“I didn’t believe life could be good without alcohol”

Amy is 8 months sober today. Please show her some love. Carrie is on day 150. Adrian is day 30.  CGW is on day 16. And me, i’m somewhere around day 400 (holy, when did that happen?).

from my inbox:

Erinup (31): So on the 30th day of my sobriety I was given an opportunity to glimpse maybe what it might feel like to follow that dream a little. I feel like I was given a that a month ago I would not have been able to receive. I would not have been clear-headed enough to have led the class and I don’t think I even would have been aware that it was something I wanted to do.  Oh and I had a piece of cake to celebrate!

KT (about turning 100): It is just so weird to me because I have been 100 days sober + many times, but it has never felt so right.  I finally think I truly get the fact I can’t drink like a normal person & that’s OK!  There is life after alcohol.  For so many years of struggling with this it has always been such a battle & that is because I didn’t believe life could be good without alcohol.  I wish it wouldn’t have taken so long for me to get to this point but I guess I should just be thankful I finally got here! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Susan (24):  It means a lot to me to recognize I have a problem and I am able to correct it  by choosing not to drink and finding support in many different ways.   Going online and seeing many different people coping with the same issues has been so helpful in lifting the shame around it.

NoMoreVino (24): Still sober!  I continue to be amazed at your following for this challenge.  I got my bracelet last night too.  It was cool as shit to have the piece of jewelry made by Ellie (she was the very first blogger I followed and she led me to all of you) and sent from YOU with your signature & hugs XO on the envelope.  It made this all seem a little more real.  We’re real.  We’ve all been there, done that, doing it.  Super cool to feel like I’m part of this amazing community of sober people.   Thanks again Belle – I could have never gone 22 days without drinking (and be excited about it) without all of you!! 🙂

MG: I loved the clip (from audio #1).  Your voice was so soothing, reassuring, encouraging and CONFIDENT!  I think my biggest takeaway from listening to it was that it really takes about 100 days to retrain our minds.  I have been reading this all along of course, but somehow HEARING it made me actually think about BELIEVING it.

Belle

I want to put this online, to hold myself accountable. I want to document the noise in my head. I'm tired of thinking about drinking. date of last drink: june 30, 2012

  • Hi belle, This is Victoria. I want to see if I can rejoin the challenge. If so today is day 4. Thanks very much!!!!!

    Sent from my iPhone

  • Sorry, I think I wasn’t clear there. I meant if you wanted to access the audio but not do the coaching class per se as I was understanding it as there being more of an interactive element. It’s very early here and I am still on my first cup of coffee 🙂

    80 people wedding catering?! Wowsers. Go you. I’m sure it will all be spectacularly delicious. What’s on the menu?

    • you may enjoy reviewing the specifics of the audio class my darling, it is 5 audios (one per day for 5 days) and then a one-on-one call : ) it’d be perfect for you too! on the menu: lots of british garden party stuff … sandwiches with the crusts cut off … no, really.

      • I’m sorry, I should learn to finish coffee before I type. I looked at the contents when you launched but clearly I’m confused right now. Will go back and refresh my tired brain. It’s been a loooonnngggg busy week over here. ANYway…

        I LOVE high tea style food and sandwiches with the crusts cut off are among my favourites, especially cucumber and also those delicious poached chicken sandwiches with nuts and celery. Yum! Little mini scones with clotted cream and jam too?

      • curried chicken sandwiches with raisins and apple, dill and cucumber, lemon squares. yes you’re on the right track : )

  • I just wanted to say that I loved hearing your voice from the audio clip too. You exist in real time! You’re not a cyborg Belle!

    It also made me wonder, what if people want to listen to the audio but don’t want to sign up for the whole coaching course per se, because perhaps like me they’re further on out but would like to hear what you have to say? Or maybe there’s room later to do a Stage 2 audio course that has highlights from the first but moves past the initial ‘getting sober for 100 days’ stage. Just thinking ‘aloud’…

    Also, I second what MG said… as I head toward 100 days (day 97 today!!!) I realise that this is the absolute beauty of the 100 days challenge. I really have felt significant differences only really quite recently. I’ve felt differences slowly and gradually the entire time but something has recently shifted notably and I seriously think it is my brain rewiring and healing.

    More on this in a few days when I get there but I think the 100 day challenge is the perfect launch into sobriety. It’s also, for the person just starting out, a long enough time to make a real difference but not so long as to seem *completely* insurmountable from the outset.

    • Lilly, anyone can sign up for the coaching class, and of course you can pick and choose which audios you’d like to listen to — even if, like you say, you’re further along. I hope the low cost wouldn’t be a barrier and would encourage anyone to join, regardless of their number of sober days. Someone with 75 days of sobriety is taking the class next week : ) and yes, I have other classes in the planning stages, but wanted to get this one underway first. MG is doing the beta version, she’s in the ‘first group through’. Next week a second group will do the class. then I cater a wedding for 80 guests… and then … hugs, me