Summary

The author reflects on their journey with sobriety, marking significant milestones with journal entries that occasionally become public social media posts, fostering connections with others struggling with sobriety.

Abstract

The author, who enjoys writing stories and journaling, shares a personal aspect of their life through journal entries that focus on the theme of sobriety. These entries, not originally intended for public consumption, sometimes make their way onto social media, where they have been generally well-received. The author celebrates 2.5 years of sobriety at Joshua Tree National Park, a tradition they have of marking milestones in memorable ways, often celebrating "birthdays" every six months. They express the difficulty of achieving sobriety and the ongoing effort to maintain it, likening the journey to navigating a challenging trail. The author acknowledges the support of a community that has helped pave the way to recovery and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to reinvent their life's trajectory. The author's reflections reveal a transition from struggling with honesty about their sobriety to a place where the desire to drink is mild and manageable.

Opinions

The author is ambivalent about sharing personal sobriety journals on social media but recognizes the value in connecting with others who are struggling.
They view their sobriety as a significant accomplishment, akin to conquering a difficult wilderness trail, and find it both surreal and rewarding.
The author appreciates the guidance and support from others who have navigated the path to sobriety, emphasizing the importance of community and shared experience.
They have adopted a positive outlook for the future, embracing the possibilities that sobriety brings, including the ability to live out their biggest dreams.
The author describes their changed relationship with alcohol, noting a shift from a compulsion to drink to an occasional, fleeting thought that does not lead to action.

Social Media and Sobriety; Simultaneously Awkward and Awesome

Personal Photo Joshua Tree National Park

I’m fond of saying “I like writing stories, presumably for people to read”, but I do another sort of writing as well. I write in my journal, a lot. My journal helps organize my stream of consciousness, which is usually ridiculous, often overwhelming, and always confusing. My thoughts, and therefore my journal take on a common theme, sobriety, mostly how I can keep my mind clear of thoughts that inhibit sobriety. Unlike my outdoor stories, my journal entries are not written presumably for other people to read, but occasionally an entry may find its way into an outdoor story, and rarely, around once a year, I share an entry about my sobriety.

I’m always unsure about doing this. Contrary to popular practice, sharing something personal on social media isn’t always a great idea. In most cases, my posts regarding sobriety have been well received. A few times, now my favorite interactions, people struggling have reached out to me. I get the privilege of sharing my story, and the things I’ve learned with someone on a special level. A couple of those people have stayed in touch and are actually sober today.

So I’m writing this from Joshua Tree National Park, exactly 2.5 years sober. I try to do something memorable on milestones. I admit I usually celebrate birthdays every six months rather than the traditional annual. I know how hard it was for me to get here, and for now, anyways, every six months is worth noting.

~ Journal Entry from 1 Year Sober

I wasn’t sure about posting this, I was nervous about it actually.

Today marks 1 year sober.

That’s the honest truth, I have not always been honest about my sobriety. This almost doesn’t seem real, I am still amazed I’m actually staying sober. Often, I wake up and have to think hard to convince myself that I’ve stayed sober. That I haven’t slipped or hidden a drink, that I am not lying again, that this was real. Sharing this with the world feels strange, it is hyper-personal, but at the same time a huge accomplishment. I want everyone to know.

I think of sobriety as a trail, A wild insane trail. I experienced a class five bushwack searching for the trailhead. That alone took years, only to find that more than once, I was lost and had to backtrack. In the end, I found I didn’t have to blaze my own trail. A group of people have already made one, and they devoted their lives to creating a map. Once I asked for directions, every day a well-worn path through the underbrush appeared. Now that path has led above trees to a ridge, I can see the route ahead of me. Just because I’m on the ridge doesn’t mean smooth sailing. After all, on a ridge, I’m more exposed to storms.

Getting here has been my greatest accomplishment. I have a lot to be grateful for, thanks for all the help along the way. Today my heart is full

~ Journal Entry from 2 Years Sober

This weekend marks 2 years sober for me. I spent it in the wilderness, dirty and exhausted. Exactly the way I’m supposed to be.

These milestones are important times to reflect on, but also wonderful days to look forward to. To create motivation for things to come, endless opportunities that have shown themselves in my new life.

I have chosen a new mantra for the upcoming year, taken from an adventure tale: “If I live until tomorrow, I am going to live my biggest dreams”

— Jean Muenchrath

I have been blessed with this chance to reinvent my life’s trajectory, I can live my biggest dreams, experience everything. Big things, small things, all things, it’s all possible. This new energy wouldn’t be possible without the pull of alcohol being removed. While I still have some desire to drink, it’s mild. More of a thought or a want, rather than a craving or a need.

I explain it like this:

I used to wake up with a very real feeling that I didn’t want to drink, but I knew that I was going to. Now I wake up occasionally wanting to drink but I know that I won’t.

Drinking is simply something I don’t do anymore.

It’s been a wild ride, thanks to everyone that rode along with me!