Cheers

[Billy]

Today marks a year sober. I was definitely a moderate drinker. Enjoyed many a beer with friends or a glass of wine at night. But I decided a change was in order.

It started out with a goal of 100 days. A period of cleanse. When I reached that I kind of just said well let's see how it goes from here. It wasn't always easy. It's interesting to be sober at a party that's for sure A supportive wife and friends help a lot.

In early celebration I decided to fish one of my favorite lakes until dark yesterday. It was cold and challenging with a few rewards to hand: Thirst quenched (non-alcoholic)
This is kind of a hard post to make because of the personal side of it but I've decided a year is worth sharing and my fat fish of course
Billy

 

[Phil K]

Good for you Billy, but I have a question. How can we be sure you didn't stuff that trout full of Muskie fillets?

 

[Salmo_g]

If not drinking alcohol is your goal, then congratulations. Is it OK for me to ask you to help me understand? That is, how is one sober for a year if you were only a moderate drinker previously? Moderation suggests and strongly indicates that you weren't addicted to alcohol in the way that an alcoholic is. Oh, and nice chunky trout!

 

[Scott Salzer]

Good on you, and nice fish !

 

[Long_Rod_Silvers]

Congrats - on both the year of sobriety and also that pig of a fish.

 

[Yardus]

Congratulations brother!

 

[DanielOcean]

Very good for you Bill.

 

[Anonymous member 148]

If not drinking alcohol is your goal, then congratulations. Is it OK for me to ask you to help me understand? That is, how is one sober for a year if you were only a moderate drinker previously? Moderation suggests and strongly indicates that you weren't addicted to alcohol in the way that an alcoholic is. Oh, and nice chunky trout!

There's different levels of alcoholic, mostly you have to decide if it's affecting you negatively. If you don't drink all week then have 14 drinks in one night and get blackout drunk and make poor decisions, I would consider that an alcoholic. Even though your within the 14 drinks a week guidelines for a male.

 

[Merle]

Congrats Billy! I'm at 612 days according to the tracker on my phone. I think I was in a similar position as you describe. Not out of control but definitely saw how not drinking could vastly improve my life, so decided to give it a whirl. And boy did it improve things.

Sam Adams Just the Haze is my favorite go to NA now.

I've posted this short video before in the NA beer thread. I think this guy came from a much darker place than I did, but I often go back and give it another watch.



Keep it up brother!

Andy

 

[Wadin' Boot]

Congratulations Billy, plus those landscape shots are really cool, especially #1 and #4

 

[Merle]

There's different levels of alcoholic, mostly you have to decide if it's affecting you negatively. If you don't drink all week then have 14 drinks in one night and get blackout drunk and make poor decisions, I would consider that an alcoholic. Even though your within the 14 drinks a week guidelines for a male.

Yep... it's a spectrum for sure. And only the user can decide for them selves how much is too much, and whether life would be better or worse by making a change.

 

[Canuck from Kansas]

Congratulations Billy!!! Societal pressures can make it difficult.

If not drinking alcohol is your goal, then congratulations. Is it OK for me to ask you to help me understand? That is, how is one sober for a year if you were only a moderate drinker previously? Moderation suggests and strongly indicates that you weren't addicted to alcohol in the way that an alcoholic is. Oh, and nice chunky trout!

You do not have to be addicted/an alcoholic to be "not sober".

Nine years as of March 21.

 

[Northern]

Congrats on those absolute slobs of trout, and to the year of being sober!

And bravo to you for being self aware enough to realize that you don't have to be dependent on something for it to be having a negative effect on your life and health.

May you find massive bass and many tasty non-alc brews this Spring!

 

[DerekWhipple]

Congrats!

 

[Anonymous member 148]

I had reached the level of 'major problems' then crash and burn. Things are soo much better.. and cheaper, not drinking. I missed or really don't remember much of my first daughter's baby/toddler years, compared to my second daughter, they both love me just not the same bond. Makes you feel pretty horrible. So I'm always very supportive when people decide they don't need alcohol.

 

[dep]

thanks for sharing Billy. you made the choice yourself - so good for you.
you should have kept that trout and filleted it - it would have been excellent.
I truly hope our paths cross at some point.

dp

 

[Jim F.]

Congrats, young Fella!

 

[iggie]

Congratulations to all on the journey. Good luck. I just made 37 years in Jan.

 

[Josh]

If not drinking alcohol is your goal, then congratulations. Is it OK for me to ask you to help me understand? That is, how is one sober for a year if you were only a moderate drinker previously? Moderation suggests and strongly indicates that you weren't addicted to alcohol in the way that an alcoholic is. Oh, and nice chunky trout!

Ehhhh, Billy didn't say he was addicted or an alcoholic, he just said that he decided to make a change.

There are plenty of ways alcohol can affect ones life negatively without being a certified "alcoholic". It's expensive, it's full of empty calories, it's literally a toxin. Maybe it messes up your sleep, or you make terrible decisions after even just a beer or two once in a while, or your partner can't drink, or it interacts with medicines you take, or you get awful hangovers no matter how easy you take your night out, etc etc.

 

[Josh]

worth sharing and my fat fish of course

I still can't believe what a piggie that bow is. So cool.