Writing a Memoir

I'm so happy I found this place. I know I don't write much on here, but the little bit I've written, sharing my story with people that actually understand where I'm coming from, really helps a lot. There are some days when I crave the numbness a blackout could give me, and it sucks to deal with life those days when you just want to turn everything off. But I've made it through it all without a drink. So thank you for listening.

I haven't "publicly" come out about my sobriety (via social media), just a handful of the people closest to me know... And I've been sober for 956 days. I still can't seem to shake the stigma attached to being an alcoholic, the fear of judgement from others, like I'm "less than" the rest of society, someone to be pitied. I can't stand the idea of being pitied.

But I'm tired of living in fear about 'what everyone will think of me.' My life is 1000% better because I chose sobriety. I am NOT ashamed of that ! A huge part of my 'non-traditional' recovery was reading alcoholic memoirs. It was like I was reading my own story, my own thoughts, my own feelings.. just in a different setting. I've belly-laughed, hysterically cried, and cringed in horror while reading people's stories. These authors have no idea how much they helped me heal. If my story could help just one person, it's worth sharing.

There are far too many people out there that should not be drinking. But giving up alcohol will mean alienation, shame, judgement, change, losing friends... so they continue to drink. It's time to make sobriety something to be celebrated, treasured, and encouraged. We live in a world where alcohol is thrown in our face constantly, and if you don't drink, you don't fit in. That's not right!

We all have a story to tell, that's why we're on here. My goal is to have my story written by the end of this year. No more hiding, no more being ashamed of my past. It won't be pretty, but it will be worth it :)

PS-Here is a list of a few of my favorite memoirs: "Sober Stick Figure," by Amber Tozer "Unwasted: My Lush Sobriety," by Sacha Z. Scoblic "Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget," by Sarah Hepola "Drinking: A Love Story," by Caroline Knapp