20 Years Today (one day at a time)

I don’t usually post personal information on my weblog but today I felt it was appropriate and for anyone reading it, it is for you.
I also wanted to keep a record of how I feel on this day after 20 years of sobriety from alcohol addiction.
In some ways it seems a short time ago and in other ways it seems a lifetime ago. I will tell my story as I remember it today.
Growing up in a household where alcohol was prevalent I always thought all parents drank. It was only when I was in my teens I began to see the dysfunction of my upbringing and I made a choice that I would not drink alcohol (in my mind EVER). Sadly that did not stay that way and at 27 I decided I would start drinking and the phrase “If you can’t beat them, join them” was my reason. Without going into too much detail I drank until I tried to stop ten years later at 37 when I met my husband who I am still happily married to now. It took me a further 2 years (actually almost 3) to eventually stop after rehab and many many AA meetings and on 20 May 2004 I had a spiritual awakening and that was the beginning of my path to sobriety. It was a difficult 2/3 years and a lot of hard work and patience from my family. I owe so much to AA and when I hear people say AA saved my life I can relate totally. Of course you need to have a Higher Power of your choosing too but, together with your higher power and AA anything is possible. There are many living miracles out there, I am just one of many.

Life has not always been kind and 11 years ago I had a heartbreaking personal tragedy that I struggled to recover from but never once did the thought of drinking enter my mind. This was a difficult time and together with this tragedy as well as other real life events that caused a lot of pain around the same time when both my mother and mother in law passed away within months of each other. I am so grateful to AA and My Higher Power that I got through these 3 events and feel like I have grown as a person and also have learned so much and am now able to help others in similar situations.

Today life is easy, more carefree and a lot simpler and I am the happiest I have ever been. I am grateful for all the things that have happened in my life (good and bad) and I am grateful for the opportunity I had in life to find AA as it has taught me all I know and how to cope with life (on life’s terms). The 12 steps are my guiding light in life and for anyone struggling at all, just remember there is always hope. Never loose hope and never stop believing you can do it. If I can, anyone can. x niki