The days are long but the years are short as they say, and the cliche rings true. Hard to believe there’s enough one day at a times strung together to add up to 7 whole years, but here we are.
Over these 7 years I’m more comfortable in my skin than ever before. Saying no to things I do not want to do, do not have time for, or even prioritizing time for fitness and eating well is easier with well-defined boundaries. Letting go of friends not on the same page sucked early on, but in the long run – totally worth it. Generally not caring what other people think or what their expectations may be is so freeing. Other people’s opinions are not my business. Saying buh-bye to alcohol enabled that freedom over time.
Looking down the last week of the academic year, one 8th grade promotion ceremony away from having both in high school is wild to think about. Being able to savor the milestones and be grounded through bumps along the way is a gift I’ve been able to give the kids, as well as myself. Zero regrets in being fully present for all of it. As they gain increasing independence, there’s nothing but overwhelming gratitude for the ability to be authentic and practice what I preach. Teenagers are great bull$!@t detectors and they have no qualms about calling us out on our hypocrisy. “Do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t fly here.
Like most relationships, the one I have with sobriety has morphed and changed over time. It’s acuteness has faded, I don’t really have dreams where I’ve drank and wake up horrified or guilt ridden. I no longer cringe and speed up as I walk by the alcohol aisle at the grocery store. It’s a non-issue. I just don’t drink. It’s a looking forward instead of back to what was.
Eyes open, heart open, and peaceful.
Content.
7 years go by in a blink.
Life and Other Stuff 
What do you think?