485 days sober, and I deleted all the social apps from my phone yesterday. My newly sober days were FULL of activity, and the pendulum has swung the other way. Maybe it’s a winter thing. Who knows? That’s funny I went deep into quit-lit and decided I should write my sober year memoir too. I even thought about learning to become a yoga instructor. It almost feels like that’s part of a sobriety syllabus-coming back into our bodies and heads. Makes sense. I look forward to the new Sunday newsletter. I love your cheese!
Right? I mean, I appreciate the next layers in longer-term sobriety too. I just don't always find them as fun :). Hearts to you, Dee. Thank you for being here.
My relationships with meth ended abruptly on June 15, 2017. I never thought about it in these terms, but my sobriety is finishing 1st grade this spring.
I have been thinking about early sobriety a lot lately. I miss having the luxury of focusing exclusively on the current moment and the privilege of every thought being a ray of fucking sunshine. In 2023, I quit Nicotine, vaping, alcohol, and an abusive relationship and more. I feel better, but I don't have the same positive attitude I had in 2019. It's a bit of a disappointment.
I love your idea for your paid subscribers. I hope you have amazing success with it.
Huge celebration of your sobriety and nearing the end of first grade, Kati! And wow, huge recognition for all that you found freedom from this year. That’s a lot and sounds like anything but sunshine on the frontend (although I hope some rays get through :).
I hear you on how early sobriety can be an opportunity to have a clear single focus. “Recovery comes first” comes to mind. I love that phrase, and it helped me give myself extra grace and space in 2020. And yet…I never gave myself the same grace and space that I wish for others in recovery. I tried, but unhelpful patterns still had (and have) a pretty deep hold.
Wishing you much grace and space to hold all of it right now, Kati. I’m cheering you on, and thank you for being here and for your kind words!
I never thought of having a sober birthday because I’m not sure whether to take the 50 other stints of sobriety or the day I made a big decision, or the day I wrote an article.
I’ve never even really heard of the sober “birthday”, but just seen people celebrate the benchmark date!
Thank you, Kiểu. And I think it all counts! I personally like having a day to commemorate the occasion, but I stopped keeping the day count after hitting one year. Up until that point, counting days offered me an added layer of motivation (I didn't want to restart the clock; but also, we're never back where we started anyway). Sending you so much care as you find the path that best supports you and your journey!
I, too, miss early sobriety’s magic. My experience early on was more pink clouds than gray skies. Year two, for me, was harder. Like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
My 3 year soberversary is coming up (Jan 2nd) and I feel like I’m being cracked open all over again (in all the good ways). I attribute that to a writing practice that I’ve committed to for the first time. I so look forward to your Sunday offerings and thank you for the cheese 🧀 (I’m a fan of your big heart and big feelings!) and for your continued service. 🫶✨💚
Thank you so much, Allison. For your share and kind words, for welcoming my 🧀, and for your writing and service.
And heart-sourced recognition and celebration of your almost 3 years! But I know, right? It's like each phase holds new layers, challenges, blessings, and places of practice. Similar to you, I've found writing has an essential place in all of it. So grateful for our connection in this space, and sending many hearts your way. 🫶
My sober birthday is June 1st 2023 so I am just over 6 months. The first week I was on a high but it seemed to fade quite quickly for me. I don't think it was helped by the fact that I damaged my tendon and couldn't work out and become the super health Becky I saw in my mind.
I think my next one is to stop being on my phone so much. I deleted the Substack app to give myself a break over the Yule/Christmas period and now I can't stop checking my emails! It's just habit and it's infuriating.
Heart-sourced recognition and celebration of your 6+ months, Becky. That's huge. And oof. Sometimes the Universe sure does bring it on. Sending wishes for swift healing your way.
The "checking" habit is so hard! Although I seem to have escaped social media's clutches, I've barely even approached my email checking habit. Cheering you on in your own journey with it all!
Fellow nostalgia junkie here... now if only I could develop that level of appreciation for life as it's actually happening!! 🤔 Congratulations on your 4 year anniversary ❤️
I hear you on that, Vicki. Interestingly, I experience the present as full of gratitude intertwined with anticipatory grief. Sigh... We humans... Thank you for the congrats and hearts to you!
485 days sober, and I deleted all the social apps from my phone yesterday. My newly sober days were FULL of activity, and the pendulum has swung the other way. Maybe it’s a winter thing. Who knows? That’s funny I went deep into quit-lit and decided I should write my sober year memoir too. I even thought about learning to become a yoga instructor. It almost feels like that’s part of a sobriety syllabus-coming back into our bodies and heads. Makes sense. I look forward to the new Sunday newsletter. I love your cheese!
Huge recognition and congrats, Julie! And big yes on the sobriety syllabus :) and getting back into our bodies and heads. 🧀🧀
“I miss early sobriety’s magic. I miss how it cracked me wide open.”
Me too. Something about doing the unthinkable. It’s more elusive in long term recovery.
Thanks Dana. 🙏
Right? I mean, I appreciate the next layers in longer-term sobriety too. I just don't always find them as fun :). Hearts to you, Dee. Thank you for being here.
I recently hit 1000 days and got my first tattoo in celebration of that 🥳
Woohoo!!! Celebrating you, Emily! And yay for tattoos!
Congratulations on your upcoming four year anniversary, Dana!
Thank you so much, Diana! Hearts to you!
Congrats on 4 Dana!👏🏼I’m a little over 4 yrs so we could be in the same preschool class 🤩
Thank you, Becca, and congrats to you! We'll rule the school! 😄
My relationships with meth ended abruptly on June 15, 2017. I never thought about it in these terms, but my sobriety is finishing 1st grade this spring.
I have been thinking about early sobriety a lot lately. I miss having the luxury of focusing exclusively on the current moment and the privilege of every thought being a ray of fucking sunshine. In 2023, I quit Nicotine, vaping, alcohol, and an abusive relationship and more. I feel better, but I don't have the same positive attitude I had in 2019. It's a bit of a disappointment.
I love your idea for your paid subscribers. I hope you have amazing success with it.
Huge celebration of your sobriety and nearing the end of first grade, Kati! And wow, huge recognition for all that you found freedom from this year. That’s a lot and sounds like anything but sunshine on the frontend (although I hope some rays get through :).
I hear you on how early sobriety can be an opportunity to have a clear single focus. “Recovery comes first” comes to mind. I love that phrase, and it helped me give myself extra grace and space in 2020. And yet…I never gave myself the same grace and space that I wish for others in recovery. I tried, but unhelpful patterns still had (and have) a pretty deep hold.
Wishing you much grace and space to hold all of it right now, Kati. I’m cheering you on, and thank you for being here and for your kind words!
Loved loved loved this so much.
I never thought of having a sober birthday because I’m not sure whether to take the 50 other stints of sobriety or the day I made a big decision, or the day I wrote an article.
I’ve never even really heard of the sober “birthday”, but just seen people celebrate the benchmark date!
Thank you, Kiểu. And I think it all counts! I personally like having a day to commemorate the occasion, but I stopped keeping the day count after hitting one year. Up until that point, counting days offered me an added layer of motivation (I didn't want to restart the clock; but also, we're never back where we started anyway). Sending you so much care as you find the path that best supports you and your journey!
I, too, miss early sobriety’s magic. My experience early on was more pink clouds than gray skies. Year two, for me, was harder. Like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
My 3 year soberversary is coming up (Jan 2nd) and I feel like I’m being cracked open all over again (in all the good ways). I attribute that to a writing practice that I’ve committed to for the first time. I so look forward to your Sunday offerings and thank you for the cheese 🧀 (I’m a fan of your big heart and big feelings!) and for your continued service. 🫶✨💚
Thank you so much, Allison. For your share and kind words, for welcoming my 🧀, and for your writing and service.
And heart-sourced recognition and celebration of your almost 3 years! But I know, right? It's like each phase holds new layers, challenges, blessings, and places of practice. Similar to you, I've found writing has an essential place in all of it. So grateful for our connection in this space, and sending many hearts your way. 🫶
My sober birthday is June 1st 2023 so I am just over 6 months. The first week I was on a high but it seemed to fade quite quickly for me. I don't think it was helped by the fact that I damaged my tendon and couldn't work out and become the super health Becky I saw in my mind.
I think my next one is to stop being on my phone so much. I deleted the Substack app to give myself a break over the Yule/Christmas period and now I can't stop checking my emails! It's just habit and it's infuriating.
Heart-sourced recognition and celebration of your 6+ months, Becky. That's huge. And oof. Sometimes the Universe sure does bring it on. Sending wishes for swift healing your way.
The "checking" habit is so hard! Although I seem to have escaped social media's clutches, I've barely even approached my email checking habit. Cheering you on in your own journey with it all!
Love what you are doing in cultivating a loving sober community. Congrats on the upcoming milestone!
Thank you, Caroline. Truly grateful for your presence and writing here on Substack!
Fellow nostalgia junkie here... now if only I could develop that level of appreciation for life as it's actually happening!! 🤔 Congratulations on your 4 year anniversary ❤️
I hear you on that, Vicki. Interestingly, I experience the present as full of gratitude intertwined with anticipatory grief. Sigh... We humans... Thank you for the congrats and hearts to you!
Oh yes, anticipatory grief.... I know that well!
Thank you! And the nostalgia surprises me too! xo