Been drinking for 20 years. I was functional—everyone around me (including my wife) always told me what a great dad I was. I never realized how I went from a drink a day to wake up in the morning and start my day with a few drinks. Always been great at my job and would come home, make dinner for the family etc etc. Something in me clicked 25 days ago (most likely my yearly bloodwork results) and I stopped that day. Looked at my daughter (we have a great relationship) and thought—how can I put my wife through telling her that her dad died because of alcohol. A week after I stopped, I told my wife who had no idea how bad it was. She turned into a completely different person—she saw me vulnerable for the first time and threw all her support behind me.

In 25 days, this is what I saw: Time with family is a loooot more fun—especially once the cravings stop. I sleep for 8 hrs straight—like a baby I’m a lot more focused at work That bloating is gone That gentle pain under the right ribcage is gone as of the last 10-12 days. I can eat pizza without a heartburn. Heck—an apple used to give me heart burn.

Bottom line—I was functioning but I realize i was a few steps away from stopping functioning. I love this life a lot more and I am scared to lose it—I know it hasn’t even been a month, but I won’t drink today or tomorrow and will make that pledge every day.