On 144

The square of which is 12. If you divide it by seven, as in days of the week, you get 20.57. 20 weeks and four days since more than a sip.

It’s not getting easier, I’ll be honest. Everything is a trigger, this past week. Every meal we eat out, the drink menu calls me. The really big temper tantrums make me want to take a little walk to the store where all of the bottles line up so perfectly. Having money in my bank account is a reason to celebrate, right?

Celebrate. I almost bought I condo when I was 20. I had the down-payment in my chequing account, and I started to celebrate a little too early – before even applying for a mortgage or making an offer. Soon, two months were up, the entire deposit had been drank and I was broke, unable to even pay rent. I had to move back in with my father. I’d quit my three jobs, dropped out of school and started drinking from wake (and bake) to bed.

Now, I have my bills paid and more work than I can delve mentally into while living within the strict confines of my newly-adopted robot-like schedule, and there’s still money in the bank and I’ve forced myself to spend some of it, because, quite frankly:

if it’s there, I could drink it.

I’ve made this commitment to myself, to her. So I won’t. Really. No, I won’t. I can’t. I shouldn’t. I mean…maybe, nope. Won’t.

This is the dialogue that hits my brain 12-37 times a day, during times of peace, strife, waking, and lying while waiting for sleep. While I’m balancing my budget and checking my email. While I sit down to order a vegetarian wrap after being told that caesars are on special. While I’m making dinner or washing dishes or folding laundry or typing minuscule words like this.

I quit drinking because I thought that if I wanted to drink at some point, nearly every day, then I probably had a problem in there somewhere. It wasn’t until I quit that I knew I had a problem in there. Quitting has been the most relevant factor in my thirst.

This is already going around in circles, and not really doing much except to overwhelmingly, verbosely state the obvious: this is getting harder.

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  • You are strong, this is good, congratulations!
  • And yet... you're still doing it.

    Good for you. For both of you.
  • al_pal
    *HUGS*
    You can *keep* doing this. ;p
    Spending some of the money makes sense. Household supplies, nice foods, beauty stuff...there are so many healthy ways to indulge yourself.
    I salute you. ;D
  • That's pretty cool you are able to say, "nope, not for me."

    I just kind of grew out of the drinking and the pot. I never smoke anymore (which to be honest... maybe I want to start that again... hmmm) and I like to drink, just don't very often. Hard on the old man body I am growing into.
  • i have nothing to say that can make it easier. no one does. i have my own private struggles like this, with another substance, that i *never* talk about. you're far braver than me. xx
  • secretagentmama
    I <3 U.
  • Terra I just don't know how you do it, but I am so happy for you and Zoe that you do DO it! Only thing is: you can't do it alone. No one can. I hope you find the support you'll need to carry you through. I know I'm just online but if you ever need to talk or just maybe scream at someone in frustration, I volunteer happily for that!
  • as always, you amaze me with your strength. And awesomeness.
  • cool! Let's celebrate over rootbeer and sushi soon! You are awesome!
  • Ani
    I was going to say "You can do this", but then I realized you have already done it. You are there. There will be hard days to come, I can promise you. Just put on your armor and be ready for them. I belive in you.
  • From across the continent, I can tell you you're doing it. You're doing what you set your mind to.
  • One day. One minute at a time. You've got this. You are brutally honest with yourself and no longer in denial. That's your key to success. Good luck!
  • You are doing an amazing job. Thank you for writing about how hard it is. I'm 42 days sober today so I have no idea what to expect. In a way it helps to hear that it will get harder. At least I don't feel so alone wondering why it's not easy for me. Congratulations on 144 days. And I wish you many, many more.
  • It is hard and your honesty about it being hard is your best weapon. It's when we lie to others and more importantly to ourselves that we run into problems. Keep up the good work.
  • It completely makes sense to me. One day at a time, you've got this. And we're here if you need us
  • For me, the first couple of months were about the physical side of not drinking anymore. Emotionally I was all "I'm not drinking anymore, everything's perfect now." Then the emotional fallout began and it got harder. Lots harder. So I hear where you're coming from.

    This August I will have been sober for 17 years. It doesn't stay hard forever.

    (That's what she said.)

  • Vegas710
    Umm, I just started. I'm drinking. Too much. Every night. I'm trying to hide it. Fuck. I don't want to have a problem. I tell myself it's just a phase, I'll stop soon. It's only been happening for a week, maybe two.
    Fuck.
  • hockeymandad
    Wow, that is really amazing and awesome. Also, for what its worth, I'm proud of you. Hopefully I'll see you at BlogHer this year and if I do I'll buy you a club soda or a ginger ale, or just a water. Yeah, I think they charge for water in NYC and the tap water is actually really great.

    Anyway, keep up the great work. It's worth every bit of the effort.
  • I think you're amazing.

    If there's ever anything I can do to help, even if it's just reminding you how amazing you are, you know how to poke me.

    Love, lady.
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