23 Years of Sobriety: Reflections

[Aquajock]

This past week I marked 23 years of absolute sobriety and abstention from alcohol. This has been a year of one tiny personal triumph, two profound tragedies within my family and the confrontation of my great life's failure which has left me humbled but also with a renewed resolve to do more and do better. I won't go into details about any of that, but suffice it to say the year has been anything but "serene", which the A.A. people keep yapping about. But that's okay.

I still feel there are many similarities between the practice of sobriety and the practice of fitness. Both involve an ongoing daily commitment, usually in the face of great social pressure to do otherwise. Both involve an extreme sense of personal responsibility, in an era where it's all about wretched excess, finger-pointing and hiring others to do one's own work. Both have benefits that are gradual and incremental at times, and psychological and emotional at times, and aesthetic at times. And, when you think about it, both practices are eminently economical. The health care cost savings of an alcoholic who abstains from alcohol (not to mention the cost savings of the booze itself), and the person who practices fitness week in and week out and avoids the myriad illnesses concomitant with sedentary living, could probably buy a house. I know for sure it buys a life.

Ah well. It's another hazy summer morning here in A-Jock Land; I have the day off from work and will - of course - kick it off with a Cathe mish-mosh. Something steppy and IMax2-ey for cardio, some do-it-myself barbell leg work (maybe), and Ab Circuits No Equipment Abs to polish it off. Not bad for a former useless drunk.

Cheers, peeps, and thanks for reading this.

A-Jock

 

[cher54]

Wow Annette, what a great post! Congratulations on your twentythree years of sobriety. I'm working on my first year of total abstinence so your post is truly inspirational. Just what I needed to read this a.m.
I love your analogy of working out and sobriety. I never thought it about it that way but you're so right.
Have a great sober and fit day!!!!

 

[kariev]

Congradulations Annette!!!! That is amazing. Even though I don't know you personally, I'm so proud of you My mom will be sober for 14 years this October. Unfortunately my brother is in the middle of this disease but has not hit his bottom yet. This is such an amazing accomplishment! Congrats again!!!!!!

 

[serene_46]

Wise words from a powerful woman!!!

Congratulations Annette.... here's to another 23 years

 

[jonahnah]

So much eloquence & power in your words, Annette.

Funny how it's the day to day stuff that makes a life worth living. How we treat ourselves & others 24/7 truly determines our destiny.

 

[NurseMommy]

A-J --
Your wisdom is hard-won and so heartfelt. Thank you for sharing! (And congratulations on these 23 years!)
Allison

 

[Winter]

Congratulations!

I hope you so proud of yourself for those two achievments alone. Both take incredible focus and dedication.

Winter

 

[caseysmomgo]

Congratulations, Annette! You're an inspiration to us all.

 

[rjroubi]

A-Jock, I'm truly humbled by your words and commitment to living great. Thank you for reminding me about the value of working harder every day -- the benefits really are immeasurable.

When times get tough (and I don't "feel like" working out) I will pull out a copy of your post.

 

[Aquajock]

Wow Annette, what a great post! Congratulations on your twentythree years of sobriety. I'm working on my first year of total abstinence so your post is truly inspirational. Just what I needed to read this a.m.
I love your analogy of working out and sobriety. I never thought it about it that way but you're so right.
Have a great sober and fit day!!!!

Cher54, thank you so much for your response. I've often toyed with the idea of creating a "Sobah Sistah's Check-In" on the Check-In forum for we Cathletes who are committed both to sobriety and physical fitness, with the best physical fitness producer in the business.

One day at a time, sweetie, and one workout at a time. That's all you need to focus on. Keep up the good work.

Love,

A-Jock

 

[Aquajock]

Congradulations Annette!!!! That is amazing. Even though I don't know you personally, I'm so proud of you My mom will be sober for 14 years this October. Unfortunately my brother is in the middle of this disease but has not hit his bottom yet. This is such an amazing accomplishment! Congrats again!!!!!!

Kariev, thank you so much for your response. Like you, I have several relatives who also have alcoholism, some of whom (notably my mother and father) have been sober for many years, and others of whom are either still in the throes of the condition or who died before their time after grappling with the crippling side effects of alcoholism for years. I do hope that your brother is able to come to Now with his inability to process alcohol safely and with his need to live an absolute sober life soon; I do hope that if and when he hits bottom the bottom doesn't fall out. My own dear brother died in late December this year at age 49, and he had a profoundly enlarged liver at the time of his death. Harsh lessons from an extremely harsh physical vulnerability.

Keep on keepin' on, honey!

Love,

A-Jock

 

[Aquajock]

To Brenda / Serene46, Allison / NurseMommy, Winter, Caseysmomgo, and Robin / rjroubi:

Thank you all so much for your warm words. Go out and make it a great healthy day. I remain eternally grateful to Cathe herself for #1 creating workouts that are actually enjoyable to do despite (or perhaps because of) her insistence on physical challenge and #2 because of the community she has created around her products. Doin' the right thing is made a little bit easier when it's so much fun.

And Joanie-Boo . . . you know how I feel about you. You reached out to me with something that has been a game-changer for me, and in doing so connected me with you too, a truly kindred spirit. Thanks so much for everything, and happy birthday to your DS!

Love,

A-Jock

 

[KadetKim]

A-J RESPECT TO YOU

 

[lala1]

Congrats again, A-Jock. This is always the best post of the year! You are an inspiration to all of us. thanks for sharing.

 

[earlyexerciser39]

AJ!! I look forward to this post every year. Your posts always make me smile, but this one truly warms my heart! I am so proud of you and your daily commitment to sobriety!

I recently came to rock bottom in my fitness journey and had a revelation. It was serious for me, but is certainly not as serious as alcoholism. I was a 2 scales a day, twice a day weigher. In other words, I weighed myself twice (sometimes three times) a day on two different scales. My happiness and level of physical activity was directly, DIRECTLY related to the number each day. In the middle of April of this year, I finally decided to stop and went cold turkey. I have not been on a scale since then and feel enlightened, happier, powerful, and strong! I have likened it to smoking or drinking. I had to have my fix every day. It truly was a dark and depressing thing for me, but I never failed to make myself feel worse every day.

I am as proud of me as I am of you and everyone who makes a choice to better themselves and commits to that choice every hour of every day. We must love ourselves before we can love others. I am beginning to sound trite, so I will just say: Great work, Annette!! Stay strong!!
Jenn

 

[jaypea]

Annette,
You are quite an inspiration!!!! Thanks for sharing.
-Jen

 

[JAFitMama]

Anette-

I look for this post every July.

Congratulations on another year of sobriety and fitness!

Your advice and comments here are among the most inspiring in Catheland. I am thankful to have chatted with you on these forums for so many years. (Although I have become more of a lurker in recent years )

 

[RapidBreath]

A-Jock-

I, for one, am so glad that you have chosen to live. My Aunt Patty was not as strong as you and due to her drinking contracted liver cancer and passed away in her 50s when I was just 14. Choosing to live when life is a challenge takes guts and you got em in spades, you are awesome.

 

[JMFRANE]

Hey Girlfriend,

Hope all is well. We need to all get together soon. Maybe, after the Cathe trip. Miss you.

Joanne

 

[caseysmomgo]

A-Jock, have you ever thought about writing a book? Your posts are always so eloquent and packed with insight and inspiration, as well as humor, and I think so many people could benefit from your words of wisdom, whether they're fighting addiction, health/exercise issues, or just to get through life in general. I envy you for being able to put things into words so beautifully. If you wrote a book, I'd buy it in a heartbeat, and I'm sure I'm not the only one!

Take care,