11/03/2026
Sobriety, and the importance to be surrounded by the right people:
It is a belated one, but I wanted to celebrate my sober anniversary by posting this year instead of uploading a story.
28th February 2020, I decided that was enough. I had to face my own monsters the morning after a drunk night, but this time it went too far. My thoughts that night scared me as they never did before. I was also drinking on my own, late at night, in my own my living room. That morning I realized I was my own monster, and it was so ironic because that was exactly what I was trying to escape from when I started to drink when I was 13 years old. I was trying to escape because I could not escape. And as an adult, even when I could escape in any other way, I kept on repeating the same patterns to escape from everything that used to overwhelm me. I just couldn’t break the spiral. I lost many good friends, family, I destroyed the love and trust they had in me. They gave up on me because, sooner or later and even if I would only drink eventually, I would mess up everything again big time.
That night in my living room I faced the truth of starting to take accountability of my own life and problems as an adult. I didn’t want to be that monster anymore. I did want to claim back my dignity because I was not only hurting others, but self destroying myself too. Also, my weak personality, fear of confrontation and addiction was a target for so many bad people to bully and take advantage of me. This was hunting me for years. I decided that it was enough. I decided to try something that I never did before and I promise myself not to ever drink alcohol or to smoke again. I did it cold turkey and I started to focus on gym, work, family and therapy. My life changed drastically, I felt closer to my family than I ever did. I was in a better mood after a while (when I overcame the withdrawal symptoms). I started to confront situations and people that was not right for me. I claimed back my dignity. I was single for 4 years and then, I met the love of my life. I don’t believe in coincidences: she is also a sober person.
We know what we do not want for us anymore, we encourage, reassure and remind this each other everyday. We have suffered enough, and it was just about time to enjoy what life had prepared for us.
For me personally, the best family I could never have asked for, a body that is still young and healthy, a mind that is finally healthy and in control, self esteem, a great career perspective, a roof over my head, a good salary to afford living and hobbies, a great family in law, the best relationship I have ever had in my life because for once a person is willing to communicate and work with me on it, and more importantly, DIGNITY.
If you ever struggle with any substance, even if it is eventually, if you have an addiction, please face it asap. Admit it to yourself. Don’t try to hide it under the carpet until you realize you have wasted the most of your life. You are young enough to start over again, it is never too late. Trust me, we recover. And trust me, we finally achieve happiness and that emptiness inside that never felt to fill and that we used alcohol in order to try to, is now replaced with a full sense of love and purpose.
