# Four years sober was a good run, but I'm starting over. One day. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 7, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-years-sober-was-a-good-run-but-im-starting-over-one-day/759340 "2016-07-07T23:11:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-years-sober-was-a-good-run-but-im-starting-over-one-day/759340/41 "2016-08-04T13:39:17Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > In 1994, after six years of sobriety, I decided to go out and do research to find out if alcohol was still cunning, baffling and powerful. After three years of study, I concluded that indeed it was, on all three counts. It kicked my ass, went dormant until I was weak, then kicked my ass again. But after I dug a second hole remarkably like the first, only a little deeper, I finally put down the shovel in 1997. > > Each day, I see that shovel in many places: my friends wield it to plant flowers or build a fence. There is a shovel store down the street with some very nice shovels for sale. And I think, some day I might dig a hole again, just a small one, because sometimes you just need a hole. But not today. I don’t need a hole today, and I don’t need a shovel today. And that’s how I have remained shovel and hole free for almost twenty years. I cannot say I won’t need a shovel or a hole tomorrow, and it is impossible for me to say I will never need a shovel or a hole, but as for today, I don’t need either one. > > Peace, my friend. One day at a time. And don’t think about the past, or the future. Life consists of one day. I agree that this is an amazing way to put it. I pray you all are shovel and hole free for one more day. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-years-sober-was-a-good-run-but-im-starting-over-one-day/759340/42 "2016-08-07T18:11:53Z")
So, I survived a nephew’s wedding at a brewery. I’d’ve begged off for obvious reasons except Wife wanted to go, and this was pretty much the first time I’ve gotten her out of the house for anything but the doctor and shopping in two years. She got to visit with people she hadn’t seen in ages, with lots of tears. I toasted with soda and lime because I wasn’t sure if a sip of champagne might trigger something (totally gunshy). ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-years-sober-was-a-good-run-but-im-starting-over-one-day/759340/43 "2016-08-07T18:29:58Z")
You were very wise to forgo the sip and congratulations. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-years-sober-was-a-good-run-but-im-starting-over-one-day/759340/44 "2016-08-07T20:10:00Z")
Remember that you told us in the beginning of this thread that you had been sober for FOUR YEARS, so you know that you can do it. We are all pulling for you (and believe you can do it). ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-years-sober-was-a-good-run-but-im-starting-over-one-day/759340/45 "2016-08-07T23:33:35Z")
I know I can, but my body is still thirsty. It’ll pass. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-years-sober-was-a-good-run-but-im-starting-over-one-day/759340/46 "2016-08-08T03:17:53Z")
Just keep it up, and good luck to you! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-years-sober-was-a-good-run-but-im-starting-over-one-day/759340/47 "2016-08-08T10:13:16Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I toasted with soda and lime because I wasn’t sure if a sip of champagne might trigger something (totally gunshy). Wise man. I would caution you against “alcohol free” beer as well. In my case, it was a gateway drink that activated my cravings. My alcoholic brain was not happy with that familiar taste without the kick. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-years-sober-was-a-good-run-but-im-starting-over-one-day/759340/48 "2016-08-08T11:13:58Z")
(It’s the dragon that’s thirsty, not your body! Hang tough!) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-years-sober-was-a-good-run-but-im-starting-over-one-day/759340/49 "2016-08-08T23:04:41Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Wise man. I would caution you against “alcohol free” beer as well. “Alcohol free” beer is not, in my experience, alcohol free. At .5% ABV that’s still enough to wake the dragon. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-years-sober-was-a-good-run-but-im-starting-over-one-day/759340/50 "2016-08-09T17:06:01Z")
Just checking in to tell you I’m thinking about you and hoping you are hanging tough. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-years-sober-was-a-good-run-but-im-starting-over-one-day/759340.md?page=2)