Nov 29, 2016 | By Tim Stoddart

5 Reasons I am So F*ing Grateful to be Sober

Mental Health Recovery

we-all-have-something-to-be-grateful-for

Every once in a while, I can lose perspective.

I think it’s safe to say I am in one of those periods in my life. I have been working too much and spending too little time taking care of myself.

Eventually, that little demon inside starts talking to me. I look around at other people. I start thinking about what I don’t have…

  • How come that guy gets to travel so much? Must be nice….
  • Those people’s relationship looks so great. How do I get to that place in my relationships?
  • They have more money.
  • They have a nicer watch.
  • They have pie and I really want pie. (Yes, it gets bad)

I can put anything on this list. In reality, it’s not about what they have or even what I don’t have. It’s about perspective.

The fact is that no one’s life is perfect. Everyone, regardless of appearance is struggling with their own problems. That’s just the way of the world. That’s life.

When I get in these positions, it’s important for me to take a step back and look objectively at my life. I like to remind myself how good I actually have it.

I am grateful. At the end of the day, I am healthy and sober. There is so much to be grateful for. Here is a little reminder.

1 – I am Grateful for my Strength

A few years ago, I wrote an article entitled “The Advantages of being an Addict.” I still feel very strongly that my struggle with addiction is the best thing that ever happened to me.

It taught me how to deal with pain.

No matter what I am going through, no matter my struggle, I know that it could never be worse than those days of addiction.

I can cope. I can deal. I can keep perspective on what is really going on and I can look at any situation and say “if I can get sober, I can do anything.”

I am so grateful for that.

2 – I am Grateful for a Still Mind

Okay if I am being honest, my mind is rarely still.

Some nights, when I go out and look at the stars, I get a feeling of peace and calm. Most of the time my brain is spinning.

However, nothing will ever compare to the way my mind used to race.

It was exhausting. No matter where I was or where I was going I always wanted to be somewhere else. If I was talking to people I wanted to hide in a corner. If I hid in a corner I felt left out. I would try to be outgoing only to feel as if I were faking it and so I would go back in the corner and wish I were somewhere else.

It never stopped. It was exhausting.

When I lie my head down at night, I truly am able to close my eyes and fall asleep. My restless mind used to keep me up for days on end. I’m not exaggerating. I thought it would never end, but it has.

I am grateful for that.

3 – I am Grateful for my Family

My family is nuts. It’s no wonder I turned out the way I did.

But I love them so much. Both sides of my family are just amazing. Sometimes I talk to my friends who may have lost their parents or lost a sibling. I couldn’t imagine what that would be like.

I am 30 years old and I am lucky enough to have both my parents in my life. I have my aunts and uncles and my sister and I can call them and depend on them at any time.

It wasn’t always like that. Recovery gave that to me.

I am so grateful to know that I can call my family and they would drop anything at a moments notice to help me. They know that I would do the same for them.

4 – I am Grateful for my Health

I am very healthy.

My health has always been so important to me. When you’re strung out and broke, managing your health is pretty far down the list of priorities.

Even if you wanted to, being healthy is just so difficult in that frame of mind.

I would eat shitty food. I would drink way too much. I wouldn’t take care of my lungs and my heart. I was always dehydrated and I managed my headaches with more unhealthy choices.

Health is a blessing. I am in a position where I can afford nutritious food. I can afford a gym membership. I have extra time in my life to go for runs and hit the weights.

In our world and in our country, obesity remains a huge problem. Addiction only compounds the problem. I have the resources and the self-awareness to make healthy choices in my life.

How fucking lucky am I? I am so grateful for my good health.

5 – I am Grateful for a Higher Power

I admit, when I hear people talk about “Jesus loving me” I still cringe.

I have given up trying to understand what God is, or what it means to other people. I used to spend sooooooooo much time looking up at the sky and asking myself what I was doing here.

“What is the point of all this?”

After embarking on a spiritual journey with myself, I am glad to have answered those questions within my mind and my heart. It wasn’t easy, but it was extremely gratifying.

I won’t bore you with trying to explain my understanding of a higher power. All I am saying is that I have it. When I look up at the night sky, I no longer feel lost. I feel a part of. I feel connected to the happenings around me.

I am grateful to belong.

What are you grateful for?

The Holidays are here. This is a difficult time for many people. But counting your gratitude is the best way to keep perspective and to stay away from a drink.

What do you have? What have you been given this last year? What is it that you can contribute to the world?

P.S. – I have been so busy it has been a long time since I got deep. I appreciate you all!

28 responses to “5 Reasons I am So F*ing Grateful to be Sober”

  • Robert Apple

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I am grateful to be able to make better life decisions.
    I am grateful I don’t have to remember what lie I told and to who.
    I am grateful my family is happy to see me.
    I am grateful to be able to help others.
    Lastly, I am grateful to be HAPPY!

  • Katie Roberts

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I am beyond grateful for my sobriety. Before I got sober, I was always stuck romanticizing the past, and fantasizing about the future but NEVER doing anything in the moment. I was resentful, angry, and unhappy. I wasn’t grateful for anything. I was always drinking and it was my only priority. Now, I am able to appreciate every aspect of my life and have gratitude for it all. Even the bad things make me realize that I can handle anything that comes my way and most of the time they are things that help me grow and learn. I am so grateful to finally say, I am happy, and content with what I have in my life. My family, my friends, and most importantly, my sobriety. I wouldn’t be here today without it. Thanks for the great article! It seems, like most things in sobriety, it always hits my inbox when I need to hear it most. 🙂

  • Beverly Straight

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I am grateful that I have a sober Tribe who support me.
    I am grateful for SOBERNATION.
    I am grateful to have an apartment.
    I am grateful to have found peace in the midst of chaos.
    I am grateful that now I recount my life by j0ys, not traumas.
    I am grateful for almost three years of continuous sobriety.

  • Robin Buchholz

    7 years ago

    Reply

    Ive been feeling so down and negative lately. Ive decided (started Sunday) to write down each day 3 good things that happened and something I’m grateful for. I want need happiness back in my life and that starts with me. Im creeping up on 5 years of sobriety….drinking is not an option for this girl!

  • RC

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I am grateful that I have the feeling again that everything is possible.

  • AM

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I am grateful for God, my family (which includes my 2 dogs) and of course sobriety! I’m coming up on a year and with the holidays coming I am sooo nervous but one thing I did forget is being grateful for sober nation .

  • Stephanie Carrasco-Silva

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND YOUR PAGE. THIS ARTICLE REALLY HITS HOME. I CAN AGREE WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, WHETHER ITS BECAUSE OF THE TIME OF YEAR OR OTHER FACTORS, I FIND MYSELF QUESTIONING ALSO. BUT LIKE YOU SAID, WE HAVE TO REMIND OURSELVES WHAT WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR AND STAY AWAY FROM THE DRINK/DRUGS. THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN 🙂

  • Megan

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I am grateful to have read this this morning. Its amazing how far we can allow ourselves to go, without remembering to humble oneself. I forget the things you mentione, the things so obvious yet I seem to overlook on a regular basis. The ‘always wanting to be somewhere else’. man,oh man, how that brought back memories. And how exhausting it was. I have SO many things to be grateful for today, and after reading this I realize I have so many more. I needed this reminder this morning. Thank you for that.

  • Matt

    7 years ago

    Reply

    Grateful for the ability to pause, when agitated or doubtful. To act rather than react. To be aware of everything and afraid of nothing, or much less than before anyway.

  • Barry

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I am grateful that I don’t have to self-medicate all the feelings because feeling nothing was better than even the good feelings.
    I am grateful for feelings, even when they make me cry.

  • Frank

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I am grateful for my sobriety.
    I am grateful to have a best friend, whom after all I’ve put her through means more to me than ever.
    I am grateful to have kids who have thier heads in straight, and not have to worry about them doing some of the things I did.
    I am grateful to have a job I can go to every day,
    I am grateful to have found my HP

  • Sharon

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I’m so grateful for the fellowship of the program! I have friends today who love me as I them, to lean on, to learn from . It’s an unconditional atteptance of each other to trudge along this road of happy destiny together. Very Grateful for friends!

  • RG

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I am grateful for the time spent on this article, and the motivation you gave me to reply.

  • Barbara

    7 years ago

    Reply

    This article came at a good time!! My day didn’t go as planned (go figure), and I was starting to feel angry and down. After just a couple minutes, I stopped myself from going down this dangerous path, and started to list the things I am grateful for. Right then and there, I decided to get off the piss pot, and do something constructive with my day – I enrolled for my 2017 health care insurance that I have been putting off – we who have to do this knows what a painful and time consuming project this is. Well that’s a load off my mind, and I never would have got this accomplished if I was still drinking – that’s a fact!!! Today I am grateful for AWARENESS!!!

  • Brendon Davis

    7 years ago

    Reply

    This year has been huge for me I am grateful for all of it. This Christmas will be very different because I have no money. I have a job and it pays well, but I moved in a nice place with my girlfriend and her two children. My son lives with us on the weekend so what I am most happy for is that we are now finally all under the same roof. It really makes me happy to wake up with the woman I love and share our lives together. I lived with my parents prior to this change and they were great and I love them very much, but when you get to a certain age it really means a lot to live on your own and I have that now. My money goes to bills and I am grateful that I can pay them on time. I am grateful everyday for my sobriety because without it, I would not have the opportunities I have today I would not be where I am and I love where I am.
    It will suck a little that I cannot give any gifts to the people I love and that will be hard, but there is a good reason for it and we would not have this place to call home if I had money because we would be living in a place that is not this nice. I have to get used to this new way of living, but I am very grateful that I have it it is what I have always wanted. So I have a lot, money does not define my happiness but it allows me to live a full life. Life is good 🙂

  • Nik

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I’m grateful I did not drink today I have wanted to drink almost everyday since my new sobriety date Nov 3, 2016

    I’m grateful I prayed today and remembered to ask god for help

    I’m grateful for sobernation

  • Darren

    7 years ago

    Reply

    For higher power and strength to go forward
    For my children – family – friends
    For my new position as a ski coach
    The understanding to be grateful for both good and bad
    For becoming a vegetarian recently
    For my dogs who keep moving

  • Susan B.

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I’m grateful for the gift of willingness. It has saved my life and given me purpose. Much gratitude to HP for the gift of this life.

  • Shiloh Green

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I am grateful for my two children, sobriety, my sponsor, my AA ladies, my higher power and my family. I am also truly grateful for the ability to see the good in even the worst of situations and finally taking responsibility on my part and not placing the blame on everyone else. Thank you God for another 24 hours of blessed sobriety!!! Also I want to thank SoberNation for the 30 day reboots they did a couple months back. It was amazing!!

  • Jennifer

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I’m grateful for a second chance at life. Thank you Jesus.

  • beth

    7 years ago

    Reply

    todd, you are the best, and I am grateful that you and sobernation are in my life. I have bi-polar disorder and I am grateful for being more stable with my medications. I am sober for only 5 days this time around(for t and so grateful for he bazillionth time) and something has clicked in my mind. I know I can do this now. for that I am truly grateful. grateful for my family and the few friends I have that have left for being there for me. I am so grateful for my three dogs. they are my furry children and they listen to my troubles and give me unconditional love another thing, definitely part of my higher power, is all of nature. it gives my mind peace. I am grateful to be here now,.and to have this amazing chance. thank you, peace..

  • Bronwyn

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I am incredibly grateful for the fellowship in meetings and all I learn from reading people’s struggles and positive shares on Sobernation.
    My home is now a pretty haven where I can unwind and be at peace instead of it being a jail where I drank and couldn’t get out the door.
    Waking up every morning knowing that everything will be where I left it (especially my cellphone!)
    No chaos and so much peace.
    Feeling comfortable with being alone and knowing that I am enough and that I don’t need anyone to validate that!

  • Lisa

    7 years ago

    Reply

    I am grateful for my family and my life. I am grateful for 30 days and for finding my way back to recovery after a 2 year relapse. I am grateful for gratitude itself and for the love and hope I’m beginning to feel again

  • Rita

    7 years ago

    Reply

    Just for today I’m grateful the insanity is no longer alive .
    I am grateful to be OK right now .
    I am grateful I No longer worry about tomorrow because I know my HP is already there !

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