My greatest “Gift of Sobriety” to myself

[C_C]

A week leading up to my 50^th birthday, I had considered rewarding myself one(1) day to indulge in alcohol. In SMART, I had discovered “The Power of Choice!”
I can and am free to choose my behavior. This decision is mine alone to make, and nobody can influence me to make that choice .

Over the next few days, I deliberated on this decision by doing a CBA.
I used the ABC tool and figured out the Activating event being my 50^th Birthday.
my Belief was in order to celebrate and have a great time I needed alcohol.
which Caused me to make a choice to start drinking.
I then Disputed the belief by questioning this irrational thought.
- where does it say I need to drink to have a good time?
I have experienced good times on many occasions being sober previously
- why is that I need alcohol to celebrate my 50^th birthday?
I have celebrated my last birthday sober, anniversaries sober, holidays sober for the last 20months without alcohol.
I played both sides of the tape and rewinded it a few times.
Side A what are the possibilities and risks of having my first drink
Side B what I can enjoy and do without having alcohol and the last 20months of my sobriety
hence my new Effective new belief is
I can celebrate and have a equal or better celebration to enjoy my 50^th birthday and I will treasure and remember every detail of this occasion.

With that I have given myself the Greatest gift of Sobriety on my 50^th Birthday!

Never beyond my wildest imagination, could I have ever imagined being completely abstinent from alcohol for 618 days/ 88 weeks and 2 days/ 20 months 11days !
on 6/1/22.

A YouTube link to my gift of sobriety
https://youtu.be/prq-CemJtug



Thanks to all the tools and techniques I learned from SMART Recovery and with the encouragement and support I received from the community here.

” I have the Power of Choice”

I celebrated the day with my family and my wife surprised me to a wonderful and great dinner party with friends and colleagues at a local restaurant.
I was surprised of all those she had invited without my knowledge.
I had enjoyed myself yet again without having any alcohol although I treated my guest to their favorite drinks.

[Caroline14]

Please envisage three great big thumbs up from me C_C. So glad you had a wonderful sober 50th birthday!!!

[LobsterTank]

Congrats and Happy Birthday! So glad to hear of your success and the joy you have found in it.

Have a great day or at least a crappy sober one!

[SMARTPOTENTIAL]

This is fantastic Happy Birthday!

[Gordon1]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY C_C

So very well done to all!

[C_C]

Thank you very much.

[healthyhabits]

This really helped me today. Thanks for the gift of sharing your success!🤩

[figueroaalberto26]

Awsome>>>>>>>