No sugar has 4 years today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[actiongirl46]

Congrat's NS!! Thanks for all your thoughtful posts!! Great job on four years, wow!

[available]

NS woo hoo, partay time with 4 years sober. You deserve each and every day of these 4 years sober and many many more. Hugs from afar.

xxxx

[starty]

Oh wonderful. Congratulations NS! x

[mario]

Congratulations no sugar on having no sugar :-)

[JackieClaire]

Lovely to see, Sugarbabe...........huge congratulations on 4 years...

Still taking my magnesium and use the soapy socks now and again............you're a gem.

[Tabbers (a.k.a. KTAB)]

Just brilliant NS good on ya.

[Snoopy56]

Congratulations No Sugar, what a great example you are for all of us, done your own way! You have and continue to help so many on this journey.

[NoSugar]

All your comments really make me feel so good. Thank you. It is very special to have friends that understand what we've gone through and are going through without having to articulate all of our feelings or explain the reasons for all our actions. We all just know :hug:

I was asked how I'm feeling about making it to 4 years - happy, proud, excited? I feel a little of those but most of all, I feel normal. And I don't mean normal as in ordinary or uninteresting but normal as in I'm finally at home with myself again. I'm enough. The desperate needs I had for years to over-achieve, over-compenstate, please others, appear to have a perfect life, ignore my preferences and desires, and pretend I'm always fine are gone.

The fact is, for years, I was never fine. I was emotionally isolated and the behaviors that allowed me to drink alone every single day separated me physically as well. I was so sad, scared, and lonely. And I thought I was the only one who did these weird, sneaky things and had no choice but to drink each day despite my fervent wish and plan not to.

All of you helped me be honest about myself, tell the truth, risk being vulnerable, and learn to connect again with other people. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and will always be grateful. xx, NS

[wagmor]

NS - Huge congrats to you on 4 years!!! :yay:

You've been a role model for me the entire time I've been on mwo, both now and in 2014. I've learned a lot from you, and look forward to more. Thank you so much for paying it forward and continuing to share your light with all of us here. Big hugs on this momentous occasion, and here's to the next AF trip 'round the sun

[Pie]

NS! Such a beacon you are!!

[Pavati]

Dearest NoSugar!

Yours was the story I followed the year I was "moderating" and lurking here, still trying to figure out a way that I could keep drinking and sure in the fact that I was "not as bad" as the people here. What a difference four years makes!

Like Byrdie, I am sorry that alcohol brought us together, but it is science and reading that keep us together! I love your no nonsense approach, and gentle yet firm reminders of what we need to do to say "normal."

Congratulations to you, my friend. Here's to the NEW normal.

xo
Pav

[NoSugar]

Oh, Pav, I was hoping for no living witnesses :egad:!

I agree about being so appreciative of how our shared problem brought many special people into one another's lives.

And the fact is, you guys "know" me better in many ways than most people in my real life. The honest, revealing conversations we have here are more difficult to initiate, at least for me, in real life (although it is getting easier). I remember when all the Ladies on a Mission were thinking about how much fun it would be to get together - we'd immediately bond because all of the initial work of friendship (and more!) already was done.

[SKendall]

NS, congratulations and thank you for you informational posts, you have helped many.

[techie]

Much congratulations on an amazing milestone. I just baked you a huge cake with extra frosting to. Elevrate. Techie: What about the avatar name? Informant: NO SUGAR, Techie: Since when? Informant: Idiot, go ride your bike! Techie: I'll just send a virtual hug then!? Informant: Now your thinking!

Virtual hug on the way...

[frances]

Congratulations NS!! I'm so happy for you and very grateful for all you do here on MWO!!