8:37 pm
It’s been nine years since I started this blog–nine years, too, since I got sober! And, in step with how this year has been going (a tornado that is tearing seamlessly over the train wreckage of 2020), I am over a week late in writing a commemorative blog post. Haha. Oh, well.
I guess I have to admit that, while I’m still truly grateful and happy for my nine years, I’m not sure how I feel about this blog anymore. DDG used to be my happy place, my safe space, a spot where I could gather with 150 of my closest sober blogging friends and divulge all the ugly deets of our collective journey. Most of those bloggers are gone. I’m still here, but am I, really? I mean, I’m still trying to redefine myself, which I seem to have lost this past year.
Per this blog: I used to be–to feel–on fire, in the sense that, I had SO much fervor toward getting sober and subsequently, so much to say. Now, I just feel sort of indifferent to it. Maybe I’m just burnt out and tired (still working all day, every day; still dealing with the Dad dementia stuff; still managing my menopause crap). Sure, I have no doubt that it’s all good to evolve and move forward–and, YES, sobriety is still my foundation–but the pieces of sobriety that are relevant to me now often include a LOT more life stuff, which is stuff that has nothing to do with sobriety, intrisincally, or, um, an audience of relative strangers.
I may be a different girl on fire now, but I’m probably not DDG anymore. Which is and has to be OK. But, I miss her and I miss doing what I loved to do. Why not just keep doing what you used to do, then? It’s just not that easy, is what I’m saying (and trying to understand, myself!).
Anyway, I want to shout, watch this space, but…I’ll just leave it at a whisper of, take solace in this space, a (almost) blank page for you to ponder (and one for me, too, to place new words and new thoughts).
Drunky Drunk Girl 
I’ve been quietly following along for a long time ( approaching four years sober after a year and a half not sober after a year sober, so around 7 years I guess? ) Regardless of DDGs future ( or lack ) as a blogging on-fire entity she will always be part of my sober foundation and I’m sure the person she is today still makes waves, even if they’re in other ponds.
Aww, what a powerful comment–thank your for your community and for well, reading my blog. And, congrats on your sobriety! 🙂
Congrats on 9 years blogging and being sober! I can definitely relate and thought your comment that sobriety will always be your base was right on. It’s what propels us forward into the goodness of new healthy endeavors. I’m excited to see where you head next. My blog started as a debt blog, then pivoted to more of a life blog where I worked through depression and divorce, became sober, and am now focusing predominantly on my fitness and the outdoors. Each time gaining and losing followers along the way. It can be sad wondering what happened to so and so. It definitely was a true connection for sure when going through your particular class of getting sober. You just have a knowing when it’s time to pivot has come about. All the best my friend😊
Aww, thank you for this–means a lot and makes me feel hopeful (pivoting, my “sobriety class,” etc.). Big hugs back atcha!
Congratulations on nine years!! I really value your blog. I would encourage you to let it evolve along with your life’s focuses…. ultimately, I don’t see “getting sober” as much of a thing, in the big picture. It’s a wild release of health and freedom and evolution, but the content of life is in these other things — getting into trouble with alcohol is a wake-up call for the other (was going to say deeper, but many of them are in fact quite shallow 🙂 in a good way) movement in life. I find it awesome when sobriety blogs wander over into those other things and stay there. When our view of other struggles in life draw from perspective changes from quitting alcohol…
Thank you–and I truly value your comments! You’ve always got something insightful to say, and this, too, really gives me food for thought. Thank you so much for your community… 🙂
Hey DDG,
You were one of the first bloggers I “met” when I was getting sober. I even had a blog for a while, “Running From the Booze”, but I was too lazy to keep it up so I shut mine down. I love getting notifications when you post something new but totally get wanting to walk away from it. Congratulations on 9 years! I’m clocking in at almost 3.5 years and feeling grateful to be here. Wishing you the best in your future endeavors!! 🙂
G
Yes, yes, I do remember your blog! Great to hear from one of the “old gang.” Glad you’re still here, and sober…
Hug
This is a strange year.
I have always liked your blog. It has helped me a lot over my 7 sober years. It is nice to see bloggers stay around.
Things seep posed between regressing and returning to normal where I am. It is very unsettling.
Stay around. Keep is up to date. Let us support you. It’s all important.
Stillness and peace
Anne
Love hearing from you; your comment are always helpful and insightful. Yeah, I don’t think I can or will go away, this blog is too much a part of my life… HUGS. (I know, this has been a really, really weird year!)
i am just glad to be able to go back and read the posts from my very first sober blogger..i was just starting out ( well 6 months in really) and never knew there were such things! Even now i go back to some of your early posts because so many resonated with me and occasionally still do.Thank you so much for all you have shared and no matter what you decide- please leave the blog here for others! I know so many have benefited!!
I can so relate to your post. I’m in the same place … I turned 5 years’ sober in March and have yet to even commemorate it on my site. But I do miss the old gang! And that passion, that “fire” that I was on the right path, doing what I was supposed to be doing. I think it comes down to this: Once you’ve transcended the addiction, what comes next? Fighting an addiction took lots of time and energy, and felt like a righteous cause. So what now? There’s a big space where sober blogging used to be. I couldn’t even finish a memoir because I lost interest in it, you know what I mean? I feel like I’m writing about a battle from the Civil War era. It’s all ancient history now and does anyone care about that?
Maybe all the old-timers (and I’m throwing myself in here though I haven’t been around as long) should take a vacation together. Then we could relive the camaraderie of those early days. ; )
Congrats on your 9-years. It is an interesting journey. I am still pondering my own. You have been fantastically consistent with your writing and I commend your discipline. You were and are an inspiration. Wishing you continued growth. Lisa
Your journey is still relevant from overcoming the alcohol to dealing with your dad. I look forward to reading your blog.
Congratulations on your nine years, both in your sobriety and your blogging. I have stumbled across your blog at the beginning of my sobriety journey, while trying to find blogs that may motivate me to keep on going. So it is fantastic that the first one I come across has been going for nine years! Regardless of if you carry on or not, even this one post has been a very helpful thing for me to read, so I thank you for that.
I am so late!
But huge congratulations!
🎊
xo
Wendy
Congratulations on the nine years of sobriety. Whatever you do about your blogging, all the encouragement you’ve shared in nine years will continue.