Why are you great?

[VanityDiesHard]

I just responded to the 'why are you awful' thread, and I thought I would start another one so that we can big ourselves up a little bit.

I'll start: I've been sober for five years. Hardest and most worthwhile thing I've ever done for myself. I still miss alcohol sometimes, but I never give in and I am grateful for it. No AA, either, I just got on with it (although no disrespect AT ALL for people who stay sober with AA or Smart Recovery or any other program. I just don't find that kind of thing helpful)

I'm an excellent cook and a steadily improving baker, and I am completely self taught. I have never had lessons or worked in a restaurant, but people tell me that my food is better than that of many restaurants, and I believe them.

I have a terrific sense of style. I have a good figure, which I work hard on, and so most clothes look good on me, and I use that to my full advantage.

I am very kind and compassionate. Sure, I judge people behind their backs, but I am one of the gentlest, kindest people you'll meet.

Your turn!

I work very hard, across all aspects of my life. I am also very capable, so usually succeed at things I put my mind to.
I have good skin and teeth as have always taken real care of them.
I am kind, which I think is important even when people sometimes take advantage.

I’m hard working, when I make a commitment I stick to it, I was a solid parent to (now adult) DD - and continue to be. I’m a pretty good singer and an improving flute player. I’m a good friend.

I'm a good friend.
I have a great sense of humour.
I know a good thing when I see it.
I have excellent taste!

Though I've had a really turbulent life up until I was 34 and because of that decided I wouldn't have children, it all changed and I'm married and had my beautiful DS 13 months ago and I really do think that I have been a really great mother and will continue to be. Not perfect but damned good considering 😁

Because I survived sex trafficking, survived homelessness, I got clean and sober, I manage to hold down a job and look after my daughter and I'm kind and generous and I'm just fucking fabulous.

I can peel a satsuma so that it looks like an elephant.

I can carry both my kids out of the bath at once (and they are getting pretty heavy these days!) 💪

I indicate properly at roundabouts.

I always cover my mouth when coughing.

I have good manners.

I have never littered.

I'm a nice teacher! I am as nice and patient as I can be to my (secondary school) students within the bounds of what I'm expected to do discipline-wise. I enjoy interacting with them and I treat them as much like equal nearly-adults as possible while still maintaining appropriate boundaries.

I'm not sure it makes me great really - there are many, many teachers who do the same!

I've had a tough ride and it's made me stronger. But I am not bitter. Life is too short.

I’m about to be discharged from Perinatal Mental Health because I have overcome my PND after a full year.

I got an academic book published while going through IVF, and it won a prize for the best book in its field published in that year.

❤️ you really ARE fabulous. Not sure I could have come out unscathed, well done you!

@cannaecookrisotto thank you, I'm not sure about unscathed but I'm certainly better! (I can't cook risotto, either.)

I'm a really good cook, and in particular I can spontaneously make a decent meal out of pretty much any old crap left in the fridge/cupboard. DP describes this as my super power and constantly marvels at it.

I can always see the funny side of pretty much anything. I'm very good at making people laugh.

I'm really good person to have around in an emergency. I never panic and I'm very good at keeping other people calm.

I am good at sticking up for other people if I think it's warranted, including intervening in physical fights.

Many congratulations on the sobriety OP.

My adult life has been a war with alcohol and depression and I think (can never say absolutely, that's dangerous) I have beaten it now.

6 months and counting sober, and no liver damage - at 55, I consider that a) a f*ing miracle given the amount I was putting away b) myself very, very lucky indeed.

Thank you, and congratulations to you, as well! Six months is huge, it was my first big milestone: in my previous attempts at sobriety, I never managed beyond three months.

You guys are amazing. You don't realise when you read other people's post how much so many people have gone through and come out tops or just how kind and sincere so many people actually are.

I am the most impressed though by the pp who can peel a satsuma so it looks like an elephant. I'd love to see that.

I'm trying hard to think of something about myself that I like let alone that is great. I considered posting on the why I'm awful thread but I wouldn't even know where to start.

I'm really good at wordle though. I mean I've got a 100% success rate and I played every night for quite a few months. Wordle and its variations such as quordle and octordle. Quordle is actually my favourite. I was also quite good at the version of wordle in a second language that I speak. Considering that I'm not fluent at all anymore in that language I'm surprised that I usually got it right.

I genuinely can't think of anything else. I might come back if I remember something else.

Oh I do know how to indicate correctly at a roundabout and usually do.

I have to laugh that there is a largeish minority that thinks I am 'being unreasonable' for having things that I like about myself and starting a thread encouraging others to celebrate themselves, as well. I honestly think that this is a peculiarly British cultural trait 'don't toot your own horn'. Obviously, it isn't good to be too full of yourself, but I find the constant push towards self deprecation (which is usually false, anyway) to be toxic and disingenuous.

I first gave up in 2013 with the help of Smart Recovery which really worked for me - AA tells you to 'give yourself over to a higher power', which always seemed wrong to me as you are simply swapping out booze for 'God' (or whatever). Smart Recovery said: 'Who buys the drink? Who goes to the pub? Whose hand raises the glass? = YOU!' This was a massive revelation and helped me immensely.

But I didn't last - 2 months until relapse, then on and off and I was back to my old ways within a year.

I kicked it again in early 2020 but well... guess what?! That brought back my depression and I was back on.

In May this year I managed to knock it on the head again, and the clear liver test was a watershed moment - been terrified of cirrhosis for decades! - and I take that as a clean slate, a line crossed. Something to build on.

And feel utterly fantastic!

This is a great idea for a thread.

I have had a lot of health problems in the last couple of years, some of which are ongoing.

But I get up, wash every day and dress. I'm generally cheerful and I know that I am brave to keep going against the odds and I'm mentally (if not physically) strong.

Ultimately I know that I can cope because there's strength inside me, and I am courageous and tenacious.

Thanks for the thread @VanityDiesHard

I'm warm and empathetic and have the ability to put most people at ease, including some very shy/socially awkward individuals.

I'm really good at turning leftovers into delicious meals.

I'm good at making people laugh, or at least smile.

I'm so glad for you! I consider myself very lucky that I was already over a year into my sobriety when the pandemic hit: I think that if I had been only a few months in, the temptation to drink would have been overwhelming. Knowing that you don't need to drink in order to feel great is the best thing in the world.

You sound amazing. I have had some health issues in the past and it is so easy to succumb to self pity and 'why me?' feelings, so it's great that you keep up and at em!

Because I've had a really hard life and I won't ever let that define me.
I'm funny
I'm a fantastic mother and proud of the humans I have raised.
I'm a good honest person.
I'm so loyal and faithful.
I'm really creative and love mastering new crafts

I’m very generous to a good cause. For example I give loads to the food bank every month, I give three times the suggested donation to the school by direct debit. I have given a lot of items to the baby bank for free when I could have made a decent amount selling them (buggies, toddler beds etc). Nobody in real life knows this apart from DH because I don’t talk about it.

I’m awesome in an emergency and my cakes are legendary.

Great thread. Made me think and it's reassuring after a tough day.

I'm calm under huge pressure outside of work (at work I can get serious anxiety) and think straight. I saved our daughters life in a situation where she was unconscious aged only 6 days and didn't panic. If we had waited for the ambulance she wouldn't be with us.

I think I have considerable will power. Gave up smoking overnight? just didn't buy any. I force myself to do things that I don't want too (presentations to hundreds of people etc, work events etc) and just find a way to get shit done on projects others haven't managed to progress.

Sacrificed my social life to excel at work (became a sole focus when we got pregnant) and we relocated for the kids - Im a Director now so it's worked, but have no friends (male, 39) outside work and quite lonely and knackered if I'm honest, but my kids have everything they need. I'll have time for friends when I'm retired! I bury that stuff deep down... will power 💪🏻