June 20, 2020

41

When I turned 41, I was 6 months sober. I had been laid off my job and decided to enroll in school to pursue a Masters Degree

Right before I was to start school I was offered a job that had partnered with the agency I was laid off from. I would be working in the same building and with the same people I had been working with before.

After working there for two weeks I realized that the work environment was a threat to my sobriety and I immediately resigned.

I was committed to staying sober and willing to do whatever I had to do to protect my sanity. I decided I would focus on school and not worry about starting new employment.

During this time I was learning to navigate life without alcohol. I had to learn to trust myself. I had to also be patient as others learned to trust me again. My friendships changed, some of them ended. I had to learn to feel feelings without self-medicating. I was discovering who I am without alcohol.

School gave me an opportunity to reintroduce myself. I could show up as the person I wanted to be without the stains of my past.