ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

[boycie]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

Well done Louise, you are truely an inspiration. Cheers Kimbo

[chrysa]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

You are a rare and incredible person Louise. I am glad you are on the planet.

[soccermom]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

Your strength is inspiring. Thank you for all your words of wisdom. And Congratulations on your one year with many more to come.

[Newyear]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

Hi Louise - thanks for sharing your journey. Congratulations not only on the one year of sobriety but on your determination and strength.
We also started about the same time. I think I was here at mwo a little before you but you started your sobriety a little before me. Guess we all do this in our own time don''t we?
I'm so happy for you. Isn't it nice looking in the mirror now?
Thanks for being here.
Lisa

[KatieSmiles]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

Congratulations Louise!


K

[The Londoner]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

Louise
What an inspiring woman you are!
Anna x

[toughintexas]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

Oh how I wish I were you!!!! What an inspiration! You are a blessing to our group!

[surfer2]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

well done and cheers
please stay on the board and dont disappear like a lot of people who have made it to where you are.we need your sage advice and your presence here.you will help many by keeping in touch.

[Reenie]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

Irish Lady: Great post! Contratulations on One Year AF!

[bird]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

Congrats and what an inspiration you are. It gives me hope. bird

[wwbarb]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

Louise, thank you for all you have done for us and congratulations for all that you have gathered from MWO. Isn't it amazing?? You are truly an inspriration!!

:h :h

[Bluebell]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

Louise, I would be proud to be one of your travelling companions this year!

Thanks for being here and being such an inspiration to many.:h

[Guest]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

congrats!!

irishlady;201711 wrote: Well, I?ve done it, one whole year AF. I started drinking at the age of 17, that was 42 years ago, and in all that time I have never been without a drink for such a long period. I am ashamed to say it, but, even when I was pregnant with my two children, I still didn?t stop drinking, although I wasn?t drinking as much then compared to later years.

I had tried times without number to stop drinking over the last ten years, but I always failed. So why am I successful this time? I have asked myself this question several times over the last year. Well, one of the reasons for my success is this place, MWO, and for that I thank Roberta Jewel from the bottom of my heart. Another reason are all the wonderful people here, you have all in your turn inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry with some of the things you have posted, you have educated me and brought so much richness into my life, and for that I sincerely thank each and every one of you.

The wonderful thing about MWO is the way everyone, regardless of nationality, colour, politics or religion is accepted into this large family and supported, helped and encouraged to reach their goals, whatever they may be.

I am convinced though that the most important reason I have succeeded this time is all down to one thing, it was something which had been staring me in the face for years, but, despite the fact that somewhere in the deepest and darkest parts of my brain there was a small voice whispering a certain word to me, I choose to ignore it.

I ignored that voice until a year ago today, when I looked, and I mean really looked at myself in the mirror. I saw a bloated and blotchy face, greasy hair and bloodshot eyes. I couldn?t ignore that voice anymore, because now it wasn?t whispering, it was shouting, and the word it was shouting in my head was ALCOHOLIC.

It took courage to admit it but I knew the voice was right, and as I looked at myself I said, ? I am an alcoholic ?. That one sentence helped me to change my life. Why? Because after years of denial I had at long last done something positive. I had accepted the fact that I was and always would be an alcoholic with all that entails.

So, by listening to that voice , I ended the most horrible journey I had ever been on and it was by accepting what it was saying that I started the journey of a lifetime. Because that is what it will be, a lifetimes journey.

We all say on here that by joining MWO we have taken the first step towards beating the booze, but no, for me that first step was as I have said, ACCEPTING that I was an alcoholic. Finding MWO was the second step, and from that day to this I have been putting one foot in front of the other until eventually I arrived at one whole year AF.

I know now that even one drink is out of the question for me, that is what acceptance is all about. I know what I am and I have changed my life to accommodate this. I think I was an alcoholic even before I took my first drink. Looking back to the early years I seem to remember most of my friends could stop after about 4 or 5 drinks, but not me, I always wanted more. As time went on I wanted more and more, until that morning a year ago when I finally learned the lesson of ACCEPTANCE.

Well, heres to the next year and all the years after that. I?ve got so much to be thankful for, and again its all because I have accepted what I am, an alcoholic.

God bless you all, and thank you for always being there for me,

Love, Louise xxx


PS. The definition of the word Acceptance is,
THE MENTAL ATTITUDE THAT SOMETHING IS BELIEVEABLE AND SHOULD BE ACCEPTED AS TRUE.

Congrats Louise!!! One year is absolutely amazing, you must be so proud of yourself and your accomplishment. I really commend you, you are an inspiration to everyone and not to only those with problems with alcohol. I hope you celebrated with something nice or with loved ones.

All the best,
GG
Xoxox

[Flip]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

I hope I'm not too late, Irish, to say congratulations on a wonderful achievment. To everyone who read her post, it's all true. You must look at yourself honestly and decide whether you want to live like that, or take control back and live the life you always thought you were going to have. How many of us, when we were 5, dreamed of being a drunk? "When I grow up I want to drink 3 bottles of red a night and feel awful every day"

Anyway, has any one asked RJ if she gives out "awards" to the long termers for major milestones? Maybe a star next to our names for every year sober?

I'll have one on the 1 December please!

[memarcie]

ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE.

Great news Louise. You are an inspiration!