On April 16th, I celebrated nine years of sobriety. This date marks more than just time it represents a choice I made to change the direction of my life. It’s a day I pause to reflect on the journey, the growth, and the peace I’ve found along the way.
Recovery hasn’t been without challenges. There’s a common misconception that once you stop drinking, life immediately becomes easier. In some ways, that’s true many avoidable problems fall away. But life still happens, and learning to face it with clarity and intention has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this path.
Sometimes when I mention that I don’t drink, I’m met with curiosity or surprise: “What do you do for fun?” “How do you deal with stress?” The answer is simple I do so much more for fun now than I ever did before, and I’ve learned to handle stress in ways that are healthy, sustainable, and meaningful.
Reaching the nine year mark brings a mix of pride, gratitude, and a deep sense of peace a peace I once believed was out of reach.