yesterday I celebrated three years sober.  

I came her the day I got sober.  It was reinforcement for me just hours after my first AA meeting. 

I had said I was going to quit before. I never meant it.  And all those things metioned in the big book I tried: limiting my drinks, only drinking wine or beer, not drinking during the week etc.  

i made many excuses and a lot of hollow promises to my wife and kids, who were 14,10, and 2.  

I was reserved when I first quit, obsessed over how would ever make it through holidays, vacations, and flights and not drink   People at my AA meetings just told me, don't worry about then, stay in the now. Just don't drink today. 

It took me 9 months for things to sink in.  I wanted to pretend like I was an outsider and wasn't part of the clique that was AA.  Then my eyes began to open, my ears began to tune in, and my mouth began to speak.  

I did want what they had.  Their struggle was my struggle.  Men and women.  An aspect here or there.  A money struggle.  A marital struggle.  A career struggle.  A parenting struggle.

I didn't focus on not drinking.  I focused on solving life's problems head on, with a tremendous new support system.   I no longer had to face life's troubles on my own, or avoid them with a bottle.

I have tremendous peace. I share this message for all the new people who come in and struggle.  It takes time.  Many instances I tried to tell myself I could drink and handle it.  But I got a sponsor, worked the steps and kept focus on the message and delivering it to others.  

I am walking gratitude.  If you are new and struggling to embrace sobriety, just take it one day at a time.  After the first year, you know that there's no day in the calendar - holiday, birthday, weekend that you can't stay sober through.