonkey]

63. Congratulations MarianJack!

30 years is an amazing milestone! Hell, one year is an amazing accomplishment. You should be very proud of yourself for staying sober a day at a time for 30 years. Longer than some people here have been alive!

[majdrfrtim]

64. Today's Day 14,736 for me, MJ

Thank you for sharing your recovery. Keep on keeping it simple!

It works, if we let it!

Tim

[catrose]

65. Congratulations! Hoping for 30 more, one day at a time

[Permanut]

66. Nicely done, MarianJack..

I just went over 25 years. That's a lot of days taken one at a time.

[yonder]

67. What a milestone and congratulations.

[Stinky The Clown]

68. As a politician once accidentally said in front of an open mic: This is a big big fucking deal!

Sincere congrats!!

[JDC]

69. They say year 31 is the hardest

Congrats! ODAAT.

If you don't mind, can as I cross post this in the Addiction & Recovery Forum?

[MarianJack]

71. Sure!

RESIST!

[Skittles]

70. freaking awesome

well done MarianJack

[orleans]

72. i'm really happy for you

[calimary]

73. Awwwwww, WUNNNNNNNNderful!

Congratulations, MarianJack!

That is an outstanding accomplishment! Absolutely magnificent!

Well done!!!