Thank you for sharing your story. I read your column regularly since finding it. In fact, I am going to write a post about it on my website so that my readers can appreciate your writing too.
I was wondering why the last 5 years have been so tough, is it reflecting over your past that has been so hard? Is it sobriety that you are having trouble with or life in general? I am very curious because I thought that by the time one gets as much sobriety time under their belt, life would surely just keep getting better and better mentally. I also respect your privacy and understand if you do not wish to discuss it.
Madison

ooops! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Re: Madison
Thanks for posting to my site.
These are tough days because of what life's tossed at me right now.
I've had some really good days over the past 15 years.
And even many good days in the past five years.
But these past five years include trials and tribulations that are all about my humanness and the simple reality that life (at least mine) is never perfect.
William

William, you continue to be an inspiration to me. Thanks for your continuing candor about your recovery. While I don't know what's going on in your life right now that's causing pain, it is affirming that you can write about it with honesty and humility. As you know only too well, recovery isn't about living some picture-perfect life. It's more about experiencing life, fully aware that our disease may continue sending us messages from the old tapes from time to time. Your experience in recovery is helping me understand these things a little better. Thanks for sharing. As I'm writing this, I'm spending time with my 3 kids in Boulder, CO. Thanks for the reminder to express my gratitude for this wonderful experience that seemed so unlikely before I began my long-term sobriety 6 1/2 years ago. God bless.

I think I understand. I know that in the beginning of my sobriety I was convinced that life was going to be fantastic because I had finally managed to quit drinking. Then life happens and you can't believe it, doesn't seem fair that after coming so far, life's set backs should strike. But strike life does and sobriety for me is all about learning how to best deal with everything that life throws at me without losing it and picking up a drink again.
Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Madison

I think I understand. I know that in the beginning of my sobriety I was convinced that life was going to be fantastic because I had finally managed to quit drinking. Then life happens and you can't believe it, doesn't seem fair that after coming so far, life's set backs should strike. But strike life does and sobriety for me is all about learning how to best deal with everything that life throws at me without losing it and picking up a drink again.
Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Madison

I think I understand. I know that in the beginning of my sobriety I was convinced that life was going to be fantastic because I had finally managed to quit drinking. Then life happens and you can't believe it, doesn't seem fair that after coming so far, life's set backs should strike. But strike life does and sobriety for me is all about learning how to best deal with everything that life throws at me without losing it and picking up a drink again.
Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Madison