6 Years Sober and Still Rolling: My Ride Back to Life
Six years ago, I put the bottle down—and picked my life back up.
Back then, I wasn’t even sure what day one would feel like, never mind day two or day 2,190. But here I am—six years sober today—and honestly, I feel like I’m just getting started.
The Before
Drinking didn’t just blur nights—it blurred years. I lost time, direction, and clarity. I thought I was functioning, but I was just getting by. I wasn’t fully living.
The buzz didn’t make life better. It just kept me numb.
The Shift
I didn’t have some epic wake-up call. I just got tired—of feeling like shit, wasting potential, wasting money, and not being me.
I used to think the booze was me. That “fun” me would disappear without it. But that’s not true. The drunk me is gone, yeah—but the real me isn’t. And the same goes for you.
Fun, quiet, loud, flirty, kind, sarcastic—you can still be all of that without the booze. You don’t lose your personality. You find it.
So I stopped. No drama. No magic fix. Just a choice. And then another. And then another.
I remember sitting alone that first week—hands shaking, staring at the ceiling, wondering what the hell I was doing.
But I didn’t cave.
Little by little, things got clearer… lighter.
The hardest part? When people said, “We miss fun Derek.”
What they really meant was, “We miss drunk Derek.”
That was tough to hear—but not tougher than staying stuck.
If you need help, there are so many programs out there. So many people willing to support you. If you’re struggling—reach out. Don’t be embarrassed.
You are not alone.
What 6 Years Sober Feels Like
It’s not easy. But it’s not hard either. It’s just real.
Now I actually feel things. I face stuff head-on. The good, the bad, all of it. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Being present—fully present—is something I never understood until I gave up drinking.
What I Gained
- Clear mornings
- Real connections
- Better decisions
- Self-respect
- A second chance
I’m still a work in progress, but at least I’m progressing. I’m not hiding anymore.
To Anyone Reading This
If you’re just starting out—keep going.
If you slipped—get back up.
If you’re just curious—yeah, you can do this.
You don’t have to be perfect. Just honest.
Still rolling. Still showing up.
#6YearsSober #OYNB #AthleticBrewCompany #DWATAdventures #SoberLife #OneDayAtATime #StillRolling
If you’re on your own journey, I’d love to hear where you’re at. Drop a comment or shoot me a message—this ride’s better when we’re not riding solo.
Need support? Check out One Year No Beer, SMART Recovery, or the r/stopdrinking community on Reddit. Someone out there gets it.