The Freedom Thread (continued) - A thread for people wanting to enjoy an alcohol free life. Everyone welcome!

[BunniesBunniesBunnies]

This is a thread for people who want to live an alcohol free life! These threads were started about three years ago by @DryBird2020 and they have been a continued source of support for people at all stages of sobriety. Whether you are one day, one month or one year sober - You are welcome! The only thing we ask if that you have committed to stopping drinking when you join the thread (as talk to drinking or moderation may be triggering to some of our posters).

My name is @Bunnies and I am almost 1000 days sober, in no small part thanks to this amazing supportive community. I hope to see many new and old posters on this thread!

Happy sober 2023 all!

And yes, yes to feeling rage in my finger tips and kicking cupboards.

Thank you all for understanding, as always.

It hasn't depressed me, don't worry. Quite the opposite. I'm so glad the love from your mum was absolute. 💚 I love that saying.

I actually now understand that my mum's love was always there, she sadly just didn't have the skills to show it in the most easily accessible way.
I'm glad I was taught otherwise by my grandparents and find it much easier to tell my loved ones that they are exactly that - loved. I actually feel sad for my mum, she missed out on a lot of love. Building up a hard exterior feels like a protection but its more like a prison wall. I do understand to a certain extent why she built that wall though. Humans are funny creatures.

Well that had me crying into my tea lads.
I heard 'dance with my father' last Friday, first time since my dfs funeral. Bawled my eyes out, the little dog was my saviour. My late mum was marvellous and a total mare at the same time. Half Yorkshire woman, not one to cross. Six foot of Elizabeth Taylor beauty. She only told me she loved me the week before she died. 19 years ago. I suspect I will hear some music Sunday and be off again. Sending Sav Strength to you all.

Oh @WendyWagon that brought a tear to my eye. Children should be told they are loved as often as possible. I tell mine every day, even (especially!) if they’ve been assholes.

Morning all. Morning Bunnies.
My daughter told me she loved me the other week. I think that was a first since age 13! I have also told her how pretty she is many times because my mother told me I would never be! (she did tell me I might be elegant at about 30). Luckily my dad was fab. Always jolly and so kind. He wouldn't allow misery or bad manners. He is still so much missed. We talk about him daily.
(I have just cried as I wrote this, blinking Big softee ). As you were lads.

Afternoon to you all! Congratulations @BunniesBunniesBunnies on your 3 years, absolutely amazing and you should be very proud! @WendyWagon that song gets me every time 😢 I lost my father aged 7 and my memory of him isn't much but somehow this song resonates. I'm 51 now so the angry phase has well and truly passed but it was around 45 ish if I remember right. I'm on HRT and have been for some time, if you speak to my stexh me leaving with the kids is all about my moods (nothing to do with his countless affairs, double life and coercive control throughout our whole marriage) 😂 isn't it funny how situations can be re-written to suit the narrative of a narcissist..I've never felt better! Finding the right balance with HRT is tricky, worth a chat with the GP anyhow. Mother's Day is this weekend and will be my first as a single mother, that said I've been an unofficial single mother for years as my H was always working away and never actually present in our lives. It's a bitter sweet one I guess, I'm happy and we shall have a lovely day I'm sure. My own mother passed many moons ago, after a long awful time in palliative care so I was relieved when she went but miss her laugh. Doesn't put a downer on the good times, can you tell I'm focused on positivity!! I plan to get out in this new garden and get som me more grass seed down before the next round of rain. Plenty of DIY projects here to keep me busy to. Have a wonderful AF weekend people . Much love xx

Up early dear friends and feeling like poop. A friend pulled a stunt on me yesterday which left me realing. When the chips are down and all that! I did manage some sleep but was glad not to be drunk and raving. I expect the best from people and sadly I don't get it!
Just some Marks shopping today, the green tins are needed.
I can start packing boxes next week and like rockingbird I am planning my new garden.
There's nowt in it. No boarders, no plants except two climbing roses. I have been hording things for years in pots so they will be going in. I do love a seed catalogue. Have a good day all.

Morning all
Today is my 90th day of sobriety. Whilst I had already drank less over the past few years, 90 days is easily the longest continuous stretch. I'm no longer craving sweets and chocolate, though I'm still partial to the odd treat!
I am very much on a journey here, and can never be complacent, though there is a real satisfaction in comparing my current 7 day a week lifestyle with the 5 or 6 I had for many many years.
The posts on here have continued to inspire me. Those who are further along the journey and those who are honest enough to detail their current struggles. The temptations, the coping skills. I've read and appreciated every post.
There is no doubt that the sober me is the best version of myself and I'm sure my family appreciate it, even if they don't quite see the inner turmoil which can still surface.
Life is best lived sober.
Great weekend to all.

Congratulations @Gymspiration! Keep pushing on, it's such a beautiful feeling. @WendyWagon this has happened to me in the past and I'm always surprised by the selfishness of others. Those of us who are selfless are always the ones to get hurt.. you realise the other party don't give a flying fig?! I'm just not that sort of person so I get where your coming from. More and more I'm reminding myself to stop being so kind to others only to be walked over. Imagine if you'd been drinking how much worse that would have been in your head - be thankful for that and give that situation no more of your head space.

Going to put my wellies on and re-seed the garden today. It's forecast to rain all week next week which will be perfect to bed in the new grass seed. Have lots to be doing.. just need the motivation 😆

Hi all: last night was first big test as Friday night (traditional night to have a drink) with some of my husband’s family coming to stay. All drinking alcohol but I didn’t have any and went for 3 mile run this morning. I need to get into training in earnest for a marathon I’m due to do in mid May. Haven’t been focussed enough on it and have had a hiatus in training but booked the accommodation for the weekend this week so am really financially committed now!

deffo wouldn’t have done the run if I’d been drinking last night as would have felt rubbish!

Hi all, someone suggested this thread to me as a good support. I have been drinking every night and finally had enough. I had my last drink on Friday, so only one day sober so far but determined to stay that way.

@MylittleLovebug good morning and welcome.
Lots of help on here. Some of us are many years sober others a few weeks or months into our Alcohol Free life.
A day at a time. We'll done for not drinking. You will feel so much better.

Happy Mothers day one and all ❤️

Hope everyone has a nice day.

I've got the lergie (cough and cold) so I've cancelled our meal and we'll get a take out instead. I can't complain as this is my first illness since last summer. I've gone the whole winter illness free [I have autoimmune arthritis so I'm never 100%] but I've got 3 primary aged kids so it's almost a miracle to have been so well.

We are going to have a lazy / movie day here.

Thanks @WendyWagon it was nice waking up this morning and not feeling tired and groggy

Happy mother's day all
@Crunchymum sorry you are not well.
I shall be movie watching later too as DD goes back to university with her father. The dog and I will hunker down. Son coming from London for lunch.
Trying to keep a lid on house fever.

Happy Mother’s Day, welcome @MylittleLovebug , lots of support here.
@WendyWagon that sounds about shit of your mate. Well done for feeling the feels.. and then telling them to feck off no doubt. New garden is a great distraction.
sorry your feeling shite @Crunchymum i was glutened at a meal out on Friday lunch time so been feeling peaky. But like you I have managed to avoid all the winter illness the kids have brought home. I am 100% attributing that to being AF. Even the husband has stuck with becks Blue for a few weeks despite having friends over for dinner I think he had two glasses of wine, between 3 of them they have a bottle and a glass.. i would have had more than that TO MYSELF in the olden days 🙄
therapy Thursday was a bit of a break through as well this week. 18 months in a i unashamedly cried. I expect my therapist raised a glass that night. I’ve been a hard nut to crack, but I do feel like we are making progress .. I am making progress. Feel those feels…

@Fortheloveofgodwhy ooh, I cry all the time as you know (we are new friends in RL). I imagine dear heart you are always positive and firm!
I have had presents from both DC, I cooked the dinner and the Gordon's AF has been sampled.

I'm in a right grump today. My body decided a few weeks ago that it won't tolerate caffeine any more.

It's Mother's Day today and I've had one homemade card from DS2, nothing from DS1 who apparently is 'pranking me' but it's nearly bedtime, I've just done my third lot of washing up, sorted the laundry out and made rice pudding. Happy fucking days.

Morning lads.
Welcome @MylittleLovebug !

Glad you feel like you’re making progress with the therapy @Fortheloveofgodwhy - I always needed a large supply of tissues at my sessions!

Sorry yesterday was rubbish @MyGhastIsFlabbered

My news is …. Ta da da …. I am one year sober today! 🥳

If I can do it, anyone can - and I couldn’t have done it without you lovely lot.

@MyGhastIsFlabbered i hope DS1 turned up with something. I was sorting cookery ingredients at 10pm with DS2 🙄🙄🙄🙄 soda bread and chicken noodles… he is lucky we are a cooking household because I can’t imagine most houses have root ginger and soy sauce and a boneless skinless chicken breast on hand on a Sunday evening!! 😱 just as well he DID give me a Mother’s Day card 🤣.

@Onewildandpreciouslife congratu-bloody-lations. Whoop whoop for the year soberversary. Hope you have something planned as a personal treat to reward yourself.

onewildandpreciouslife Huge Congratulations! 🥳🥳🥳. One wild and precious life indeed! What better thing can you do with that precious life than be present for it all? I used to think it was wild to drink (to excess) now I genuinely think it's far more wild, free and radical to say no to it and enjoy life and everything it offers. Not drinking doesn't make life smaller but oh so much bigger!

Happy 1 year soberversary, you absolute legend! I always love when i see your name. Mary Oliver's poems are one of my very favourite things in this world and your name popping up reminds me that life is indeed wild and precious.

rockingbird i know you found yesterday emotional but you're story on here has always blown me away. You more than anyone deserve to be celebrated as a mother yesterday and every day for what you have gone through for you and your children. A powerhouse that will fight through to make a better life for your family. You should be so proud of yourself.

Wlecolittlelovebug . Not waking up with a hangover never gets old.

fortheloveofgod well done at opening up at therapy. I work in a therapeutic role and it seems odd to say that the moment someone cries freely in a session is often the moment you know they have really made a huge shift. It seems odd to be happy (in a way) to make people cry as a job. "What do you do as a job, breathmiller?" "Oh, I make people cry" fab! 🤣

Welcome obvs 😆