Mondays suuuuuck.
Even being sober doesn’t improve Mondays*. I actually like my job, even though it’s stressful. It’s just shitty to return to the real world. No mid-afternoon snuggles or naps. No laundry gets done for the next 5 days. The work week is just. . .a lot of WORK. *sigh*
*Okay, being sober does improve Mondays. I no longer carry in a huge load of guilt or shame anymore. And I usually am coming from a much cleaner house. Leaving behind closets of much cleaner clothes. My weekend recaps are much more genuinely happy, and true! And I really do like my job, so it’s not like I have a whole lot to bitch about. That does not stop me though.
I haven’t accomplished much today, but I did get out to lunch with a coworker/friend. My friend’s husband is currently in treatment. He’s an alcoholic, and I’ve known about his struggles for years. Their story was instrumental in getting me sober. Their story, my mom’s story, my sister’s story, various friend’s stories. . . there are so many STORIES that you hear about addiction and alcoholism. It’s those stories that help me stay on the path of sobriety, and making sure that my story doesn’t end up being about alcohol.
Today at lunch, I heard a story about a very distinguished associate of ours who is the child of an alcoholic (I didn’t know this about him before today). Now, this person is one of those people that you automatically like, but you’re also a little jealous of. He has a massively successful career, has a beautiful family, and has one of those lives that you look at and think “really? Can he at least be an asshole so I don’t have to like him so much?? Where’s the chink in the armor, dammit!” I heard about his last Thanksgiving, and how his mother (in her 70’s) drank 2 bottles of wine before noon, passed out in the entry hall, where she then soiled herself and remained for the entirety of the holiday. Humbling. It touches everyone, from every walk of life.
I used to drink and think about these stories, and I’d hold them up to myself and say “SEE! I’m NOWHERE near this level of bad!” and then I’d drink my wine. I feel like a broken record on this blog. Like I’m coming to the same realization over and over and over again. And really, it’s true, I do harp on this a lot. Because I’m never not happy all over again when I hear a story like that and realize that it will never be ME passed out in the front hall. My kids will have to find something else to be traumatized by!
And on that note, good riddance, Monday.
One Bottle One Glass 
I always used to hear stories like that and think “uh uh, I’m not that bad, no where near” Now I think back on some of the things that I did and I just cringe and think “really? how did it get that bad?”
Happy hump day! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes!! Things I used to just cover up in denial make my cheeks burn!
LikeLiked by 2 people
when i first got sober, mondays were the WORST. i wanted to karate chop mondays in the face- lol. i’m enjoying your blog. congratulations on all your sober days!! you’re doing fantastic! 🙂
LikeLike
Oh my word that story about his mother just gave me chills. There by the grace of God go I. The stakes are very high with this addiction. xxx
LikeLike
Love this. Especially the last line about your kids having something else to be traumatized by. I tell my adult children that still today. Great post with great reminders of where we have been (or could have been) and where we are going.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed reading your story. You chose better for yourself and your family. Stories of recovery are refreshing. Me, I was the child who rarely spoke about my parents and made excuses to my friends. Often parents have no idea the impact their behavior can have long-term on their children and their children’s choices in life. Keep up the good work!
LikeLiked by 1 person