I’ve often heard people say, “There’s no way I would drink and drive.”
And I always thought that too.
I knew the dangers of drinking and driving. I had seen the horror stories and had friends who had gotten DUIs. I always thought I was the responsible one.
Until one night, I wasn’t.
God willing, when you wake up and read the paper this morning, I’ll be just a few days away from celebrating my six years of sobriety. December 19, 2018 was a day that changed my life forever.
It started out just like any other day. I went to work and had plans with my girlfriends afterwards for a little Christmas celebration. We had some celebratory drinks and everything was just fine — until it wasn’t.
I’m ashamed to say I had too much to drink to even remember getting in the car. It’s hard for me to say I decided to drive home because I don’t remember making that choice.
But I definitely did, because I wrecked my car that night.
Thank God I didn’t hit anyone, but I know I could’ve. Anything could’ve happened that night.
It’s hard to open up about that night but I think it’s important, especially this time of year.
See, what I learned that night wasn’t so much about drinking or the fact I was an alcoholic, what I really learned had more to do with everything I had to lose.
A few days later, I was in Virginia with my family celebrating Christmas and I vividly remember holding my niece as her grandfather said a prayer. He spoke of the people who couldn’t be there because they weren’t with us anymore, and I remember the tears streaming down my face, just thinking of how close I was to being one of those people. How close I came to ruining Christmas for my little niece. How close I was to losing everything.
Being a recovering alcoholic is hard work, even with almost six years of sobriety under my belt. Alcohol is one of those things that’s seemingly everywhere. Whether it be at a holiday party or a networking event, there’s always someone offering me a drink. Most people are truly respectful when it comes to turning them down, but others have questions.
When I first got sober, I was so ashamed of myself. I was ashamed of what I had done and I was scared to tell people I was recovering alcoholic. But what I’ve learned over the last six years is my sobriety is something I want to shout from the mountaintops. I want to show people how far I’ve come from that girl I was six years ago.
So if you’re celebrating sobriety — whether it be one day or 100 years — just know that even though every day isn’t easy, you’ve got people who are proud of you, myself included.
Lizi Arbogast Gwin is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. She can be reached at 434-962-9420 or via email at lizi.gwin@alexcityoutlook.com.
