I will not make it by merely gritting my teeth nor through sheer force of will. I must work to create a life so beautiful that tossing it aside for the illusion of temporary relief is ridiculous and unthinkable. I must remember that sobriety is my natural state, the one in which I came to this planet. It is my birthright; I am not creating sobriety, but returning to it.

To my beautiful brothers and sisters who struggle … … recognize that you are a sick person getting well, not a bad person getting good. Our actions may have been poor and our judgement lacking during our drinking days, but no one has the right to make us feel less than. You are finding the path to wellness and recovery - and the joy a life of sobriety brings is beyond measure.