30. Has it really been that long?!?


Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.
~ Arthur Golden
I would venture to say that sobriety is a bit like that, too. Once you take away the numbing effects of alcohol, you are left with yourself and finding out who you really are. I think that's why I often consider myself in discovery rather than in recovery.

 Day 30. I can't believe it's been thirty days, and I can't believe my last post was so long ago (on Day 18). As far as I can determine by my stats, I don't have many (any?) followers so there aren't too many who may have missed me while I was away. I meant to write, but it was the busy season (the holidaze and all that). Between spending time with family, traveling, and focusing on self-care, I didn't bother to find the time to come here and post.

 I also have another source of support. I have been hanging out at Hello Sunday Morning (HSM). You won't find me under my current pseudonym. I'm using an old one (AniaS). If you happen to check out HSM, stop by and say hello. 

 I do want to get back to writing here. The blogging platform is better suited to my long-windedness. Long form writing also helps me dig deeper into what is going on with my sobriety and my inner self. In addition, I want to return to a more structured day, doing the things that help build a solid foundation for my sobriety. Yoga, meditation, exercise, getting out in nature, drawing, and writing have supported me through the beginning days of living an alcohol-free life. I have to remind myself that I am still in the beginning days.

 To sum up, I am still here, and still sober. The holidays were surprisingly easy. I suspect that was due to all the support I had, as well as a good smattering of tools to see me through the happy hours. 

 Thanks for reading (if there is, indeed, anyone reading).  And Happy New Year!  ♥

 Peace, love, and happiness,
Rania ☼

Comments

  1. UntipsyteacherJanuary 4, 2017 at 7:23 PM

    Awesome!
    And I need more structure this new year.
    It's one goal I hope I can firm up for myself!
    I know that a schedule with structure would make me feel better!
    xo
    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ania SomebodyJanuary 5, 2017 at 3:13 PM

      Thanks, Wendy. :) Structure keeps me pretty much on the right track. I know I'm sliding off when I stop doing All the Right Things.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

32. Gratitude and simplifying

Image
Misery is impossible with gratefulness. ~ Osho Before I sat down to write this post I was busy drawing and then cooking my breakfast. Throughout those activities, I tried to stay in the moment and be present with what I was doing, but my mind would stray and start writing my blog post for me. However, by the time I put my fingers on the keyboard, all of the thoughts and ideas had disappeared. I have no idea what I meant to write about today. Day 32 and I'm feeling grateful for having gotten this far. Grateful to Holly over at Hip Sobriety for The Mantra Project . Grateful for all the support I've received at Hello Sunday Morning . Grateful for the support and comments from the Un-Tipsy Teacher . Grateful for my husband, my family, and my friends for all of their support. And grateful for this opportunity to begin to learn about who I am without alcohol. Are you familiar with the FlyLady ? A few years ago I tried her method of cleaning in an effort to get organized a
Read more

Day 14: Two Weeks

Image
No matter how much suffering you went through, you never wanted to let go of those memories.   ~ Haruki Murakami I stumbled upon this quote while looking for something else and it's changed the direction of where I thought I'd go with today's update.  To be honest, I'm never exactly sure where I'm headed when I sit down to write. Thoughts get transferred to my fingers on the keyboard and I follow along. The quote I opened with resonated with me because I have been struggling with myself over the past few days, and part of that struggle involves what a lot of folks in the sobriety community call "romancing the drink." No matter how many hangovers I suffered, no matter how many bad experiences I had or caused due to alcohol, there is still that part of me that thinks, "Drinking is fun!" or "Just one won't hurt!"  There is still a part of me that misses it and mourns it the way you would a lover who was nothing but bad for you
Read more

Day 18: Still here, still sober

Image
This then is life.  Here is what has come to the surface after so many throes and convulsions.  How Curious! How real!  Underfoot the divine soil, overhead the sun.   ~ Walt Whitman I can't believe it's been four days since my last post. I've been meaning to sit down and write something, but it's a crazy-busy time of year. I've also been writing Elsewhere, checking in with a community of wonderfully sober people. When I woke up this morning, tired from a poor night's sleep, I felt optimistic about getting through the holidays without alcohol. Even though I hadn't slept well, I was still waking up without a hangover. The most incredible thing about it was that I was sitting in one of my favorite pubs just last night, drinking water with lemon and enjoying some good food and great company, not the least phased about the lack of alcohol because I was having a good time. And now here I am, at barely past noon on this Friday before Christmas, thinking
Read more