It’s funny how the most mundane moments can mark the beginning of something extraordinary. For me, it was a sunrise. Not just any sunrise, but the first one I watched sober in what felt like a lifetime. I’d spent countless nights numbing myself with alcohol, chasing away the shadows of my past and the uncertainty of my future. But that morning, as I watched the sky bleed shades of orange and pink, something within me awoke.

I’d hit rock bottom weeks before, waking up in a hospital bed with no recollection of how I got there. The doctor’s words were a wake-up call I couldn’t ignore. “You’re lucky to be alive,” he said, his gaze piercing through me. It was then I realized I didn’t want my story to end in a blur of forgotten nights and near-death experiences.

Quitting wasn’t easy. The first few days were full of uneasiness (I suppose is the right word), not terrible, I just wasn’t sure what to do with myself, like something was missing. But I was determined. With each passing day, I found strength I didn’t know I had. I reached out for help, joining a support group and slowly mending the relationships I had damaged.

Now, sitting on a beach, watching the sunrise once more, I feel a sense of peace I haven’t known in years. Each day is a gift, a chance to make amends, to rediscover who I am without alcohol. I’ve started painting again, something I hadn’t done since college. There’s a clarity in sobriety that brings colors to life in a way I had forgotten.

This journey hasn’t been easy, and I know there will be tough days ahead. But for the first time in a long time, I’m hopeful about the future. I’m building a life I can be proud of, one sober day at a time.

JJ (Swansea, UK)

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