Truth be told, I've had a pretty depressing holiday season. It was the first time I spent the holidays as a sober alcoholic, and I'd be lying if I said that it didn't totally suck. Maybe the holidays have always been this depressing, I'd just never noticed it so sharply before. And now that I like my family and don't totally blame them for everything that's ever gone wrong in my life, I have had to deal with how much I miss them sometimes.
I also turned 27 last week. Again It felt a bit awkward, since I haven't celebrated my birthday without intoxicating myself for as long as I can remember. Still, I managed to put my piles of translation work aside in order to hit town with my best friend and my T, and it was as fun as it could be.
I was not sad to see these holidays go.
And yet today, January 3rd 2008, right now, I finally feel like celebrating. As special as my birth was, my 27th natal birthday suddenly feels rather insignificant when placed beside my 1st sobriety birthday on the calendar.
Anyone can be born. Even Nazis and serial rapists have birthdays. But a sobriety birthday, the anniversary of the day upon which I chose to take my first steps along a path that lead me out of complete and utter madness, now that is something to party about.
Excuse me while I go break out the grape juice.
a year sober - THAT is worth celebrating!!!!!!! congratulations Lea - Japan's a hard place to say no to alcohol, really hard. if you can do it there you can do it anywhere!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELL DONE.
Posted by: Kate | January 04, 2008 at 06:30 AM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Melanie | January 04, 2008 at 06:01 PM
Congratulations! 1 year! That's great!
Posted by: thomas (nihonhacks.com) | January 04, 2008 at 07:19 PM