Chapter 1: The Turning Point

My journey into a new life truly commenced when I embraced sobriety nearly 14 months ago. At the age of 35, I reached a breaking point, tired of the constant cycle of feeling unwell due to a substance I could no longer consume mindfully. I decided to quit once more, and thankfully, this time, it has lasted.

Every single day, my perception sharpens, allowing me to confront the reality of my past and present. I once believed I had a clear view of life while still indulging in heavy drinking, but I realize now that my vision was clouded. Just over a year ago, I was oblivious to many aspects of my existence, living behind a metaphorical veil that obscured my understanding.

While I recognize that I may still have areas of ignorance, I also understand that in the coming years, I might look back and realize how little I truly knew. The future remains uncertain, but since achieving sobriety, it feels as if I’ve emerged from a foggy dream into sharp reality.

For nearly two decades, my life was characterized by chaos and merely surviving. I would indulge in alcohol, create unnecessary drama, and then face the aftermath, usually nursing a hangover. This cycle repeated every few days, leading to a chaotic existence filled with impulsive decisions and reckless behavior.

After years of numbing myself, spending days recovering in bed and nights out with strangers, my newfound clarity offers me the opportunity to reflect meaningfully. I believed I was introspective before, enjoying the process of connecting life's dots, but sobriety unveiled layers of my life that had been obscured while I was drinking heavily.

Those years were riddled with selfishness that I convinced myself was necessary for self-preservation, keeping me in a victim mindset. Now, I can see how my drinking impacted my loved ones, how I failed to plan for the future, and how I avoided growth. I accepted toxic relationships and made choices rooted in low self-esteem.

Previously, I was alive but not truly living. Sure, there were moments of beauty and connections with wonderful people, but my life was predominantly a series of destructive cycles—creating chaos, cleaning up the mess, and repeating the cycle without real progress.

I spun aimlessly for years, lacking continuity or any real plans for the future. While I know that life can be unpredictable, I had no tangible goals, dreams, or vision—merely surviving day by day, not in an enlightened way but rather as if I was clinging to the edge of a precipice.

Today, my life may not appear perfectly organized, and I often feel like I’m lagging behind, yet I sense that I’m truly living for the first time. I’m not claiming to have mastered life, but I am actively dreaming, exploring, and confronting discomfort instead of evading it.

I am pushing my boundaries, trying new experiences despite my fears, and doing it all while sober. I’ve begun to envision a future—something that requires practice but becomes easier with time. Despite the challenges in the world, I can see glimmers of hope, and I strive to contribute positively to our shared future.

I face struggles, and there are days when I feel down, which I understand is common in the early stages of sobriety. I sometimes find myself in tears, feeling as though I’m far behind where I should be. Nevertheless, I’m in the process of crafting a vision for my life, setting intentions, and learning to appreciate the journey, allowing for detours along the way.

Life feels fundamentally different now. In some respects, it mirrors my past because I am still the same person. But quitting drinking has allowed me to wake up and confront reality without the haze that once clouded my perception. What a profound transformation this has brought.

Now, at 36, I genuinely believe my life began 14 months ago when I chose sobriety. It’s as if I’ve emerged from a peculiar dream. I’ve been present for a while, but my true journey has just begun. This marks a fresh start.

Chapter 2: Insights from My Journey

In this video, "Why I Got Sober & How it Changed my Life (Two Years No Alcohol)," I delve into the pivotal reasons behind my decision to embrace sobriety and the transformative effects it has had on my life.

In "I've been Sober for 100 Days! | My Experience Quitting Alcohol," I share my personal experiences and reflections during the early days of my sobriety journey, highlighting the challenges and triumphs along the way.