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Gratitude
Hey All,
I'm 32 and have been trying to get sober for a few years now. I've been battling my demons-alcohol since I can remember. Today marks 114 days for me and I'm damn proud of that. The longest I've ever gone without a drink is about 2 months so I'm already further along than I've ever imagined. Right now, my life is consumed with work, my family and most importantly my recovery. I left a meeting tonight and on my way home I got a call from a guy who I was giving rides to and from meetings. He told me he was in the hospital so I went to visit him and see how he was. Luckily he's OK and when he's released will be heading back to his 7th rehab. He's 50 and to see him in a state in which I was not too long ago really hit home.
I know a lot of people can't understand but it's a fucking nightmare to be stuck in addiction or to love someone who is going through it.
I know I have a long way to go and my journey has just begun, but I love life now more than I ever have.
I just wanted you to say that not only am I greatful for this band and their music but I'm forever greatful for all of my friends on here. I don't post as often as most, but one of my greatest hobbies now a days is smoking a cigar on my front porch and reading the forum. Whether you know it or not, you've more than likely helped me get through a night without picking up a drink. Like a lot of you, Pearl Jam is my therapy. It's my sole outlet. Songs like Light Years brings me closer to my Granmother who passed away, my wedding song was Thin Air, Dirty Frank cheers me up when I'm down and so on...
Against my sponsors will I traveled to Greece over the summer and took my wife with me to see both Wrigley shows and I didn't drink.
I'm not a great writer and I don't mean to ramble so I'll cut it off here. I just wanted to say thank you for such an amazing sense of community and support. It was a pleasure meeting some of you in Chicago and I hope to see you in 2017 if you can't make it to TOTD at the Garden.
If anyone reading this is in recovery or would like to learn more please reach out to me, you're not alone.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Shannon
I'm 32 and have been trying to get sober for a few years now. I've been battling my demons-alcohol since I can remember. Today marks 114 days for me and I'm damn proud of that. The longest I've ever gone without a drink is about 2 months so I'm already further along than I've ever imagined. Right now, my life is consumed with work, my family and most importantly my recovery. I left a meeting tonight and on my way home I got a call from a guy who I was giving rides to and from meetings. He told me he was in the hospital so I went to visit him and see how he was. Luckily he's OK and when he's released will be heading back to his 7th rehab. He's 50 and to see him in a state in which I was not too long ago really hit home.
I know a lot of people can't understand but it's a fucking nightmare to be stuck in addiction or to love someone who is going through it.
I know I have a long way to go and my journey has just begun, but I love life now more than I ever have.
I just wanted you to say that not only am I greatful for this band and their music but I'm forever greatful for all of my friends on here. I don't post as often as most, but one of my greatest hobbies now a days is smoking a cigar on my front porch and reading the forum. Whether you know it or not, you've more than likely helped me get through a night without picking up a drink. Like a lot of you, Pearl Jam is my therapy. It's my sole outlet. Songs like Light Years brings me closer to my Granmother who passed away, my wedding song was Thin Air, Dirty Frank cheers me up when I'm down and so on...
Against my sponsors will I traveled to Greece over the summer and took my wife with me to see both Wrigley shows and I didn't drink.
I'm not a great writer and I don't mean to ramble so I'll cut it off here. I just wanted to say thank you for such an amazing sense of community and support. It was a pleasure meeting some of you in Chicago and I hope to see you in 2017 if you can't make it to TOTD at the Garden.
If anyone reading this is in recovery or would like to learn more please reach out to me, you're not alone.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Shannon
Post edited by SJD3232 on
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RED ROCKS 6-19-95
AUGUSTA 9-26-96
MANSFIELD 9-15-98
BOSTON 9-29-04
BOSTON 5-25-06
MANSFIELD 6-30-08
EV SOLO BOSTON 8-01-08
BOSTON 5-17-10
EV SOLO BOSTON 6-16-11
PJ20 9-3-11
PJ20 9-4-11
WRIGLEY 7-19-13
WORCESTER 10-15-13
WORCESTER 10-16-13
HARTFORD 10-25-13
6/19/95 Red Rocks
9/11/98 MSG
11/19/12 EV solo Tulsa
7/19/13 Wrigley 10/19/13 Brooklyn 2 10/21/13 Philly 1 10/22/13 Philly 2 10/25/13 Hartford
10/08/14 Tulsa 10/09/14 Lincoln
9/26/15 New York City
4/16/16 Greenville 4/28/16 Philly 1 4/29/16 Philly 2 5/1/16 MSG 1 5/2/16 MSG 2 8/7/16 Fenway 2 8/20/16 Wrigley 1
4/7/17 RRHOF New York City
9/02/18 Fenway 1 9/04/2018 Fenway 2
9/18/21 Asbury Park
9/11/22 New York City
9/14/22 Camden
114 days is awesome! You should be proud, as I am of you. I celebrated 10 years of being clean and sober this summer. I tell ya, if hope could grow from dirt like me, it can be done.
I remember leaving detox after 10 days (where we couldn't listen to our music) on a greyhound bus headed for inpatient treatment. The first CD I grabbed was Atlanta '94. Pearl Jam's music (and this community) have been a huge part of my recovery.
There's this thread, too: http://community.pearljam.com/discussion/comment/6214586#Comment_6214586
Keep at it, rock on, and lean on this collective or even individual us when needed.
(by the way, I've always considered honest, from-the-heart writing to be good writing...release it all, as you need)
Hobbes
Stay strong!
8/17/98 Noblesville, 8/18/00 Noblesville, 6/5/03 San Diego, 6/22/03 Noblesville, 9/11/05 Kitchener, 5/7/10 Noblesville, 9/15/11 Hamilton, 11/21/12 Memphis (Ed w/ Glen), 7/19/13 Wrigley, 10/11/13 Pittsburgh, 10/01/14 Cincinnati, 10/03/14 Saint Louis, 4/16/16 Greenville, 4/26/16 Lexington, 5/1/16 NYC, 5/2/16 NYC, 8/20/16 Wrigley, 8/22/16 Wrigley (For Hank), 8/18/18 Wrigley, 8/20/18 Wrigley (For Hank), 9/18/22 Saint Louis, 9/5/23 Chicago, 9/7/23 Chicago
I have "Amongst the Waves" tattooed on my forearm when I got 3 years sober as a reminder
"Riding High Amongs the Waves
Where I can feel like I
Have a soul that has been saved
Where I can feel like I've
Put away my early grave"
I love reading these stories, they inspire me to get back on track...keep it up and never go back!
Fuckus rules all
Rob
Seattle
Congrats on 17 years.
Thank you, Dennis (densan)
Best wishes to you. Stay strong!
How I choose to feel is how I am