THE ALCOHOL LIE
Why You Never Lose Sober Time
Relapse doesn’t erase progress
This past year I’ve connected with a multitude of alcohol-free people on Instagram, and I love it when they share how long they’ve been sober with an enthusiastic post.
Life’s triumphs should be celebrated out loud, and getting sober is a sweet victory — one that deserves a good selfie. I’d much rather see that than the obligatory “photo of my drink and feet” that is so prevalent on the interwebs.
There’s only one caveat when it comes to celebrating “sober time,” especially if you relapse, and it comes from my own personal experience:
Don’t let it define how your life is going — it’s just one signpost.
Here’s a short story that illustrates my point…
During my last stint in rehab, I was paired up with a roommate, who we will call “Chuck.”
Chuck was a burly guy in his early to mid-60s. He had a full head of long salt and pepper hair — that he brushed frequently — but the hardened looks of a blue-collar sexagenarian who is a part-time biker on weekends. The kind of guy who…
