Yesterday was my 6th anniversary of sobriety

[bif]

Somehow I missed it. I don't really keep track of dates. I must say, it's been an interesting journey.

To all those new to recovery, if I can do it, you can too. Just hang in there. Someone gave me some great advice early on, and I'll always be grateful to her for these words of wisdom:

Don't focus on who you were, but who you want to be.

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Congratulations! I'm at 3 1/2 years and counting...

Never felt better!

[NoMoreRepugs]

2. Congrats bif.

[AloeVera]

3. Congratulations!

Almost 15 years for me. Life is beautiful sober. Keep reaching for who you want to be, it's the journey that matters.

[bullimiami]

4. Good for you.

[marble falls]

5. Keep looking forward. Congratuations, it ain't so easy as some might think.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Congratulations. Keep on, keepin' on.

[SheltieLover]

7. Congrats, Bif!

[multigraincracker]

8. 34th year of recovery from narcotics.

I was self medicating for childhood trauma that I didn’t realize until I found a great psychiatrist that solved those feelings. Have never found the need for those drugs after that.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

14. Congrats to you! We're riding the same anniversary boat.

Next Saturday, I'll have 34 years of freedom from alcohol addiction and a 77th birthday coming in November.

It's been one hell of a ride.

Jokingly, I'll say I never intend to repeat 90 meetings in 90 days ever again.......

[FalloutShelter]

9. Congrats Mark!

No mud no lotus, Baby!

[Clouds Passing]

10. So happy for you!

Every day, I love my sobriety more. I hope you feel that way too.

Be true to your spirit.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

11. Happy anniversary, Bif. You've been sober 2190 days, one day at a time.

Hope you can treat yourself to something special. Maybe a sobriety pocket token or some carry-out food.





We need to be grateful to ourselves on occasion!......

[bleedingulcers]

12. You're a hero....

nothing less!

[joshdawg]

13. Congratulations!

6yrs is a looooong time.

FWIW, 27 years for me.

[Dear_Prudence]

15. Not all heroes wear capes

Congratulations!

[if..fish..had..wings]

16. Congrats. 32 and counting here n/t

[yonder]

17. Congratulations bif. I'm coming up on 2 years myself.

Thanksgiving Day, to be exact and boy howdy, am I ever thankful.

[twodogsbarking]

18. Buy a big ice cream cone. You deserve it.

[bif]

20. That's my reward!

I have a bowl of ice cream every day I make it through without a drink!

[LoisB]

19. Congratulations!!! Good on you.

[AllaN01Bear]

21. congrats .

[Ramsey Barner]

22. A real accomplishment. It takes courage.

[rurallib]

23. This is a big deal, Bif. Major congratulations!

What did you give up and how did you finally do it?

[bif]

41. I gave up drinking

My family did an intervention (which I have mixed feelings about, frankly). I then went into a rehab facility for as long as my insurance would cover it. I think it was three weeks.

[rurallib]

43. Whatever it takes! Way to go!

[Rorey]

46. I understand your mixed feelings

I think most of us would be resistant to something forced, but ultimately YOU were the one to make the decision to stop. I'd say you really did your own intervention (but let them pat themselves on the back if it makes them feel better ).

[bif]

49. For the longest time, I had a lousy attitude about it.

I kept saying to myself, "You guys decided I needed to quit, not me." And if I had made the decision, I would have moved on a lot more quickly. But ultimately, I've realized it's for the best.

And literally, for the first five years, I thought about booze every day. Then something happened around the five-year mark where I stopped thinking about it. I've actually adopted a superiority attitude about not drinking. It's kind of funny, but if you told me I'd feel that way 6 years ago, I'd laugh at the thought.

[Rorey]

56. You are where you are

And that's what matters.

[RainCaster]

24. Congratulations bif!

I heard at last night's meeting someone say that we should repeat that 90 in 90 thing everytime you move to a new town. That way you will more quickly learn the personalities of all those who are here to help you.

[bif]

39. What's 90 in 90?

[RainCaster]

50. 90 meetings in 90 days- always suggested for the newly sober

[bif]

52. That sounds like an AA thing.

I do SMART meetings.

[RainCaster]

53. It is

SMART works, too I've seen. AA did it for me.

[bif]

54. Whatever works, is my feeling!

[onecaliberal]

25. Congratulations!

That is great advice for anyone.

[NNadir]

26. Congratulations. Keep going!

[TommieMommy]

27. Congratulations 👏 so happy for you 👍

[AltairIV]

28. Congratulations!

[mahina]

29. Happy 6th!

Congratulations!

[Permanut]

30. Nicely done bif!

Coming up in 30 years in a couple of weeks. Life is good now one day at a time.

[ChazInAz]

31. Good show!

Forty-three years, and my day is the Ides of March...fitting for an actor!

[catrose]

32. Very happy for you!

[DemonGoddess]

33. Congratulations!!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

34. Congratulations

[rzemanfl]

35. 39 for me. last month. I remembered a couple of days later.

When I worked for a living, I had an appointment book with me all day every day and didn't miss dates.

Congratulations.

[Danmel]

36. Congratulations!

Wishing you continued success and good health.

[johnnyplankton]

37. Congrats! I almost forgot today is mine. 21.

For anybody who's just getting sober, it gets better. Just not right away. But it's SO worth it.

[orangecrush]

38. Congratulations

[Joinfortmill]

40. Congrats!

[Mr.Bill]

42. I'm 71 years old and coming up on four months.

I had an accident that put me in the hospital for 20 days. I fell and my head hit the concrete and I had a traumatic brain bleed and and don't remember what happened for a week. Then spent the rest of the 20 days in a rehab hospital. No one told me, but I decided to quit everything I was doing, which was mainly drinking a lot of bourbon. It's been surprisingly easy to do so far. Has this happened to anyone else? It was literally a near death experience, and I wasn't even drinking that evening.

[Rorey]

45. Good for you, Mr. Bill!

For my daughter, it took the words of her doctor telling her that she would die if she didn't stop. She had some very rough attempts at quitting. It was hell being at her bedside in the ER, knowing I was going to lose my "little girl". She's in her 40s, so not a little girl, but she'll always be MY little girl.

[Rorey]

44. Good for you!!!

My daughter is an alcoholic. She hasn't had a drink in at least 4 years. I think that maybe the reason that she didn't note the date of her first day of the rest of her life being sober was because she had tried and slipped quite a few times before it became "real".

My oldest son is also an alcoholic, and he has never even attempted to quit as far as I know. I stopped believing I could be an influence quite a few years ago. I love him, but it's his choice. I had to accept that. I also accept that I probably will outlive him because of his choice.

I love your words of wisdom. It's great advice for everyone. No matter how much any of us dwell on the past, we can't rewrite it. Experiences, good or bad, are lessons.

[WmChris]

47. Keep coming back

The promises will materialize if we work for them. Keep trudgin the road to happy destiny. 🫠

[sdfernando]

48. Congratulations bif!

So glad you took the journey and I'm proud of how far you've come! One step at a time, one day at a time...and look where you are now!....Congrats!!!!

[louslobbs]

51. Congratulations! One day at a time.....👍🏻

N/T

[10 Turtle Day]

55. Happy 6th sobriety anniversary!

Life is so much better with a clear head! I celebrated my 35th in the spring. Not with a drink but with reflection on how good my life is and how none of it could have happened if I were still drinking.

[bif]

57. Thanks for the kind words, everyone!

[Rhiannon12866]

58. Sorry I missed this, congratulations!

And it's been my job for 2 AA groups to order and pass out anniversary coins - so here's yours! Well done!!!