8 Years Sober This Week!

February 21, 1999. Shortly after closing time, I was arrested for drunk driving. And it was not the first time, but it was the first time I was arrested while serving as an elected county attorney. My arrest made national news, and on the 23rd I checked myself into an in-patient treatment center. February 22, 1999 was the first day I did not have a drink. February 22, 2007 makes eight years without a drink.

Part of what keeps me sober is letting everybody know that I am an alcoholic and that I am happy staying sober. It makes all those open-bar parties easy when I don’t have to explain why I really just want a Diet Coke. I have already used up my life quota of booze!

It is hard to explain how much better my life has been being sober! I came out of the closet, I moved from Iowa to Phoenix, I found a career I love and have a wonderful life. It does happen. I was a raging alcoholic and ashamed of myself. Now I am happy, healthy and enjoying it all!




A few links to the past~


http://www.globegazette.com/articles...export4505.txt

http://www.globegazette.com/articles...export5589.txt

http://www.globegazette.com/articles...export6980.txt

http://www.globegazette.com/articles...export7674.txt

chad, many many congratulations to you! most of my friends who quit and go NA seem to relapse from time to time. i've been clean for 17 years without a break and my life is better and my head is clearer. for what it's worth, i'm proud of you - really.

congrats again. i hope you do something special to celebrate. this truly is an accomplishment :)

Chad,

Congrats from me as well. I have a lot of friends who are struggling and I know how hard it can be to take the first steps, and to *choose* to stay sober. Hope you have a good time at the national conference!

8 years is a real accomplishment congratulations :sunny:

Congratulations Chad that is defintely quite an accomplishment. When I was paralyzed when I was 12 over 90% of the people paralyzed because either they were drinking and driving or they were hit by a drunk. Ever since then I have been very against anyone that drives drunk. I am glad you chose to take care of your problem and congrats on 8 years being sober. :)

Mark

Way to go Chad... congradulations and keep it up.. (oh and that too..:innocent:)

wait... so you were sober when we.. um... :jasun:

That's really good to hear. Some might not believe it, but just hearing about the success of others really does help those who are on that edge of giving up.

Great job on maintaining sobriety Chad :cop:

Seeing you stand so firm and tall, deeply penetrating all that stands in your path, is truly inspirational. You must have golden balls of steel :sunny: Keep up the good work buddy. There is no turning back now :bunny:

Many hugs from the german dude here, too :D

Oh but for the Grace of God, go I.

The night I took down an Interstate light pole, totaled my Ford Toranado and wasn't arrested, was the last time I drove a car drunk. I couldn't even count the number of times I woke up in my bed, and didn't know how I got there. Back in the 70's they didn't throw cute lil waitresses in jail.

I'm proud to know you Chad!

Congrats Chad!!! You go!!

Congrats. What an amazing achievement. No doubt it's the biggest gift you've ever given yourself.

Big hugs,
Michael

Congrats on your achievement. Wishing you 8 more years! (and then another 8, and another...)

It's like having a second birthday! You've got lots of support here.

Now if you could talk little sense into Britney...

http://www.lavenderlounge.com/blog/2...ad_antics.html

Congrats!

Hey ... does this mean you now have enough chips for a decent poker game?

Seriously, Great Job!

And thanks for being such a great attorney,

My company and I, Thank-you!

Best

Dave

Chad, thank you for sharing that with us. And it's very brave of you to pull your skeletons out of the closet and shine a light on them. Not everyone can do this. You are very much an inspiration.

Good for you, Chad. That is quite an accomplishment, and it's great that you have such control over your life.

I've had only one drink in the last 5 weeks, mostly because of my gym routine, but also because I had a slightly elevated fat content in my liver and my doctor wanted me to stop drinking for a while to see how that might effect that level.

I've never been much of a drinker. I guess I'm lucky that I've never had an addictive personality, because God knows I had enough pain, misery and trauma in my life as a child to warrant alchohol and/or drug abuse. But I think being an artist--someone who feels like you have to endure the pain so you can create from it--has helped me stay away from most of that stuff.

Congrats again! :)

Congratulations to you Chad...way to go :)

My parents did alot of work for a local charity dealing with homeless people who were so due to being addicted to alcohol. They took alot of people into our home and gave them food, a good family home, love and support.

They had more problems as they were homeless but the effect of alcohol is harsh wherever you are.

In 15 years, they managed to get one guy who stayed sober past 5 years.

They were great, dont get me wrong, they worked very hard.

I know how hard it is to beat this one. 8 years is amazing! So my heartfelt congrats on that one. Im glad your proud of it as you truly should be. I cant even quit smoking for a week!

Your such an amazing and generous guy. You deserve the very best. Never worry about ordering a coke at an open bar.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by XXXWriterDude

Good for you, Chad. That is quite an accomplishment, and it's great that you have such control over your life.

I've had only one drink in the last 5 weeks, mostly because of my gym routine, but also because I had a slightly elevated fat content in my liver and my doctor wanted me to stop drinking for a while to see how that might effect that level.

I've never been much of a drinker. I guess I'm lucky that I've never had an addictive personality, because God knows I had enough pain, misery and trauma in my life as a child to warrant alchohol and/or drug abuse. But I think being an artist--someone who feels like you have to endure the pain so you can create from it--has helped me stay away from most of that stuff.

Congrats again! :)

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Dude the Aussies here drink alcohol like water!

How big a role does alcohol play in working against you in your workout routine?

Nice one dude.

I used to drink quite heavily, though I wasn't addicted, I just liked it! My girlfriend doesn't like me getting very drunk now, so I have pretty much quit. I am lucky though, I don't really miss it.

What you've done is totally different, and a massive achievement.

When I quit I was really a MESS. I was passing out 5 nights a week, usually drinking between 20 and 30 a night. I was 30 pounds heavier than I am now--the difference between 155 and 185 when that extra 30 pounds is beer weight is not pretty. I was CONVINCED I would not be able to stay sober for 90 days. I knew there was absolutely no way I could go that long. Only 1 in 10 make it a year, and that would mean going through 4th of July, Memorial Day, St Patrick's Day, all sober and I knew I could not do that! After checking into the treatment center I went through 4 days of DT's which is probably the most physically painful thing I have ever experienced. After my DT's subsided, one of the other patients in the center died going through his and I started to realize the seriousness of my disease. Luckily, seeing that body wheeled out as I went to breakfast one morning got me thinking, and now, 8 years later, life is pretty damned good. 2922 days sober, one day at a time.