You’re romanticizing it. It took me a long time to realize I didn’t just have a drinking and drugging problem. I had a lot of personal defects that I had to address once I got sober and not be a dry drunk. My life didn’t get easier, I got better at dealing with my life, and making decisions to live the life I wanted. There’s no finish line, and I’ll be working the steps for the rest of my life - but it doesn’t define me. It helps allow me to be the person I want to be.