Well today is the day and I am very pleased to reach this landmark. I couldn't have done it without AA. I think I have learned two important things along the way: firstly I am completely insane and secondly the only solution, once I got sober, was and is some sort of spiritual growth. This feels more like a beginning today: it's never really been about giving up, more like getting back, like getting my life back in spades.

Low key celebrations today with my wife and kids: cake and coffee in hospital where I am recovering from rather serious infection which I rather fancy would have killed me had I been drinking. I just would not have sought medical assistance until it was late in the fame. In real terms the celebrations will always be low key : after all it is just another day. I remember a rather sad AA bemoaning his loss of 22 years and he met with an unforgettable response: wee man,you started counting the years and forgot about the days.....

Thank you to the posters here: whatever is posted helps me in that it reminds me of what it is like out there and also often serves to underline what is not working. These are two things I need to be constantly reminded of.

Finally good luck to everyone who posts or reads or lurks here: I wish you happiness in your journey and that you are able to make the right choices when it comes to this "cunning, baffling and powerful" substance called alcohol.

Good for you mate, I hope you have a great day.

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Congrats! Double digits!

Get well soon.

Heartiest congrats.You must be very proud of yourself.

I'm just a mere whipper-snapper with barely 2 1/2 years sobriety under my belt.

I will never catch you up, as if I ever make it to ten years, you will have moved on to 17.5 years.

Well done to you and all those good folk at AA who have helped you along your way.

Respect,

Mobi

I wish continuing enjoyment of your sobriety. My life has only gotten better since I stopped drinking.

I raise my glass to you.

Claret.

why do ex drinkers have to go on about it all the time, pathetic.

why do ex drinkers have to go on about it all the time, pathetic.

If I forget I am an alkie I'll die - simple as that. I am very happy to agree that I am pathetic, 54 going about 14 in real terms.

Good for you, my friend. Don't mind the naysayers, they are no doubt drowning in a glass of cheap whisky. You are to be congratulated. Make the most of the steps, it's one thing to be sober, it's another to actively pursue recovery.

Congrats! I think the most important thing about anniversaries is to let others know and maybe give those who are struggling some hope.

Thanks for posting!

why do ex drinkers have to go on about it all the time, pathetic.

Because many of us would be dead or close to it by now if we hadn't stopped, so yes it's a big deal. It also lets others know, especially those who are struggling that there is hope.

why do ex drinkers have to go on about it all the time, pathetic.

Can you expand on why you feel it is pathetic to feel pride about an accomplishment?

Like i said before NON PURER THAN THE PURIFIED

why do ex drinkers have to go on about it all the time, pathetic.

You may as well ask why do moaners on these forums always look for something to moan about?

Well done OP, more power to your elbow.

Good for you, my friend. Don't mind the naysayers, they are no doubt drowning in a glass of cheap whisky. You are to be congratulated. Make the most of the steps, it's one thing to be sober, it's another to actively pursue recovery.

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Just a couple of thoughts. I disagree with you Alfalfa 19 in saying there were naysayers prior to your post. Rather I would say there are those who noted their lack of appreciation for some who play the "holier than thou" role. I'm not saying the OP did such a thing. Personally if it was a personal goal of the OP I'd congratulate him as I would a person who stopped smoking by choice or someone who lost weight through their own effort. (loss by disease doesn't count)

For myself, once I decided to stop smoking years ago, I made the decision I'd never run down the block to berate someone who I saw smoking in a no smoking area or who lights up in my presence. Hell, I say "light um if ya got um".

The OP did well and achieved what he sought to achieve. I wish him well in the future and hope he stays free of alcohol if that's what he wants.

Heartiest congrats.You must be very proud of yourself.

I'm just a mere whipper-snapper with barely 2 1/2 years sobriety under my belt.

I will never catch you up, as if I ever make it to ten years, you will have moved on to 17.5 years.

Well done to you and all those good folk at AA who have helped you along your way.

Respect,

Mobi

Thanks Mobi. on the day at a time principle we have exactly the same length of sobriety: our day began at midnight and ends at midnight: if we go without drinking for 24 hours we have the same amount of sobriety. Keep going strong and enjoy your recovery!

Good for you, my friend. Don't mind the naysayers, they are no doubt drowning in a glass of cheap whisky. You are to be congratulated. Make the most of the steps, it's one thing to be sober, it's another to actively pursue recovery.

.

Just a couple of thoughts. I disagree with you Alfalfa 19 in saying there were naysayers prior to your post. Rather I would say there are those who noted their lack of appreciation for some who play the "holier than thou" role. I'm not saying the OP did such a thing. Personally if it was a personal goal of the OP I'd congratulate him as I would a person who stopped smoking by choice or someone who lost weight through their own effort. (loss by disease doesn't count)

For myself, once I decided to stop smoking years ago, I made the decision I'd never run down the block to berate someone who I saw smoking in a no smoking area or who lights up in my presence. Hell, I say "light um if ya got um".

The OP did well and achieved what he sought to achieve. I wish him well in the future and hope he stays free of alcohol if that's what he wants.

One of the amazing things is this: I am not really bothered about other people's drinking or indeed smoking. For instance I don't go round bars trying to help drunks and I am only anti-alcohol in respect of myself. I rarely volunteer information about my alcoholism - it's not something I shout about but the people who know and care for me and vice versa, they know.

When we have parties at home I am quite happy, for instance, to provide drinks. By choice I don't spend a lot of time in "wet" places but when I am around alcohol it doesn't bother. I find drunks quite interesting as they usually afford a window into how I used to be!

AA taught me that starting out with an objective of life long sobriety was too much of a burden for an alcoholic - keep it simple and just concentrate on 24 hours at a time, and even within that, if necessary concentrate on an hour at a time. That's how I managed to hit double digit years.

why do ex drinkers have to go on about it all the time, pathetic.

Usually the people who are bothered by statements like this are those with a problem who don't want to acknowledge it. Statements like this make them look at themselves and it scares them.

I could drink or not drink as I have no problems, now not drinking for training purposes just 1 1/2 year now. Good for weight loss ect. But when drinking I never cared much about statement from people who gave it up because I knew I did not have a problem. Maybe your response is real telling.

Congrats on 10 years, many years ago I was drinking 3 to 5 bottles of beer every night after work I realize that this was not a good thing so I said okay from now on I will only drink on my days off. Since then my drinking has got less and less. Fortunately I did not have to join AA to cut back, I was able to do it on my own

O think I caught myself before I became a full alchoholic. Today I drink maybe once a week with my friends when we get together for dinner, and even then I keep it to two large beers, sometimes if I don't have to drive I might have a few more.

I am glad I did not have to quit completely but for those who did and have managed to do it, you have all my respect.

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There's only one pathetic posting in this thread and it is not from the OP.

Why anyone would even bother to contribute to a thread when they have nothing positive, good or informative to contribute beats the heck out of me.....

why do ex drinkers have to go on about it all the time, pathetic.

We'll keep a seat warm for you anyway.

Thank you for your feedback.

Well done Gerry.

So many people fail to realise what a dangerous drug alcohol can be.

Hope you recover from your current illness and look forward to seeing you post when it's 20 years!

Good effort, well done fella. Keep it going - you obviously realise that it's well worth it.