A milestone for me

[DawsonsDada]

Today marks my 17th year of being CLEAN and SOBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not to mention I quit smoking 17 years ago today also.

Decided to quit everything cold turkey. Aside from two sips of champagne at my wedding I haven't had any alcohol since. I am NOT "holier than thou" about it, just happy with myself and my life today because of the choice I made then.

To give an idea of what I was doing at the time I quit:

4-5 cases of beer (by myself) per weekend.
1-2 bottles of Jack Daniels per weekend
1-2 bottles of Vodka per weekend
Whatever "moonshine" I could find

4-6 packs of cigarettes per day

Various illicit substances that were available. Never got into crack or heroin but pretty much everything else.

Can't believe that I am still kicking now when I look back on it.

To those that are dealing with the problem, I say Keep Strong and take it day to day.

To those that don't have the problem, I say: Be glad you don't face it.

To those that have it but don't want to believe it, you know who you are, I say: Be honest with yourself and consider what your life could be if you didn't have the addiction that you have.

Be Safe and Be Blessed.

Thank you for allowing me to share my "anniversary" with you all.

 

[Red Dawn]

4-5 cases of beer (by myself) per weekend.
1-2 bottles of Jack Daniels per weekend
1-2 bottles of Vodka per weekend
Whatever "moonshine" I could find

4-6 packs of cigarettes per day

Jesus Christ, how long were you consuming that much?

 

[Kaido]

Congrats man...it's nearly impossible to see how bad it is when you're in it (yay for our built-in human auto-rationalization), I'm really glad you were able to get out of it! Cold turkey is the ONLY way I have EVER seen anyone quit a substance addiction, tossing all of that must have been a huge step for you.

If I can ask, what prompted you to quit?

 

[nervegrind3r]

damn, talk about boozing it up.

Good for you for staying strong and rising above all that shit!!

 

[DawsonsDada]

The heaviest part was for about 3 years straight.

The drinking and substance abuse just curved up over time. Took more and more to get the "desired" result.

 

[DawsonsDada]

I have nothing to hide.

Not proud of everything I have done in my life but won't hide it either. It is a part of me/what made me who I am today.

As far as what prompted me to quit? The simplest of things. I woke up one morning and didn't like what I saw in the mirror. Thought to myself that I "got myself to this place, I need to get myself out."

Started pouring out the booze and throwing away the cigarettes immediately after I got out of the shower.

 

[DawsonsDada]

Originally posted by: nervegrind3r
damn, talk about boozing it up.

Good for you for staying strong and rising above all that shit!!

Thank You.

It hasn't been easy a lot of the time and there are definitely some days that are harder than others but everyday is a new day. I am grateful for each one that I have, especially now that I am a husband and a father.

 

[irishScott]

You sir, have willpower. :thumbsup:

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Awesome man, things like this are good to hear. I used to be a fat kid myself. I am not anymore. So I definitely can sympathize.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: DawsonsDada

4-5 cases of beer (by myself) per weekend.
1-2 bottles of Jack Daniels per weekend
1-2 bottles of Vodka per weekend
Whatever "moonshine" I could find

4-6 packs of cigarettes per day

I don't know what's more impressive. The fact that your body survived this kind of abuse or the fact you were able to quit it all and stay clean for so long. Either way, congrats on an amazing accomplishment.

 

[Snapster]

Big contrats for turning your life around. :thumbsup:

 

[DawsonsDada]

Originally posted by: brikis98

Originally posted by: DawsonsDada

4-5 cases of beer (by myself) per weekend.
1-2 bottles of Jack Daniels per weekend
1-2 bottles of Vodka per weekend
Whatever "moonshine" I could find

4-6 packs of cigarettes per day

I don't know what's more impressive. The fact that your body survived this kind of abuse or the fact you were able to quit it all and stay clean for so long. Either way, congrats on an amazing accomplishment.

I am kind of amazed I survived that period also.

Thank You for the congrats too

 

[DawsonsDada]

Originally posted by: Snapster
Big contrats for turning your life around. :thumbsup:

Thank You