6 Years Sober – More lessons!

Can you believe it! 6 Years sober!

This post is slightly different to all my other soberversary posts, where I openly gush about how amazing my life is! Don’t get me wrong, it still is amazing, and I’m very grateful. And long may that continue…..

But there has been a recent lesson and change in my life this year that has meant that I/my life has evolved yet again, and I wanted to share that. This 6th year is the year I’ve learnt the most about myself.

Sobriety is about doing the work, not hiding behind alcohol or drowning my issues in it, and so continual growth or change is inevitable. So I shouldn’t have been surprised by this years step change.

I’ve spent 6 years striving to be the best version of myself to the point until recently, that that then became an obsession. That became the point that not only did I almost reach burnout, but also where I used this as a measure of being a success or failure.

I felt I was a failure if I wasn’t continuously busy, stressed and spinning plates, when in reality – it was actually causing me harm….it was affecting many areas of my personal life and working life.

Anyway, following a much needed life changing trip, and a much needed reset, I’m embracing a new calmer approach to life. I’m now in a place where I’m happy with who I am, I’m happy with where I am and I’m certainly very happy with the people in my life.

I was chatting to a very wise friend of mine recently and we were talking about the work we do when we become sober, and as enlightening and rewarding as it is, it can be utterly exhausting too.

So, to quote Neneh B (pictured below), I too am taking a rest from the digging, putting my spade down, and just being happy being me for a little while. I quite like this version of me, so what’s the rush to change that?

I’m very proud of my sobriety, my 6 years of clarity, the work, the friends, the support for me, support for others, a new me for my family and friends and people that matter, and a new me, for ME!

I’m also very excited for what the next 12 months sobriety will bring, I’m sure it’ll be calm, and very beautiful indeed!

Thanks for being here with me – I’m very grateful

Sue – All shiny and New Xx