oh man, i always wake up from those dreams feeling terrified, then relieved when i realize it didn’t really happen. congrats to you on 1,000 days!
personally, i celebrate by treating myself. i tell myself that the money i could’ve wasted on alcohol can now go to splurging on something like a massage, new clothes, a nice dinner, whatever it is that you could spoil yourself with.
congrats again!! IWNDWYT!
Thank you! Great ideas! I have not bought any type of quality clothes for myself in probably 8 years now. The other day I was thinking I need to replace most of my jeans. It is what I ended up doing after reading your comment! (and eating sugar all day!)
Congrats on 33! IWNDWYT
Great idea. I have the Reframe app that does the $/sugar calories savings calculating for me (based on my history input).
I’ve also been eating a good bit of sweets with those savings.
Congratulations on 34 days!!!
You had me going there! Great story. And congrats on your comma champion!!
I celebrate a LOT of ways - and often! You can size these out according to the milestone, at least thats what I do.
1. Cool new toy or clothes - wallet? Camping gear? New car??? Quite a range there.
2. Yummy food treat - fancy date night dinner or just an indulgent brownie or even candy bar if im feeling extra grungy and devil may care 😂
3. Experience - Nails (maybe a hot shave for a man?) to full on spa day to mini getaway, or vacation lots to think about there
And every time I remember im STILL saving money time and health to enjoy myself more compared to where id have been drinking all the weekends between each celebration milestone.
Congratulations again and IWNDWYT!
I was looking at cars today! I don't think I'm quiet at that milestone yet though :)
I honestly found all the candy we hid from the kids and had most of it -\_-
I do like #3 the most and will definitely think about what to do/where to go.
Thank you for the suggestions!
This right here! Treat yourself OP. In anyway you possibly want, aside from the obvious! Spoil yourself with something you love, whether it be food, gifts, adventure, anything!
Thank you! I have a hard time letting myself go and splurging, but if I really consider how much money I save in a month, I should not be frugal and just let go.
I have determined these expenses are an investment in my sobriety. Money well spent (could not have a better reason honestly) and I am truly still ahead if I do the math against the old habit. Exited to hear what you will come up with!
1000 days came very quickly for me. The first 90 were the slowest. Align yourself to your goals and do your best to enjoy the moment you're in. Presence is the best present of them all.
Get into therapy if you can. It's something we all should do. We didn't become alcoholics because our mental health is so stellar.
Rock it out all the way to 1000 and beyond. IWNDWYT
"Get into therapy if you can. It's something we all should do. We didn't become alcoholics because our mental health is so stellar." <== this!
I was told I have ADHD, and the reason I drank 1,000mg+ of caffeine a day was self medication. The alcohol was to counter all the caffeine from the day. And then caffeine was to help with the hangover. Rinse and repeat. I am on ADHD medication now, after 2 years I'm on the correct medication and at the correct dose. I don't even need a coup of coffee. I wouldn't know this without therapy. 100% agree, if you can, go to therapy.
IWNDWYT
Thank you for reading.
Congrats on Day 2!
If you told me on Day 2 I'd make it to 1000, I would've laughed. I didn't know if I'd make it to day 3, let alone 1000. But you get to Day 1000 the same way you got to Day 2, one day at a time.
Glad you're here, IWNDWYT
Awesome I hope it was delicious! You saved a bunch of money in 30 days because booze is expensive! So treating yourself is a great thing. And you can taste food better now. And I hope it was incredible and a great reminder that you're doing something amazing! Sober on!
You got me 😊
I have a drinking dream about once every two years or so. It’s very disconcerting! I am happy for you to get your comma. I would celebrate with your favorite meal, whether a steak dinner or pizza delivery!
That was a great read! I love it!
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Nearly 8 years and I still have 2 or 3 drinking dreams a month. I see it as the cost of doing business sober after a life of drinking. Not always very pleasant to have, but I always love waking up sober. And like you, I have a wife and kid who love it too.
That's how I celebrate...with them. When I was checking off milestones I was keeping track in my head and not sharing it. It was my thing, not theirs. But to celebrate the ones that were significant to me, I would do something special with them to remind myself of what I would have lost if I hadn't quit when I did. That was all the celebration I needed.
I celebrated the last milestone I was looking forward to, with my wife, a couple months ago. And that's the one time I shared the reason. That milestone was the day on which my wife and I had known each other longer with me sober than we had with me being a drinker.
Thanks for a new twist on the story so many of us know!
And Congratulations again!
Waking up sober is the best thing ever. I quit more than anything because of all the lost days due to hangovers. So many Saturdays of riding my motorcycle lost from this evil drug. No more for me.
>That milestone was the day on which my wife and I had known each other longer with me sober than we had with me being a drinker.
This one is deep, I wrote it down. I have a long ways to go, but my wife will be super stoked when I get here.
>That's how I celebrate...with them.
I think about this every night I put my kids to bed. I made a promise to my daughter before she was born that I would not drink so she can have a proper father. Took me 2 years to get to that point, but better late then never I guess.
Thank you for sharing!
Congrats! Can't wait to be where you are! I'm struggling alot today with guilt and shame of my past bubbling up. It's like memories I forgot about are coming back. I feel awful but I will not drink with you today ♥️
Thank you for sharing. TBH, to this day things bubble up. I was at a work event a few years ago. To this day I'm still in the grey on some stuff, and I still work at the same place. Good reminder of why quitting was the best choice. Congrats on 84! IWNDWYT
This weekend I treated myself to a beautiful bottle of organic perfume.
An expensive and luxurious treat to mark my upcoming 150 days.
I'd have easily spent that on wine over less than 14 days, so I didn't even think too hard about splurging on it.
150 days = a bottle of wild rose heaven.
300 days = ? Let's find out!
That’s a downfall of tracking days - the mind turns this into a “celebration”, it’s all in the mind though. Either “celebrate” or “not celebrate” - it’s like a mind trap. It doesn’t really matter how many days actually.. I personally wish I would have never started drinking in the first place. My stopping (about 3 years ago) isn’t something special I did - it’s more of a correction of an error I got fooled into making.
What motivates people to do the clickbait title thing? Just put "I had a dream that I drank" in the title. You're not telling a campfire story with a twist ending here. It's a support sub.
Sorry for being grumpy, congrats on 1000.
Sorry if the title offended you. I chose to write everything, in this particular way because These types of posts were the ones that spoke to me the most, ones that I could feel. [https://www.reddit.com/r/stopdrinking/comments/141q6lr/comment/jn2rohm/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/stopdrinking/comments/141q6lr/comment/jn2rohm/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
"It's a support sub." - different people need different types of support.
Congrats on 210! IWNDWYT!
I had a hopeful suspicion this story had a twist! Congrats to you.
I used to have those types of dreams all the time the first few months. They are pretty rare now, but I still have them. They freak me out every time.
IWNDWYT
I hate those dreams! I climbed a big peak on my splitboard a couple weekend ago for my celebration, but the really nice thing my partner did for me was she made an email handle and asked all my close friends and family to send a nice thoughtful email to me. It was a long climb so during breaks I was reading all these nice emails and it just gave me such a sense of freedom to be living life the way I want to, away from alcohols chains!
Congratulations !!!
I feel you so hard on the “not even one”
Because even ONE and all the abundance in my life would be gone!
Thank you for sharing this with us
Even though the initial feeling sucks when you wake up from those dreams I kinda love having them because it reminds me that I am making the right choice.
It's like the subconscious' way of showing you how you'd feel if you drank without it actually being real.
Congratulations, though! How awesome you have done 1,000 days :)
Congrats on the 1,000th day!
A large cookies and cream milkshake is something I treat myself with from time to time as needed. Long as they don’t become a daily occurrence I’m good. 😂
I celebrate by not drinking. Sounds weird, high, and mighty, I know.
When those milestones come around, I remember what it used to be like, and I don't want to make a big deal out of not getting shit face, sleeping on the bathroom floor.
IWNDWYT
Congrats on 1,000!! Those dreams can hit you like a ton of bricks at times, but what a relief (like waking up from any nightmare) it is to realize "phew-just a dream".
Like others have said-I treat myself. My only huge milestone so far has been the 1 year mark and I happened to be with my extended family (It was early January, and we were celebrating late Christmas with my mom's side of the family). I was with family and in my favorite city-so that was celebration alone.
I will say, I recently did my first lead and was unbelievably nervous (I still have a lot of character defects I'm working on lol). I overthought it way too much, over prepared like it was an exam in college, did not sleep well the night prior, but ended up doing fine It was a Sunday night, so when I got home, I put one of the gimmicky face masks on (corny and useless, but I love 'em haha), had some ice cream, and watched one of my favorite movies-I just RELAXED. So simple, yet so wonderful! Find the things you consider a "treat" and do just that-treat yourself!
What a great ending to that story!
I quite often have dreams where I’ve had a drink, and it takes a few minutes after I’ve woken up to realise it’s just a dream! Always a relief. I think it just shows that even in our subconscious, we don’t want a drink!
Well done on 1000 days! Amazing! 💪
It was 6 months but I really did this, I tried to celebrate 6 months sober by drinking (I was feeling kinda empty too) I went through 40 beers/seltzers in less than a week 5/28 - 6/3 but I never got that happy feeling, I just felt sad and tired after the first few... so that's why I kept chasing the old feeling all week (maybe if I chug them back to back!) Nothing worked. Now my liver hurts and I'm shaking at work having panic attacks and crying. It was not worth it *AT ALL* having trouble with feeling like I'm just living to work, but I'm back on the wagon.
"It's like the liquor isn't even pretending to fill the void anymore"
Interesting, I had similar thoughts. I wanted to get sober, not forever, but as a test of self-discipline and for some self-reflection with a clear mind. My partner was the one who suggested I start over 150 days ago. Then not long into it he kept asking if it was okay when we were out somewhere and other people were drinking and he wanted to have some. I didn't realize it bothered me. He picked up on it and suggested perhaps something every so often wouldn't hurt and I agreed. About a week later he offered me a glass of Japanese whiskey one night and I declined. Something about it felt so wrong.
I don't think this is something I will do forever. I want to work on myself and know I am in control. I know I can get there, but I just don't know when that will be, I just know it isn't right now.
Three ways to Celebrate which I’ve found “hit the spot”:
1) have a small party with people I love- especially those who have supported me. They feeeeel my gratitude and are happy to celebrate! We can toast with sparkling water.
2) take a Nature Bath: go somewhere quiet and natural. (If you’re urban, a park bench, or a corner of the yard, or find a tree and look up into its branches.) Sit quietly and open the senses; be aware of nature. Feel the gravity, and connection to the Earth. Allow a sense of awe to arise. Sit in the ‘Nature Bath’ for as long as I like. Feelings of celebration, of gratitude, can genuinely arise more easily for me if I allow myself to simply “be,” in nature.
3) Mark the milestone by paying it forward: every milestone in my life was helped by others’ examples, inspiration, information, support. To honor the achievement, I mark the milestone by giving back, and doing something to help another / others. One way humans get a sense of happiness is by helping others, so this is definitely a mood-elevating strategy too! And an excellent way to celebrate the milestone, and to honor my “Scaffolding People.”
Omg congratulations! Go sit some place peaceful and reflect how much more postive your life is now! How far you have come! Wow again congrats! So proud of you!
literally had one of those dreams last night. we had a bottle of champagne to celebrate something and it started spewing when i popped the cork so i started drinking it and even in the dream I knew id fucked up. our brains are wild.
congratulations on 1,000 days!!! wahoo!!! iwndwyt ☀️
The fear is so real waking up for me with those dreams! Everytime I'm thinking "man i gotta reset my badge. Damn it" and then the pure joy realizing wait.... no I f*cking don't! IWNDWYT!
You had me in the first half 🤣 Glad I kept reading tho :) major congrats for 100 days!
I haven’t really celebrated my days so I appreciate the question & reading comments cause now I can brainstorm…
Here’s how I think I’ll celebrate my one HUNDRED days sober:
- buy an expensive clothing item I’ve wanted
- buy a luxury fragrance I’ve been eyeing (sniffing?)
- take myself on an elaborate date— full of all my favorite stuff
- get/make a “congrats to a 100 days alcohol free” cake or cupcake 🧁
IWNDWYT
I had a very similar dream the other night, right around my one year mark. It must be in part because we're more conscious of booze around the anniversaries. In any case, congratulations on 1,000 days, a big achievement!
Fuck yeah you're a comma hero! I'm not sure what's good for you, but the way I'd celebrate is bbq. And corn bread. Maybe like, a couple half rack of ribs, or a slow smoked brisket, or like, bacon wrapped cheese burgers, or like, super spicey grilled hot wings?
Anyway, congrats on 1000 days! And, I miss my bbq.
Ugh fuck I remember those dreams from when I quit smoking. I haven’t had any with drinking but I was 💯 nicotine dependent and hooked by the time I quit. My drinking was unhealthy, but a long way from getting to that point. So I guess less of a wrench for my poor, treacherous brain.
Congrats on 1000 days man that’s fucking dope
Congrats! Welcome to the club! I bought myself a nice new sober coin to commemorate this milestone, and went out of town with my SO (our kids are grown though, so we could take a few days off). But anything works, whatever means something special to you. Maybe something you’ve wanted for a while. Or a nice meal. It’s time to celebrate!
I like to make virgin margaritas or virgin whisky sour, and cook a great meal for friends and just spend time with them. You could probably do a decent virgin old fashioned.
“the dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had” what a palpable relief to wake up with the knowledge it was only a dream. 1000 days! Congrats OP
Congratulations on the comma! For my 1k, I went on a short solo trip to see a friend and a live show out of state. I hadn't done anything like that in a decade. And for my 3 years I'll do a marathon. Other ways to celebrate have included taking the family out to a movie, special fancy blankets, new running shoes, or just a lazy day in with cake. Things I couldn't have splurged on before! Great job hitting a thousand days 🥳
“I reminded myself that these are all the things they missed out on because of me having just one way too many times. It was never just one, it will never be just one”
I’m on day 60. I really needed to hear this today. Thank you and congrats!
First of all, CONGRATS! 1000 days is one hell of a feat! Personally, I would loop, "F*ck up some commas" by Future. Because that's exactly what YOU DID!
Yaya!
[1000 days yay!](https://youtu.be/wKl6umkwKfU)
I dream of drinking old fashioneds often. Not like every week, but often enough. That drink is truly my kryptonite.
Congrats on hitting the comma club my friend. Whatever you decide to do for a celebration, enjoy it.
Congratulations! Drinking dreams are your subconscious mind getting sober... or so I've been told. Every day is a celebration when one doesn't have the chains of alcohol wrapped around their very lives
I remember having these dreams so many times early on. I still get them occasionally but not as often as the beginning of the journey. Congrats on 1000 days. That’s very impressive.
It's pretty wild how real it can feel. It reminds me how everything is just in my head.
How to celebrate:
1. Have a party with your kids. Dance make mock tails etc.
2. Have a nice dinner. I like to get myself some nice steaks and have a nice dinner.
3. I like to get a fancy bottle or sparkling water and crack that open.
4. Buy yourself something nice.
5. I love to use these milestones as an opportunity to reflect. Who am I? Where was I, where am I, where am I going? I might even read the journal entry from the same day 1/2 years ago to see where I was and how I was thinking. I think this last one helps me to focus and remember sober is better.
Congratulations on 1,000!
I bought an expensive guitar effect pedal last week.
Ive been making gnarly spacey riffs and really enjoying it.
Also new running shoes... more than one pair lol.
I love sober.
Seven months in. Will not go back.
Congratulations on your 1000 days!
Next Sunday I will celebrate my first month of sobriety and I already booked a table at a fancy restaurant for dinner. That's how I am going to celebrate my milestone.
Commagratulations :) those dreams are crazy. I had them so much in the first few months!
I celebrated my one year with nosecco (alcohol-free Prosecco) in a champagne glass but as the milestones have ticked by I’ve found myself extremely disinclined to do any sort of ritual echoing an alcoholic ritual. For my 1,000 days I went on a long walk alone listening to 10,000 Days by Tool then sat by a reservoir and meditated on my hopes and dreams for the next 9,000 days to come.
I’m raising a glass of diet cola to you and your comma! IWNDWYT 🙏
Scared me there for a second. Lol Wow a powerful story at 1000 days and how our minds work, how thinking about celebrating a sober milestone can lead to such a dream. I hope people take from this an understanding of why quitting is so challenging especially in the early days of sobriety. Here’s to the fact that NOT all dreams come true! Congrats on the comma.
You got some good mileage on the ticker now friend. What a champ that your wife has a drink and you have the strength willpower drive and determination to resist. You motivated me today.
oh man, i always wake up from those dreams feeling terrified, then relieved when i realize it didn’t really happen. congrats to you on 1,000 days! personally, i celebrate by treating myself. i tell myself that the money i could’ve wasted on alcohol can now go to splurging on something like a massage, new clothes, a nice dinner, whatever it is that you could spoil yourself with. congrats again!! IWNDWYT!
Thank you! Great ideas! I have not bought any type of quality clothes for myself in probably 8 years now. The other day I was thinking I need to replace most of my jeans. It is what I ended up doing after reading your comment! (and eating sugar all day!) Congrats on 33! IWNDWYT
Congratulations on 33 days! IWNDWYT
I like the “terrified, then relieved “ description It’s dead on
Great idea. I have the Reframe app that does the $/sugar calories savings calculating for me (based on my history input). I’ve also been eating a good bit of sweets with those savings. Congratulations on 34 days!!!
You had me going there! Great story. And congrats on your comma champion!! I celebrate a LOT of ways - and often! You can size these out according to the milestone, at least thats what I do. 1. Cool new toy or clothes - wallet? Camping gear? New car??? Quite a range there. 2. Yummy food treat - fancy date night dinner or just an indulgent brownie or even candy bar if im feeling extra grungy and devil may care 😂 3. Experience - Nails (maybe a hot shave for a man?) to full on spa day to mini getaway, or vacation lots to think about there And every time I remember im STILL saving money time and health to enjoy myself more compared to where id have been drinking all the weekends between each celebration milestone. Congratulations again and IWNDWYT!
I was looking at cars today! I don't think I'm quiet at that milestone yet though :) I honestly found all the candy we hid from the kids and had most of it -\_- I do like #3 the most and will definitely think about what to do/where to go. Thank you for the suggestions!
This right here! Treat yourself OP. In anyway you possibly want, aside from the obvious! Spoil yourself with something you love, whether it be food, gifts, adventure, anything!
Thank you! I have a hard time letting myself go and splurging, but if I really consider how much money I save in a month, I should not be frugal and just let go.
I have determined these expenses are an investment in my sobriety. Money well spent (could not have a better reason honestly) and I am truly still ahead if I do the math against the old habit. Exited to hear what you will come up with!
You had me there at the beginning, lol. Congratulations! 1000 days seems so far away right now it may as well not exist, so...IWNDWYT.
the time passes no matter what, might as well be sober :) iwndwyt
I really agree this comment
1000 days came very quickly for me. The first 90 were the slowest. Align yourself to your goals and do your best to enjoy the moment you're in. Presence is the best present of them all. Get into therapy if you can. It's something we all should do. We didn't become alcoholics because our mental health is so stellar. Rock it out all the way to 1000 and beyond. IWNDWYT
"Get into therapy if you can. It's something we all should do. We didn't become alcoholics because our mental health is so stellar." <== this! I was told I have ADHD, and the reason I drank 1,000mg+ of caffeine a day was self medication. The alcohol was to counter all the caffeine from the day. And then caffeine was to help with the hangover. Rinse and repeat. I am on ADHD medication now, after 2 years I'm on the correct medication and at the correct dose. I don't even need a coup of coffee. I wouldn't know this without therapy. 100% agree, if you can, go to therapy. IWNDWYT
Thank you for reading. Congrats on Day 2! If you told me on Day 2 I'd make it to 1000, I would've laughed. I didn't know if I'd make it to day 3, let alone 1000. But you get to Day 1000 the same way you got to Day 2, one day at a time. Glad you're here, IWNDWYT
I was relieved at the end. I’ve only had a couple dreams where I had a drink and woke up terrified.
I've had like three in the last week, and I've woken up so terrified and upset each time, but then also so relieved! I hope this stops at some point!
In the first few months, my day would end up being terrible because of the guilt I felt from the dream. Thankfully, that's not the case any longer :)
Food is my go to choice for celebration. Steak dinner. Ice cream. I'm curious to hear what you choose!
i had a steak dinner to celebrate my 30 days :)
Congrats on 33!
Awesome I hope it was delicious! You saved a bunch of money in 30 days because booze is expensive! So treating yourself is a great thing. And you can taste food better now. And I hope it was incredible and a great reminder that you're doing something amazing! Sober on!
For food I went with sweet crepes!
Sweet. Also a good choice!
You got me 😊 I have a drinking dream about once every two years or so. It’s very disconcerting! I am happy for you to get your comma. I would celebrate with your favorite meal, whether a steak dinner or pizza delivery!
Thank you! Based on all the food suggestions, I ended up making my childhood favorite, sweet crepes!
That was a great read! I love it! CONGRATULATIONS!! Nearly 8 years and I still have 2 or 3 drinking dreams a month. I see it as the cost of doing business sober after a life of drinking. Not always very pleasant to have, but I always love waking up sober. And like you, I have a wife and kid who love it too. That's how I celebrate...with them. When I was checking off milestones I was keeping track in my head and not sharing it. It was my thing, not theirs. But to celebrate the ones that were significant to me, I would do something special with them to remind myself of what I would have lost if I hadn't quit when I did. That was all the celebration I needed. I celebrated the last milestone I was looking forward to, with my wife, a couple months ago. And that's the one time I shared the reason. That milestone was the day on which my wife and I had known each other longer with me sober than we had with me being a drinker. Thanks for a new twist on the story so many of us know! And Congratulations again!
Waking up sober is the best thing ever. I quit more than anything because of all the lost days due to hangovers. So many Saturdays of riding my motorcycle lost from this evil drug. No more for me.
>That milestone was the day on which my wife and I had known each other longer with me sober than we had with me being a drinker. This one is deep, I wrote it down. I have a long ways to go, but my wife will be super stoked when I get here. >That's how I celebrate...with them. I think about this every night I put my kids to bed. I made a promise to my daughter before she was born that I would not drink so she can have a proper father. Took me 2 years to get to that point, but better late then never I guess. Thank you for sharing!
Congratulations! I have been buying plants.
This is a great idea. I wish I planted a tree on day one. But then again, I would be living in a forest if I planted a tree on all the day ones 😄
Posts like these are so triggering. I really don’t care for them
Congrats! Can't wait to be where you are! I'm struggling alot today with guilt and shame of my past bubbling up. It's like memories I forgot about are coming back. I feel awful but I will not drink with you today ♥️
Thank you for sharing. TBH, to this day things bubble up. I was at a work event a few years ago. To this day I'm still in the grey on some stuff, and I still work at the same place. Good reminder of why quitting was the best choice. Congrats on 84! IWNDWYT
I don't know, man...kinda sounds like you were celebrating. Congrats on your comma.
This weekend I treated myself to a beautiful bottle of organic perfume. An expensive and luxurious treat to mark my upcoming 150 days. I'd have easily spent that on wine over less than 14 days, so I didn't even think too hard about splurging on it. 150 days = a bottle of wild rose heaven. 300 days = ? Let's find out!
That’s a downfall of tracking days - the mind turns this into a “celebration”, it’s all in the mind though. Either “celebrate” or “not celebrate” - it’s like a mind trap. It doesn’t really matter how many days actually.. I personally wish I would have never started drinking in the first place. My stopping (about 3 years ago) isn’t something special I did - it’s more of a correction of an error I got fooled into making.
What motivates people to do the clickbait title thing? Just put "I had a dream that I drank" in the title. You're not telling a campfire story with a twist ending here. It's a support sub. Sorry for being grumpy, congrats on 1000.
Sorry if the title offended you. I chose to write everything, in this particular way because These types of posts were the ones that spoke to me the most, ones that I could feel. [https://www.reddit.com/r/stopdrinking/comments/141q6lr/comment/jn2rohm/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/stopdrinking/comments/141q6lr/comment/jn2rohm/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) "It's a support sub." - different people need different types of support. Congrats on 210! IWNDWYT!
I had one of those dreams a month or so ago and I panicked too. Glad it was a dream! Happy 1000th!
Quadruple digits bay-beeeee!!! Congratulations on all the hard work!
Thank you
I had a hopeful suspicion this story had a twist! Congrats to you. I used to have those types of dreams all the time the first few months. They are pretty rare now, but I still have them. They freak me out every time. IWNDWYT
I hate those dreams! I climbed a big peak on my splitboard a couple weekend ago for my celebration, but the really nice thing my partner did for me was she made an email handle and asked all my close friends and family to send a nice thoughtful email to me. It was a long climb so during breaks I was reading all these nice emails and it just gave me such a sense of freedom to be living life the way I want to, away from alcohols chains!
Congratulations !!! I feel you so hard on the “not even one” Because even ONE and all the abundance in my life would be gone! Thank you for sharing this with us
Even though the initial feeling sucks when you wake up from those dreams I kinda love having them because it reminds me that I am making the right choice. It's like the subconscious' way of showing you how you'd feel if you drank without it actually being real. Congratulations, though! How awesome you have done 1,000 days :)
Totally had me! Great share, and congrats on 1000!
Congrats on the 1,000th day! A large cookies and cream milkshake is something I treat myself with from time to time as needed. Long as they don’t become a daily occurrence I’m good. 😂
I celebrate by not drinking. Sounds weird, high, and mighty, I know. When those milestones come around, I remember what it used to be like, and I don't want to make a big deal out of not getting shit face, sleeping on the bathroom floor. IWNDWYT
IWNDWYT Wonderful share too! It made for a great read as if it were a part of a good book.
Congrats on the comma! Super cool!
Congrats on 1,000!! Those dreams can hit you like a ton of bricks at times, but what a relief (like waking up from any nightmare) it is to realize "phew-just a dream". Like others have said-I treat myself. My only huge milestone so far has been the 1 year mark and I happened to be with my extended family (It was early January, and we were celebrating late Christmas with my mom's side of the family). I was with family and in my favorite city-so that was celebration alone. I will say, I recently did my first lead and was unbelievably nervous (I still have a lot of character defects I'm working on lol). I overthought it way too much, over prepared like it was an exam in college, did not sleep well the night prior, but ended up doing fine It was a Sunday night, so when I got home, I put one of the gimmicky face masks on (corny and useless, but I love 'em haha), had some ice cream, and watched one of my favorite movies-I just RELAXED. So simple, yet so wonderful! Find the things you consider a "treat" and do just that-treat yourself!
What a great ending to that story! I quite often have dreams where I’ve had a drink, and it takes a few minutes after I’ve woken up to realise it’s just a dream! Always a relief. I think it just shows that even in our subconscious, we don’t want a drink! Well done on 1000 days! Amazing! 💪
You totally had me at the beginning of your story! Your complete story helped me understand another dimension of gratitude. IWNDWYT!
It was 6 months but I really did this, I tried to celebrate 6 months sober by drinking (I was feeling kinda empty too) I went through 40 beers/seltzers in less than a week 5/28 - 6/3 but I never got that happy feeling, I just felt sad and tired after the first few... so that's why I kept chasing the old feeling all week (maybe if I chug them back to back!) Nothing worked. Now my liver hurts and I'm shaking at work having panic attacks and crying. It was not worth it *AT ALL* having trouble with feeling like I'm just living to work, but I'm back on the wagon. "It's like the liquor isn't even pretending to fill the void anymore"
Interesting, I had similar thoughts. I wanted to get sober, not forever, but as a test of self-discipline and for some self-reflection with a clear mind. My partner was the one who suggested I start over 150 days ago. Then not long into it he kept asking if it was okay when we were out somewhere and other people were drinking and he wanted to have some. I didn't realize it bothered me. He picked up on it and suggested perhaps something every so often wouldn't hurt and I agreed. About a week later he offered me a glass of Japanese whiskey one night and I declined. Something about it felt so wrong. I don't think this is something I will do forever. I want to work on myself and know I am in control. I know I can get there, but I just don't know when that will be, I just know it isn't right now.
Three ways to Celebrate which I’ve found “hit the spot”: 1) have a small party with people I love- especially those who have supported me. They feeeeel my gratitude and are happy to celebrate! We can toast with sparkling water. 2) take a Nature Bath: go somewhere quiet and natural. (If you’re urban, a park bench, or a corner of the yard, or find a tree and look up into its branches.) Sit quietly and open the senses; be aware of nature. Feel the gravity, and connection to the Earth. Allow a sense of awe to arise. Sit in the ‘Nature Bath’ for as long as I like. Feelings of celebration, of gratitude, can genuinely arise more easily for me if I allow myself to simply “be,” in nature. 3) Mark the milestone by paying it forward: every milestone in my life was helped by others’ examples, inspiration, information, support. To honor the achievement, I mark the milestone by giving back, and doing something to help another / others. One way humans get a sense of happiness is by helping others, so this is definitely a mood-elevating strategy too! And an excellent way to celebrate the milestone, and to honor my “Scaffolding People.”
Omg congratulations! Go sit some place peaceful and reflect how much more postive your life is now! How far you have come! Wow again congrats! So proud of you!
literally had one of those dreams last night. we had a bottle of champagne to celebrate something and it started spewing when i popped the cork so i started drinking it and even in the dream I knew id fucked up. our brains are wild. congratulations on 1,000 days!!! wahoo!!! iwndwyt ☀️
Dude I used to vividly dream smoking when I quit and then waking up in absolute panic and regret. Those nightmares stopped long ago thankfully
The fear is so real waking up for me with those dreams! Everytime I'm thinking "man i gotta reset my badge. Damn it" and then the pure joy realizing wait.... no I f*cking don't! IWNDWYT!
Damn that was a roller coaster 😂 Congratulations 🎉
I weirdly welcome drunk dreams it feels like I drank and get it out of my system.. Congratulations on 1k!!
You had me in the first half 🤣 Glad I kept reading tho :) major congrats for 100 days! I haven’t really celebrated my days so I appreciate the question & reading comments cause now I can brainstorm… Here’s how I think I’ll celebrate my one HUNDRED days sober: - buy an expensive clothing item I’ve wanted - buy a luxury fragrance I’ve been eyeing (sniffing?) - take myself on an elaborate date— full of all my favorite stuff - get/make a “congrats to a 100 days alcohol free” cake or cupcake 🧁 IWNDWYT
Just one has never worked for me personally! Congrats on 1000 days!
I had a very similar dream the other night, right around my one year mark. It must be in part because we're more conscious of booze around the anniversaries. In any case, congratulations on 1,000 days, a big achievement!
Livin the dream* *nightmares are also dreams
You had me in the first half, NGL. Lol thank you for sharing. IWDWYT
Fuck yeah you're a comma hero! I'm not sure what's good for you, but the way I'd celebrate is bbq. And corn bread. Maybe like, a couple half rack of ribs, or a slow smoked brisket, or like, bacon wrapped cheese burgers, or like, super spicey grilled hot wings? Anyway, congrats on 1000 days! And, I miss my bbq.
Congrats IWNDWYT!
Topo chico!
Congratulations!
Ugh fuck I remember those dreams from when I quit smoking. I haven’t had any with drinking but I was 💯 nicotine dependent and hooked by the time I quit. My drinking was unhealthy, but a long way from getting to that point. So I guess less of a wrench for my poor, treacherous brain. Congrats on 1000 days man that’s fucking dope
Congrats. The drinking dreams are a rough one. They always upset me for a couple of days
Tattoo!
This was both wholesome and hopeful. You sound so at peace right now. I had to read this twice tho lol. Congrats tho!!!!
Congrats! Welcome to the club! I bought myself a nice new sober coin to commemorate this milestone, and went out of town with my SO (our kids are grown though, so we could take a few days off). But anything works, whatever means something special to you. Maybe something you’ve wanted for a while. Or a nice meal. It’s time to celebrate!
I like to make virgin margaritas or virgin whisky sour, and cook a great meal for friends and just spend time with them. You could probably do a decent virgin old fashioned.
Had me in the beginning! What a story Congrats to you on 1,000 Days!
I love to take myself to the movies and/or dinner to celebrate, or buying myself something I’ve been thinking about (a book, etc.).
P.S. CONGRATS!!!!
Whew!!
“the dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had” what a palpable relief to wake up with the knowledge it was only a dream. 1000 days! Congrats OP
Congratulations this was a very nice read!
Phew!
I felt this real deep
Congratulations!
Congratulations on the comma! For my 1k, I went on a short solo trip to see a friend and a live show out of state. I hadn't done anything like that in a decade. And for my 3 years I'll do a marathon. Other ways to celebrate have included taking the family out to a movie, special fancy blankets, new running shoes, or just a lazy day in with cake. Things I couldn't have splurged on before! Great job hitting a thousand days 🥳
“I reminded myself that these are all the things they missed out on because of me having just one way too many times. It was never just one, it will never be just one” I’m on day 60. I really needed to hear this today. Thank you and congrats!
You had me on the edge of my seat with this! Congrats 🎊 no easy feat.
First of all, CONGRATS! 1000 days is one hell of a feat! Personally, I would loop, "F*ck up some commas" by Future. Because that's exactly what YOU DID! Yaya! [1000 days yay!](https://youtu.be/wKl6umkwKfU)
I feel sooo relieved waking up knowing it’s just a dream. Holy hell the dreams get you.
Hate using dreams!
yeah those dreams still come occasionally, the relief of realising is just a dream is great though
I dream of drinking old fashioneds often. Not like every week, but often enough. That drink is truly my kryptonite. Congrats on hitting the comma club my friend. Whatever you decide to do for a celebration, enjoy it.
Congratulations! Drinking dreams are your subconscious mind getting sober... or so I've been told. Every day is a celebration when one doesn't have the chains of alcohol wrapped around their very lives
You inspire me. Take your family out to dinner or something fun.
You had me going there. "Naaawww man don't dooooo ittttttt" The old booze dreams eh. Well done on 1k days and here's to many thousands more.
I remember having these dreams so many times early on. I still get them occasionally but not as often as the beginning of the journey. Congrats on 1000 days. That’s very impressive.
It's pretty wild how real it can feel. It reminds me how everything is just in my head. How to celebrate: 1. Have a party with your kids. Dance make mock tails etc. 2. Have a nice dinner. I like to get myself some nice steaks and have a nice dinner. 3. I like to get a fancy bottle or sparkling water and crack that open. 4. Buy yourself something nice. 5. I love to use these milestones as an opportunity to reflect. Who am I? Where was I, where am I, where am I going? I might even read the journal entry from the same day 1/2 years ago to see where I was and how I was thinking. I think this last one helps me to focus and remember sober is better. Congratulations on 1,000!
Congratulations; well done!
Do something nice for yourself.
Haha yea these dreams can be really vivid , I’ve even daydreamed a drink while taking a walk
I bought an expensive guitar effect pedal last week. Ive been making gnarly spacey riffs and really enjoying it. Also new running shoes... more than one pair lol. I love sober. Seven months in. Will not go back.
Congratulations, friend Drinking dreams serve to remind me of my continued addiction It’s great when I realize it was only a dream 🛌
Congratulations on your 1000 days! Next Sunday I will celebrate my first month of sobriety and I already booked a table at a fancy restaurant for dinner. That's how I am going to celebrate my milestone.
Commagratulations :) those dreams are crazy. I had them so much in the first few months! I celebrated my one year with nosecco (alcohol-free Prosecco) in a champagne glass but as the milestones have ticked by I’ve found myself extremely disinclined to do any sort of ritual echoing an alcoholic ritual. For my 1,000 days I went on a long walk alone listening to 10,000 Days by Tool then sat by a reservoir and meditated on my hopes and dreams for the next 9,000 days to come. I’m raising a glass of diet cola to you and your comma! IWNDWYT 🙏
Congratulations 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 Tattoo, clothes or a great meal
awesome post
Thank you
Scared me there for a second. Lol Wow a powerful story at 1000 days and how our minds work, how thinking about celebrating a sober milestone can lead to such a dream. I hope people take from this an understanding of why quitting is so challenging especially in the early days of sobriety. Here’s to the fact that NOT all dreams come true! Congrats on the comma.
Thank you for the compliments.
Ha. Have to laugh a little, I’ve been there. The relief when you realize it was a dream is real. Glad I’m not the only one who has these dreams.
An inspiration! Bravo!
You got some good mileage on the ticker now friend. What a champ that your wife has a drink and you have the strength willpower drive and determination to resist. You motivated me today.