I am back, and want to record my progress over the next few weeks, as I have tried to do many times before.
It has been a turbulent year, with far too much drinking; and it’s been gradually getting worse. It is time to take stock, to stop wasting my time searching for the next drink.
This morning, a blogging friend’s book arrived in the post: The Sober Diaries, by Clare Pooley. I can’t wait to read it. This person has been a huge inspiration to me, and I am sure her book will be full of wisdom and insight.
In the meantime, this will be the first day in a very, very long time that I have not had an alcoholic drink. I need to do this.
A Dappled Path 
Welcome back Annie.
Have you gathered your support? Do you have a meeting to go to? An addictions counsellor? A treatment centre?
I’m so happy to see you are back. I’m cheering you on.
Love to you,
Anne
Omg let her get started. I follow lots of blogs and know you’re very passionate about sobriety but just feel that this is just too much! This sort if OTT questioning would make me run a mile. No offense intended at all x
And thank you for your support, Edinburgh Housewife. I need all the help I can get! Annie x
Annie has been blogging about sobriety for a long time and has considered all these options before.
This is not her first serious attempt.
I know, I have followed her for a long time and know how hard she has tried and how much she wants it. Maybe this time Annie!!!
Trying hard and wishing things were different haven’t worked for her over the past 4 years.
I’m afraid for her. Her health, her family.
She needs real and serious help. I want her to be successful and free.
Heartfelt thanks for your support, Anne. I know you’ve been here from the beginning, and I really value your friendship. Thank you. Annie x
Sorry to have a side conversation on your post!
Know I (and everyone else) are all 100% behind you and on,y want the best for you!
I know you can find stillness and peace.
Love
Anne
Happy (almost) New Year, Annie! This could be the year you’ve been waiting for.
I hope so! I live been going round in circles. Annie x
Hi Annie – glad to hear you are still here and trying. I’m with you – let’s make this time the one that brings health and happiness!
Yes, health and happiness would be good! Thanks for being here. Annie x
Welcome back Annie! You have been missed. One foot in front of the other. You can do this with support. We all need different types of support to be successful so think about what you need and can do different to make this YOUR year. Big hugs
I definitely need to tackle this a day at a time. Thanks for the hugs. Annie x
Welcome back Annie!!! You can do this! It’s time to kick 2017’s ass to the curb and welcome in 2018 with health and happiness…it is SO much better! I know a lot of people say that, but it is so true and worth it!!! If I can do this, you certainly can…I am routing for you!!!
I hope 2018 is my year! Thanks for your support. Annie x
I know you can do this, just as I know I can too. I hope you enjoy the book. Each attempt its good to add more support as Belle says.
I would really recommend the book, which is excellent so far. Thanks for being here with me. Annie x
Annie I have followed your journey from the beginning and checked everyday to see if you were back blogging— and it paid off here u are. I am still not sober yet but planning a dry January. Please don’t stop blogging— you are missed when you are gone xoxo
Thank you for checking on me; I am sorry I disappeared. Annie x
Do it! Start 2018 free!
Hey Annie! So good to have you back! YOU CAN DO THIS! Whoop whoop!
I am loving your book! Annie x
Hi Annie
I download the book on my kindle after your recommendation and I agree with you. It’s really good so far 👍x
Oh good! Annie x
Dear Annie. You don’t know me. I followed you last year when I was trying to get my self together. I followed you all the way up to Decemmber 31 and January. I stopped last January 1. It had taken me a long time to get there (years). I kept thinking of you and checking in. I am so pleased you are back. Still here. Thats why i am writing today. No one can fix your drinking (Or replace that with pain, hurt, anger). What you can do is accept yourself, decide you no longer require it to function and take each breath, moment as it comes. I, it, was pretty bad, awful when I stopped. I got there because if people like you, Sober Mummy and the support of other bloggers. I stayed in it by reading the bloggers who helped me. I have a counsellor and a couple of friends who knew. Apart from that it was a quiet solitary decision to put down the drain… ha ha autocorrect turned drink to drain….there you go I put down the drain.
You helped me. Your courage helped me. It’s all there Annie. Stop. You can do it with help or without.. It’s about what you need, knowing that and holding it. I am here for you. I don’t blog at the moment. But I am contactable.
I learnt to be uncomfortable. To sit with my emotions. To feel joy, pain, sadness, bleurgh.. I didn’t look for anything to fix it. I sat and listened. I am a year later i am unfolding still. It is the most joyous experience I have ever had. I would not trade it for one drink. The sense of my soul breathing, thrumming, healIng. Being with my family, my son knowing me. I may wake some mornings not feeling so okay but I wake free. Drinking is now something I choose not to do. It’s a choice. My choice. My light. I treasure life without it. I found that keeping it very simple helped. I didn’t avoid situations because of alcohol. Some I avoided because I didn’t want to do them anyway. I did funerals, parties and an all inclusive holiday. I guess my point is let this be your year. Allow yourself to succeed – don’t set yourself up for failure. Be gentle and kind. There is just this day and the next. whatever you need to stay there. A gentle thread of golden sobriety you spin daily. Sober mummy helped me enormously. I would not be here without her. Then you. Your blog opened up other chance things for me. Laura mckowen, hip sobriety, other bloggers comments, and you. The most precious gift of you. Enjoy, embrace, don’t build it up into arming yourself to stop. If you think you are consuming so much that stopping will physically impact you then absolutely seek help from your gp or a centre for the first few weeks for support in order to stop safely. But know that you hold in you all you need to keep holding your heart out of the pickling jar. You might need some help now and then but you hold it.
Sending you much love and light. As I said I am also here and contactable. Just let me know how. Excuse the long comment.
With much love E. XxX
Thank you so much for this comment. It really really helps me. Annie x
I’m halfway through it now and it’s fantastic. Day one again for me tomorrow:) I have learnt so much over the past three years and made lots of progress but I want the real thing now. Good luck to you Annie x
Great to see you back Annie. You are always an inspiration. xx
Thank you! Annie x