Taking Stock

Taking Stock

I’m not talking about the stock exchange, I mean taking stock of your sobriety progress. Wherever you are, day 1, month 2 or 2 years, I believe it’s important to pause every once in a while and say or think this: “take a look at me now”.

I’m at the tail end of a two week vacation from work, an extended 4th of July holiday. As I reflect back on this time, I’ve done a lot of great things; birthday parties, a fun concert, beach days, BBQ's, walks, coffee shop visits, errands, cleaning, gardening. And all of these activities were done sober. A year and a half ago, the majority of those events would have included some or in most cases, a lot of alcohol. In early sobriety, this proved to be immensely challenging for me. Time off from work meant escaping with booze, in a big way. Did I think about drinking during this recent time off, yes, but it was a blip on the radar. In fact, it passed so quickly that I was able to simply live in the present and enjoy the activity at the time. Was I completely at peace always, no, but the clarity that sobriety provides allows me to go through emotions easier. No drunk logic or convoluted hangover anxiety thinking.

When this break from work ends in a few days, I’ll be rested, more content and ready to tackle work, life and relationship tasks whether they’re positive or negative. This is a sharp contrast to the past where it would have taken a week plus to detox and be centered in mind, body and spirit. And guess what, when I did recover, I did it all again that next weekend. I’m so grateful to have jumped off that Merry Go Round.

I’m a fan of taking stock. The dividends are robust.

Chuck W