2 minute read
On December 8, 2024, I celebrated year 6 of sobriety from alcohol with pizza at home, some computer work, and an early bedtime.
I feel great as a sober person, and I am happy every day that this is part of my identity. I am so proud of the Lisa who in 2018 decided that she wanted to do this for herself.
Sobriety works in my life. Alcohol did not work in my life, I know that now. I have an amazing life.
I know that I will never drink again. But if I do, I won’t consider myself a failure. My goodness and worth as a human has nothing to do with whether I use a substance or not.
I want to share 3 thoughts with you about my “journey” that can be a bit hard for folks to hear, to accept.
- Our culture is dominated by alcohol and this is escalating. As a sober individual with a disordered relationship with food I will confidently state that many if not most people who use alcohol have a disordered relationship with it.
2. Quitting alcohol completely has been comparatively easy for me. I often wish that I could use the same “tactics” with some other habits I want to change. I don’t have all the answers. No one has all the answers.
3. My story is just one sobriety story, and it’s often a straightforward one for folks to accept because of my identity. We must listen to all people who use alcohol and other drugs. Whether they decide to quit or cut back, or not, they deserve to use in safety and they deserve a voice.
If you have a “new year’s resolution” to quit or cut back on drinking, I am so proud of you, and I am rooting for you here on the other side. It feels really good over here. You are worth the effort it’s going to take.
FURTHER READING AND RESOURCES
Reflecting on 3 Years of Sobriety
Drinking up the Revolution by James Wilt
We Need Democratic Control of the Alcohol Industry, interview with the author noted above (Jacobin)
The current UCP government in Alberta has a model for “recovery” from substance use that will: kill more people, further the demise of our healthcare system overall, make rich people richer. Here are some organizations doing great work in Alberta, all of which are lead by folks with lived experiences. If you have other resource suggestions, please include them in the comments.
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