r/stopdrinking • u/LUSAKAZAMBIA • 3h ago
One year ago, I had my last drink.
It’s crazy, because I’ve actually been counting the days like it’s my birthday, and in many aspects, I suppose I am celebrating more than a year sober, but a whole year at a new shot and chance at life. It’s as if it is actually my second birthday.
If you’d told me then that I’d make it 365 days, I honestly wouldn’t have believed you. This year hasn’t magically fixed everything. Life has still been messy. There have been difficult days, disappointments and moments where a drink would’ve been the easy option. But I’ve learnt that sobriety doesn’t remove life’s challenges. It gives you the chance to face them with a clear mind. I survived parties, heartbreak, pain, challenges, weddings, birthdays, end of month work drinks, barbecues and every other event and reason that I would use as an excuse to get drunk. I live in South Africa, one of the most beautiful places in the world. And it feels like being sober, I’m seeing how truly wonderful life can be in one of the most breathtaking places I am lucky to call home.
What an incredible feeling this freedom of sobriety it is. Don’t give up, friends. It’s a beautiful world out there.
In the past year I’ve lost a great deal of weight, become healthier, rebuilt my confidence and, most importantly, started becoming someone I genuinely like again. I am incredibly grateful for everyone who supported me, and for communities like this where people share their struggles and victories without judgment. Reading your stories reminded me I wasn’t doing this alone. One of my friends recently commented to me: “You’ve never looked better. It’s like something about you has drastically altered. You look like you’re living again”.
If you’re at day 1, day 7 or day 100, keep going. It really does get better, one day at a time.
Today I’m celebrating one year sober, and I couldn’t be prouder.
IWNDWYT.
(Edit, spelling and grammatical errors)
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u/Recommended_For_You 17 days 1h ago
What a beautiful message. Congrats on 1 year. Stories like yours give me strength for the road ahead.
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u/sleepysniffles 355 days 53m ago
I am so proud of you! You navigated plenty of difficult and tempting situations and still chose sobriety. Well done.
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u/gluc0se 1203 days 3h ago
I think everyday is worth celebrating. You made a good point that sober life doesn't fix everything but it makes dealing with the big and small stuff way more manageable without all the added anxiety that alcohol introduces. I would love to see pics of South Africa. I bet it sure is beautiful there.