Merry Christmas Eve everyone, have had a good read along and happy to see everyone on this thread still going strong and supporting one another.
I will be alcohol free 2 years in January, this is my second af Christmas and it is getting easier I’m happy to report for anyone facing their first. Me and my partner have started some new traditions, an advent jigsaw calendar was one, we just finished it, was a photo of our dog 🐶. There are still many things I miss, like getting drunk and watching tv Christmas specials from the 70s for example, but I’m gradually letting my brain rewire itself and I’m finding that everything I loved doing that was connected to drinking are sort of finding their place back in my life bit by bit, there are still things I can’t do because the connection to missing drink is still there, but it will all fall into place, it will for any newcomers as well, it’s ok to mourn your love of alcohol, but like all good things, like people we love that are gone, we have to let it go, especially as alcohol really was a very toxic family member/friend, in fact it was no friend at all.
I’ve had a lot of illness the past two years and found out yesterday that the hearing loss I’ve suffered the last two months is permanent, it’s a bit crushing and I’m hoping music will return to sounding as it did before, I will find out when I’m fitted for my hearing aid in January, but I’m not ashamed to wear one, bring it on I say.
I’ve been using a different name on here as I had a couple of scrapes with a few posters talking about alcohol, it’s my own fault as I get a bit passionate about how destructive it is and that anyone can fall victim, people never seem to think they can, BUT I’ve decided to stop being that person now, it was daft to try and be, il just be calmer and switch my hearing aid off to it 😂.
I think what I’ve learned is to let my anger over alcohol go, and this thread has been such a huge part in that, one or two of you have come to my rescue several times on threads, I won’t embarrass you, but you know who you are, thank you, even if you possibly raised an eyebrow over what I was saying, just that hand on my shoulder and you explaining where I was coming from meant the world to me, honestly thank you.
I’ve had 5 that I can think of huge health issues and two hospital stays in the last two years. I have an MRI scan as well next year to make sure the hearing loss etc isn’t anything more, but I’m not running from it all anymore, or ignoring it, this is what I’ve been given at 42 and I will embrace this challenge, I have big plans for next year as long as my circumstances let me, so I’m going to charge into 2025 head first and won’t get sidetracked by nipping for a quick one in ‘The Dutchess of York’ or ‘The murderers arms’ pubs 😂. I also won’t get sidetracked by arguing the toss with anyone on here.
Have a wonderful sober Christmas everyone, you are all so incredible and to anybody having their first alcohol free Christmas, stick with the wonderful posters on this thread and know that it only gets better and better however hard it seems at first.
Merry Christmas x