This year I stepped quietly into my 31st circle around the sun. I wasn't sure how I wanted to celebrate or if I felt like celebrating at all. While I was having silent deliberations about it in my head, daddy took his opportunity to book our reservations.

He brought me Disney World which is my favorite place! We had dinner on the rooftop and enjoyed all the sights and sounds.

In 2021 I started drinking for no apparent reason. Even when I was alone I was drinking. Everywhere I went, it was imperative that I had a drink. I actively avoided places that didn't have alcohol and looked for every reason to pour a glass. I would pass out in a drunken stupor and then immediately start again as soon as I was up.

Finally, on a random day in January I was laying on my bathroom floor when suddenly I was face-to-face with my reality. Sick and unable to move, I realized I no longer wanted to feel like this. I realized I was drinking myself toward an early grave and that scared me.

So I quit. Right then and there. Now, my hands aren't totally clean. I had two slip-ups. Small tumbles, nothing that couldn't be stopped by the support of my amazing partner. But now I can finally say it's been a whole year and I don't even think about alcohol. I can be around my friends and family who are drinking and not feel pressure to join them.