SAM DELANEY –
Jan. 19, 2023 – Giving up drink and drugs felt like a big sacrifice at first but, quite quickly, I realised it was the opposite. Sobriety introduced a bunch of brilliant new stuff. Energy, curiosity, fitness, focus, a reinvigorated imagination, a deeper appreciation of the love and beauty that surrounds us and – perhaps best of all – deep, peaceful, sumptuous rest.
Being pissed, high or hungover all the time created a chaotic and stressful life. I was always running late, feeling sick, embarrassed, anxious, paranoid and unable to relax or feel fulfilled without some sort of stimulant inside of me. It was a very narrow life in which I found pretty much everything boring apart from booze and drugs. Ugh.
Once sobriety helped me learn to draw pleasure from real life, I was so much more comfortable with myself. I lost the sense that I was missing out on stuff, or not having enough fun. I learned to be happy. I found peace. I became able to sit and do nothing much without being consumed by feelings of anxiety, boredom or self-loathing. I was, at last, comfortable with the person I was.
