I recently recorded Sober Podcast Episode #167 for my longer, weekly sober podcast series. You’re familiar with the one-minute audios. These are longer, meatier.
In this episode, I spoke at length on the phone with one of my sober penpals as he celebrated a pretty large milestone.
Usually i only put up an extract of the podcast and then tell you to go buy the whole thing and/or to sign up for the monthly podcast subscription.
Today i think this audio needs to be heard in its entirety.
So i’m going to put up the whole thing (40+ minutes long) and i’m going to leave it up for 48 hrs so that you can hear the entire audio even if you’re not a podcast subscriber. So please listen now. right now. My only request is that you leave a comment. Feedback is crucial 🙂
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Thanks for this! I listened to it today as I needed some inspiration. I got that and a lot of smiles. I heard a lot of me in there. In fact I was so bad with the driving. I did it a lot. When he told about the tires on the way home…I did that and had no idea the next day. I thought someone slashed my tires! Then it started to come back to me. one time when I was home alone, of course a reason to drink, I got really drunk on martinis and took off to be alone and sober up! My thought was I would do so and be back before anyone came home. I drove to a neighborhood I was familiar with parked, got out threw up, passed out and woke up at 5 am! Omg— everyone was looking for me. Scares the crap out of me when I think about it. GW your story is inspiring and I can hear your commitment ! Thanks Belle for doing this! This is such a community and we really are all so very alike.
Thank you GW (and Belle) for this podcast. I am a subscriber and really enjoy hearing guest speakers/experiences. I also noticed that GW used many tools (layers of blankets :-). I learned a lot from this podcast and will listen to it again soon.
Congrats GW and thanks Belle for sharing.
I could relate to a lot of what he said and it comes at a low period in time for me. Hearing that he feels more than a drink is very enlightening.
Thanks again.
I too did not drink as a teen. Actually the first time that I truly drank I was 23. I also did not drink for pleasure and to socialize. I drank to feel totally happy, at least that’s what I thought at the time. I stopped drinking and driving many years ago, but like this gentleman, I would plan how I would get home by having others take me. It was quite helpful to listen to his story, so honest. Thank you! Petra
Thanks for sharing your story, GW. I wish we had LifeRing here in Phoenix, but 12-steps still dominates the recovery scene. Someone else also mentioned this, but I would love to hear more from you about what keeps you on track and motivated. I had a year sober a few years ago, and conned myself into thinking that I could drink like a normal drinker….it took me through many hellish experiences before I arrived here. I am on day 5.
Thanks for allowing me to listen, the line that got me was” I’m worth more than a drink”.
Incredible achievement GW, thanks for sharing your story. I’m one of those at the beginning of my sober journey (again) who stand in awe of people like you. Relate to drinking to fill time – I (was) a home drinker living in a small isolated city with limited options for travel and work. Reasons for previous relapse is that I dropped my toolbox and didn’t pick up the contents thinking I could go it alone. You’ve inspired me to be wary of abandoning my tools and support structures (that’s undoubtedly Wolfie telling me I don’t need them, sneaky asshole) and that it can be done. Belle, thanks for posting.
Excellent audio. Really fabulous. The main thing to come out of this for me was his simple question – “Why would I do that”? I’m rocking day 44, and have been feeling a little bit ‘meh’. This has perked me up and made me feel lighter of spirit. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much sharing for this phone call. I also did not go the AA route. I just couldn’t handle the structure of this type of program. I stuck closely to my computer and read everything else I could get my hands on. This gentleman was kind to share his journey. I wish him much continued luck. He had the wisdom to let go of this anchor long before I did. I now follow closely behind him at 866 days sober. At 57 years old I have been given the best gift ever! Thanks for sharing all your experience, wisdom and support Belle. You are the best!
Great audio. Wish we had Life Ring in MA. Looking for a less ritualistic alternative to AA.
Very inspirational.
Thank you for sharing this. I think sober momentum is such a great driving force and not wanting to jeopardize all the postive things that come from bring sober by wanting just one (which is never “one”) drink. I can relate to the mindset when we are drinking and the all the potential risks that we set ourselves up for.. clearly illogical.
It’s really helpful and enlightening to hear different perspectives on all this. Thanks for sharing.
It was great to hear someone’s story and wish GW the very BEST in life. I didn’t hear what he did now to combat the boredom (rather than drinking and thereby poisoning himself). I would really like to know what he does instead. He mentioned breathing exercises and meetings of different types and his job is until late at night. But curious as to how he spends his time outside of all that too. Not drinking certainly opens people up to all kinds of possibilities and interests, often hidden for the alcohol years. Wondering also what his goals are, what he’d working towards….Thank you GW for allowing us to hear this update, it helps us all.
GW, thank you for your honesty! I heard parts of my story in there and I need to stay vigilant. Your thought process of “why would I do that?” is a great way to pause before doing irreparable damage. More proof that you are providing a service to so many, Belle. You are a safe haven. Thank you for sharing the entire audio.
Congratulations to him and thank you for being so honest in sharing the story. Sometimes those of us with a ‘high bottom’ think we’re ‘lucky’ or have managed our over-consumption better. Bullshit. There’s been collateral damage all the time, whether we got citations written on real paper or not. Very inspirational….
I love this!
I had a DUI in 2003, and continued to drink on and off after that, until now. I can’t believe I drove drunk after this, many times. Grateful nobody got hurt! Brain soaked in alcohol makes the most ridiculous illogical unsafe decisions!
Day 16 today, happy to be sober!
Thank you Belle for all your work! AA is NOT for me, but your message resonates deep!
I loved this audio. It struck a chord with me to hear that another human being struggled with alcohol but came out the other side and sounds happy!
Also important for me to hear was what he said about having friends who relapsed but were able to to become sober. Gives me hope as I seem to go many weeks and be fine only to find myself in a social situation where there is alcohol and I drink (relapse). I am hoping practice makes perfect.
Reading and hearing success stories and the struggles overcome to get success really helps. Conrats G. W.
I loved this audio!!! It was great listening to a fellow penpal’s experience getting and staying sober. I was laughing my way through the discussion on AA – it made me feel better because I am of the same opinion as GW and it made me feel like less of a “failure” at AA. There ARE so many other things out there! More of these please!
Thanks Belle and gw for sharing. I enjoyed hearing this and I will need to follow up with a new pledge. Didn’t know to do so. Anyway I can relate to gw. I’m just lucky to never get caught DUI. this podcast drives that home. Holy $&:/. That would be my destiny if I pick up again. I’m day 800 and change. You rock Belle.
GW! Thank you for being my inspiration tonight! Day 22 for me and hearing this podcast was another great motivational tool for me on this journey. Congrats on 894+ days! (I believe that was the #?) Looking forward to seeing your 1,000 day milestone! -IGT
I could relate a lot to his story. I never got a DUI (just lucky) but I kept doing the same stupid things over and over again, rationalizing in my Wolfie brain why it really wasn’t all that bad (my sneaking and turning into a different person around my family). What really struck me in listening to him, was that he was so grateful that he finally managed to stop. And the idea of throwing away all those 894 days (I think that’s what it was) is nowhere close to worth it, just to take “one” drink. That and the fact that he doesn’t want to let down the people that stood by and supported him. That’s just where I’m at mentally (guessing around 775 days for me). It would be my worst nightmare to end up back where I was, and lose so much of what I’ve gained over the last two years (especially my family’s trust and forgiveness). I really think that’s what keeps me sober now. I know what a huge risk it would be to set foot in that drinking world again, and it scares the crap out of me. Thanks for sharing the audio – loved hearing it.
Could easily have me that got caught for a DWI. Did it a thousand times but luckily didn’t get caught. Makes you realize that after even one drink your good judgement gets distorted. Thanks Belle!