Independence Day - 10 Years Since My Last Drink
Today, on the day of my country's 250th anniversary of its declaration of independence, I celebrate ten years to the day since I chose to have my last drink of alcohol. That was one of the greatest moments of my life in retrospect (which, funny enough, happened to simultaneously be one of the worst moments of my life at the time). But just like the U.S. then had to fight for many years to win the war against the U.K. to really become independent, I really wasn't truly free until I then won my war against weed and quit that more than five years later, and so for almost five years I have been absolutely sober.
My life has been completely transformed. Everything has changed. Now I run my own business and live my dreams. I am free.... free from the substances that controlled my life and held me down. From hangovers. From morning-after guilt and shame. From permanent stoner brain fog stupidity. From the chains that held me down. From geographic constraints.
Quitting drinking was so, so hard.... but it was a thousand miles toward freedom. And I didn't fully get there until I quit weed, which was equally as challenging, in different ways. But this party boy for decades did both. I can't freaking believe it.
Ever since then my life has felt like I have been flowing down a river in mid-current.
You can do it. You can achieve this. You can take the first step. And you can reach freedom and independence.
I'm sorry for my exuberance. I try to be humble, but it's been one decade since my first step and I am so happy and grateful and in disbelief. As my country celebrates 250 years since it took the first steps toward freedom, I am celebrating ten years since I chose to begin my own journey toward independence.
Happy Independence Day.