It is hard for me to believe that it has already been 5 years since I had my last drink of alcohol.  Sometimes time is slow and sometimes it seems to go by so quickly.  I remember when I could not even imagine going a whole month without a drink.  If I can go five years without a drink, than anyone can do it.  Once the cravings go away, it becomes easier to think less and less about alcohol.  I can go for months now not thinking about alcohol.  I can even order a non-alcoholic beer at a restaurant and not think about ordering a real one.

I have been able to try more hobbies instead of wasting time drinking alcohol.  Now I crochet hats, scarves, shawls, ponchos and just recently started painting landscapes.  I have more time to read books and try out new interests and make new goals in my life.  I would not be able to do this if I were still drinking.  My mental health is so much better and balanced then when I was on alcohol.  Of course alcohol is a depressant and causes anxiety.  I don’t struggle with those anymore.  To anyone who is thinking about quitting alcohol, it will be a hard struggle at first but it is worth all the effort to have the life you can enjoy afterwards.  Don’t give up.  I failed to quit over and over again.  I really thought I was not going to win the battle, but I did not give up.  Be resilient, persevere and don’t give up.  The battle is hard, but you are your own hero, and you can win it.