by Paul Churchill | Aug 23, 2015 | Blog, Early Sobriety, Helpful Tips
Roughly 20 years ago, I recall sitting around our favorite round table, at our favorite sports bar, on our favorite (weren’t they all) night to party. A sweaty draft beer in front of me, I pondered just how much money I had spent during all years of drinking. At that time, all of those years only added up to a legal 3 years. Also at that time, a draft beer only cost me my share of $1.00 pitcher. At the time, I had lofty dreams that I could have already bought a house or a car… or both, with the “thousands” I had spent on my addiction. I have to believe that only an alcoholic would think such a ludicrous thought, and furthermore, continue to drink without abandon.
Back in these vintage times, when iphones, apps and even the internet where a mere figment of the Jetsons’ imagination, I didn’t have a random calculation at my fingertips. One can deduce that lack of information led me to drink for another decade… or two.
Here I am, feet firmly planted in sobriety in the year 2015. Sober for today, as I do this thing one day at a time. Part of my springboard into recovery, was a sobriety app that I downloaded the day after I left our local crisis center. I did this almost immediately because I didn’t want to lose track of my progress. I hung on that information like a lifeline. Checking it every morning, feeling victorious for making it through another sunset, and ready to move through that day’s sunrise and challenges.
Staying sober also requires a large amount of accountability. For me, “coming out” about my alcoholism was a huge part of how I stay restrained each day. I have surrounded myself with like-minded people, on the same path of sober enlightenment. Along with friends and family that have my best interest at heart, and watch my evolution. Likewise, a sobriety app is a daily accountability tool. A daybreak reminder of our progress; by the day, the dollar, and the calorie.
Quitting drinking quite possibly could be the most difficult thing you have ever embarked upon in your life so be sure to add a sobriety tracker to your tool kit.
Users can email us at info@recovery elevator.com if you would like the Recovery Elevator Sobriety Tracker app.
by Paul Churchill | Aug 17, 2015 | Podcast
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This is the 4th part of the 4 part series called the other side where Paul interviews a non-alcoholic who has been directly affected by an alcoholic. Diane is the daughter of two alcoholics, the sister of an alcoholic who passed away earlier this year, and a mother of a 19-year-old alcoholic.
In this episode, we also hear from Ian, who shares how he has successfully made it to 18 months of sobriety.
Paul discusses how he made it 3 days in Las Vegas Sober through his fantasy football draft.
by Paul Churchill | Aug 10, 2015 | Podcast
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In this podcast episode we also hear from Claire who is 47 years old, from Michigan and has 9 years of sobriety.
Paul discusses how our addictions lie to us in our own voices making it nearly impossible to decipher our inner dialogues.
by Paul Churchill | Aug 6, 2015 | Blog, Early Sobriety, The Bottom, The first Year
I’m an alcoholic. Okay, so that probably didn’t really get your attention since this is a blog about that very subject. Let me say that another way, and note that I will use the past tense. I LOVED alcohol. I loved the way it made me feel. I loved to hold it. I loved to buy it. I loved to smell it. I Loved to talk about it. I LOVED alcohol.
I also liked to hide it. I liked to drink it late at night, when everyone was asleep. I liked wine that was concealed in a box. I liked to have a few beers while I got ready for a party. I drank before I drank, you could say. Yeah, that was fun.
I was okay with all of that. I was okay with justifying anything that revolved around alcohol. I was okay that I ran for the bar at every party. I was okay that I had to have wine with steak, beer with burgers, and margaritas with Mexican. I was okay with all that.
With that said, I hated waking up in the morning and not remembering the last hour of the previous night. I hated looking in the mirror, that same morning, and seeing a pale face with bags under my eyes. On some mornings, those eyes might be extra puffy because I cried in that same mirror about 6 hours earlier. I hated that damn mirror.
So there you have it. I loved it. I liked it. I was okay with it. I hated it. That was my ride with alcohol. I say “was” with hopes that I can run from that ride. If it catches up with me, that ride will ruin my life. There’s no doubt about that. None.
I am blessed that I can run from this problem with people who love me. I am blessed that I can go to meetings with people that can relate to me. I am blessed to look in that mirror and see color in my skin. White in my eyes. And I’m so blessed to not have cried at that very face the night before.
I am thankful that I can write for this blog and tell you this. I am thankful that I stopped alcohol at the age of 41. I am thankful that I have a family that loves me so much. I am thankful for my memory. You see, I have awesome things that go on around me, and it’s nice to keep those awesome things from being blacked out.
I’m not sure if alcohol is a disease, a mental disorder, or what. All I know is that I, Robert Stedman, have an allergy to it. I refuse to be ashamed of that. It is what it is. I will say this. I will no longer dance with my addiction. Let me rephrase that. I HOPE AND PRAY that I will no longer dance with my addiction. I’m worth it.
by Paul Churchill | Aug 3, 2015 | Podcast
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In Podcast Episode 24, Emma tells about the night her mom nearly killed herself, and Jim with nearly 3 years of sobriety shares how surrendering is the most important thing he has done in sobriety.
Although life is a work of art, the moment cannot last. This used to be one of my favorite quotes I used to describe happy situations but when I was drinking, I frequently used this quote to remind myself this shitty time cannot last. The scary thing is that it can last forever unless help is sought out. I am so lucky to be sober for nearly 11 months. I have slowly returned to using that quote while describing happy times in life instead of the sad ones.
