"The Sober Life" by Jackie Joy

If you don’t believe me, I understand. Sometimes I don’t believe me, and I’m living this life. The sober life.

This week marks two significant milestones. July 16 is six months weed free. July 17 is twenty-four years free from alcohol.

How has my life changed? Significantly.

I’m not suffering from erratic mood swings.
I’m not paranoid.
I don’t stink.
I don’t end up in the back of cop cars.
I don’t fall down drunk.
I don’t spend the night in jail.
I don’t bring strange men home.
I don’t have valuable items go missing from my home.
I don’t black out.
I don’t try to put the pieces of the night together by  asking strange questions of the friends I was with who didn’t black out.
I don’t lose random pieces of clothing.
I don’t wake up hungover.

I do remember conversations.
I do respect myself.
I do take care of myself - physically, emotionally and spiritually.
I do read a lot more, and I remember what I read.
I do have a healthy sense of self-esteem.
I do love myself.
I do love you.
I do love my friends and my family.
I still count days. Do you?