I’ve had the most wonderful sober weekend I am in a state of bliss. I never once wanted to drink, despite being surrounded by booze.
Something has clicked and I’m no longer fighting an urge to drink, I’ve just decided it’s a really bad idea, and that I’m quite content as I am, thanks, sitting here on my little pink cloud.
Sunday nights used to be a huge trigger for me- the evening stretching out before me, promising loneliness and melancholy which wine would put a little plaster over, until of course I woke up on Monday feeling terrible.
Tonight, I am content, calm and in control. Wine caused the loneliness. Caused the unhappiness. This room was hell on earth. Tonight, I sit in my little bedroom listening to this beautiful song by London Grammar alternated with some of Belle’s brilliant podcasts (http://fuckyouwolfie.com/sober-jumpstart/ – if you don’t subscribe you really should, they cement all the messages of her blog and really helped with my ‘click’) feeling anything but alone.
With my scented candle flickering in the background, a weekend full of friendship, laughter and love under my belt, my room feels like my sober cocoon I’m returning to, to get my energy back. I’m for some reason reminded of a line from one of my favourite John Donne poems about infatuation and love, aptly titled “The Good Morrow”:
‘And now good-morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;
For love, all love of other sights controls,
And makes one little room an everywhere.’
This sober cocoon is my ‘everywhere’ right now and sobriety is my new lover. This honeymoon period can’t last forever, but I’m damn well going to enjoy it while it does.
I am so, so happy to read this. Donne is wonderful. These lines from ‘La Corona’ seem made for you tonight:
‘With a strong sober thirst, my soule attends.
‘Tis time that heart and voice be lifted high…’
Keep that honeymoon going. X
Thank you! Also an apt one 🙂
I listened to your interview with Belle on the podcast last night- found it so encouraging. As you’re UK based, let me know if you ever want to join any of the London sober meet ups a few of us are plotting. Do have an anonymous email address I can contact you at (mine has my name in it so won’t post it here!) let me know and we could arrange something.
I met Carrie, SoberJournalist and Reading Creature with Belle at her London meet up and I found it invaluable to get me on the right track- now I’m on it, I want to make sure I stay on it!