# I have been sober for 20 years!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 7, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140 "2007-04-07T23:09:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RedRosesForMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RedRosesForMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedRosesForMe)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/21 "2007-04-08T03:47:07Z")
Congrats! Not an alcoholic myself, but recently became romantically involved with someone who turned out to be. The romance didn’t last, but the friendship did, and he’s about 3 months sober now. Not as great an accomplishment as 20 years, but it’s the longest he’s ever been sober “on purpose” i.e. not in jail. My heart dropped when he showed up at my friend’s kegger on St. Paddy’s Day, but the can in his hand turned out be Red Bull and he just wanted to stop by for a minute to enjoy the food and music. So, having watched from an outsider’s perspective how hard it is to stay sober (and being completely unable to fathom that kind of strength), my hat goes off to you! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/22 "2007-04-08T03:52:06Z")
Congrats - Your sober life has not been an easy one - some people get to stop drinking and have relatively stress free lives - and staying sober isn’t easy. Your life has been…dramatic, and that must have made it all the more difficult to stay sober. Here’s to another 20. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgonzola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e480ec/32.png) [@Gorgonzola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgonzola)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/23 "2007-04-08T05:53:52Z")
[QUOTE=Qagdop the Mercotan] How’d you do that? [/QUOTE] For the Teeming Millions! (Well done.) ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/24 "2007-04-08T06:14:50Z")
CONGRATS!!! That totally rocks. Slee ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/25 "2007-04-08T06:18:07Z")
**Aioua** , what was your favorite drink when you were four weeks old? 😉 And congrats **hlanelee**! ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/26 "2007-04-08T07:01:58Z")
What an amazing milestone. I am truly happy for you. 9.5 years here. ---
**Author:** ![tashabot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tashabot/32/6250_2.png) [@tashabot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tashabot)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/27 "2007-04-08T07:21:34Z")
Congratulations! I grew up around addiction and alcoholism. When my dad got sober, I spent a lot of my time at the Alano club with him. Eventually I became a volunteer. You guys are some of the bravest people I know. ~Tasha ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/28 "2007-04-08T15:50:03Z")
My favorite anti drinking line There are no problems in your life that are so bad that alcohol can’t make them worse. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/29 "2007-04-08T15:52:39Z")
Fuckin’ a dude, you go!!! I have a big grin on my face right now, just for you! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/30 "2007-04-08T22:09:53Z")
Congratulations! Wishing you many many more years sober! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cattitude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Cattitude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cattitude)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/31 "2007-04-08T22:54:36Z")
Congrats!!! 20 years is incredible and you are an inspiration. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/32 "2007-04-09T00:48:58Z")
Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your success. May it continue for a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/33 "2007-04-09T00:54:41Z")
Yay you! You rule! ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/34 "2007-04-09T01:34:05Z")
Mickey B. used to say that his fondest wish was to be an old fart in AA. Mine, too. Dr. Paul (his story is in the book) talked about his AA/Alanon marriage and told folks bluntly that young people today just didn’t have what it takes to be married 40+ years. For starters, you have to be really old! 😃 Same could be said for long-term sobriety. This is what I tell my girls- just don’t drink and don’t die. Anything else, we can work on. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/35 "2007-04-09T01:49:28Z")
This calls for a celebration! Next round is on me! ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/36 "2007-04-09T14:51:08Z")
Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![rucciface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ba9def/32.png) [@rucciface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rucciface)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/37 "2007-04-09T15:44:32Z")
I’m glad you’re around to tell us about your success, **hlanelee**. And, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![CherryBomb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@CherryBomb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CherryBomb)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/38 "2007-04-09T18:30:13Z")
Congrats! Hope I can say the same about myself in 20 years. (Although for cigarettes, not drinking. 2nd day and counting… _rubs patch vigorously_) ---
**Author:** ![Boggette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@Boggette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boggette)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/39 "2007-04-09T18:56:07Z")
Oh, how topical! Today is 12 years for me! 4/9/95. Congrats on 20! Can you remember back when you didn’t think you’d make it 20 minutes? I know I can! ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140/40 "2007-04-09T19:06:48Z")
Shit, I remember not playing the lottery cause I was afraid of winning. Dante (11/13/94) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-sober-for-20-years/399140.md?page=3)