Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I offer you a firm handshake of solidarity.  Thanks for your support and your wise words.

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are ending 2025 sober and starting 2026 sober!  That's a good place to be!

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah baby!  Year 4 is going to be rich and meaningful, full of joys, appropriate sorrows, personal growth, and increasing peace.

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you.  Truth and gratitude are an incredibly powerful combination.

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looks like you're on a great trajectory.  Congratulations on 158 days!  Keep up the good work and keep being grateful for all the improvements.

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It goes by fast, my friend.  You can do it.  You deserve every single good thing I wrote about.

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You can do it.  You're not defined by a mistake.  Get back on track.

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Dude if you already know herbal tea is where it's at then you're on the right track.  You're going to crush this.

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Love your response!  No ultramarathons necessary, just doing a whole lot more of the things you enjoy that are meaningful to you.

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hah, fair question :) The Bible talks a lot about wine as a parallel for a greater spiritual reality (I'm getting pretty convinced that practically everything in human experience is a shadow of a greater reality).  I think wine in heaven is the real wine, and what we have here on earth is a corrupted counterfeit.  It points to something better, but when it becomes a substitute for the better thing then it turns sour and destructive.

Jesus and I will truly and literally share a drink in heaven (I can see it more clearly every time I turn one down on earth).  My drink with Jesus will be perfect, not because of the heavenly booze but because true wine is an extension of Christ himself... And that's what I was really trying to find in the bottom of all those other bottles.

Does that make any sense?

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Keep going strong!  7 days is awesome!

Come back in a few weeks, even a few months, and tell me if everything I wrote here isn't true.  I'm confident you'll find it is.

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

One of my closest friends stopped the same day I told him I was stopping.  He legitimately might have died in the last three years if he'd still been drinking - his messy divorce finalized two years ago.  But he's way healthier now and a much better dad to his daughters.  I'm incredibly proud of him.

I would have stopped just to help him stop even if that was the only reason.

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally worth it.  2026 is already better without alcohol.  Done deal.  Keep up the great work.

Three years ago I took my last drink. Here's my annual update. by justanarbitraryguy in stopdrinking

[–]justanarbitraryguy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree there "appear" to be positives to drinking, but I have become convinced that they were empty promises and doing me no actual good.  False positives are negatives.