Messages of hope and encouragement
The holiday season is a time of gatherings, celebrations and parties. However, it can also be stressful, filled with anxiety for individuals struggling with their relationship with alcohol.
A big part of how we support our community is through sharing stories and encouragement from others.
At the end of last year, we asked our Hello Sunday Morning community to share messages of hope and encouragement to anyone struggling over the holiday season. We are very appreciative and humbled by the responses.
While the holiday season has come to a close, these messages are too empowering not to share with everyone.
We hope these messages will continue to inspire some changes and motivate others to keep going. It’s through this supportive & non-judgemental community, we can help each other to change our individual relationship with alcohol.
Here are some of their messages:
To anyone struggling, I believe in you! Be gentle with yourself. Trust the process and believe small steps add up over time. It's okay to reach out for help and build the support system that you need. You are not alone. You are worth it and can do this! 💚
Be well
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6 years ago I found the site Hello Sunday Morning.
I was struggling with alcohol and it wasn't pretty. One day it hit me, I was done. I knew my days were numbered and my alcoholism was going to win. I stopped cold turkey. I went away for a month and faced the social anxiety and complexities that kept me "lubricated" not only faced them but discovered them and the why of them. It occurred to me that I needed to take better care of my body. I needed to rediscover it. NONE of this would have been possible without Hello Sunday Morning. It was my life line. I checked in all throughout the first days. Every white knuckle moment was shared and the sweet merit badges etc...kept me inspired and motivated.
Finally, I can say after 6 years that I am pretty free. Oh, occasionally I will look at someone nursing a pretty cocktail and remember the experience. However, It never outweighs my sobriety and the luscious clarity being sober brings. I never have to recount my evenings and wonder "the who, what, and where" did I say something off??? JOYOUSNESS and when I don't feel centered I stay home. I pick up my book, put on my jams and I am blissed out in my own company.
THANK YOU HSM You saved my life.
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Hi Everyone,
I would like to give a hug to everyone and say: We’re all in this together! You are not alone! Reach out to someone, you will be surprised . Just how much kindness and compassion there is! Look at the positives, no matter how small they seem.
Lots of love to all .Your Neighbour
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My message of hope.
On 31 December it will be 365 days AF. Has it been easy? No. Did I struggle at times? Yes. But I held fast to the commitment I made to myself.
Originally, I was going to try AF for 6 months. I told my daughters and my husband of my intentions so that they would hold me accountable. Was I a problem drinker? I didn't think so? but I used alcohol to help my social anxiety and a bottle of wine or two each evening was not going to help me conquer this. 2022 has been a learning tool for me and I have been able to attend social occasions without alcohol and I have loved it. Grandbaby #5 decided to come into the world at 10pm one night this year and I was able to jump in the car with no worries about what alcohol I had already consumed. I have also loved no headaches in the mornings and better nights sleep!
When I achieved the 6 months, I decided to keep going and I do not miss it at all. I am a better wife, mother and nana without the crutch of alcohol.
To anyone who is contemplating a NYE resolution, back yourself and give it a go. If you stumble along the way, start afresh the next day. We all stumble at times in our life, but it's how we move forward that matters.
The HSM emails and the Daybreak app are wonderful resources. I rarely post, but there are some wonderful stories that I love reading. It's an extended family that understands the struggle in a society that promotes a good time that includes alcohol on a daily basis.
Merry AF Christmas everyone.
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Never quit quitting. It will get tough - but not forever. You ride the wave out. You wake up tomorrow, thankful you got through.
The next time a wave hits you, you remember how you rode it out last time. You can do this. You feel better. You look fresher. The eyes never lie. Ask for help. Find a community. You will learn so much about yourself. Find out who you really are and accept yourself. Flaws and all. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Enjoy the silence. Be your own best friend. Freedom. If you fall, pick yourself up. Say, today I will not drink. Never quit quitting.
Merry Christmas. Envision 25/12/23. Where could you be? You could be alcohol free. You could be free.
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Day 980 Alcohol Free.
To whoever needs to read this: I never thought I would give up drinking. I always hoped I would, but never thought I could. On 23rd December it will be 2 years 6 months since I stopped drinking alcohol and my biggest relief was that my reliance on it turned out to be habitual.
I'll admit that it was not easy to stop that habit but, as human beings, we're not known for being good with change!! The biggest benefit is everything! Viewing life through eyes that aren't fogged with alcohol is amazing. It's like seeing a digital colour and HD TV screen for the first time ,when previously all you've known as an analogue black and white TV!
Make the effort and you'll thank yourself for the rest of your life! xxx"
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We want to say a very big thank you to our community for their stories and messages of hope you sent to us. Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to help so many others.
We are looking forward to 2023 with you, as we continue to work towards a world where everyone has access to the support they need, in the moment they need it.
Our heartfelt thanks,
The Hello Sunday Morning Team
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Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement. I really needed to hear this as I embark on an alcohol free year. 🙏
Thank you for all these messages of hope and achievement. I’m still trying to be alcohol free and sometimes wonder if I will ever get there. I do want to be.
I need this encouragement with such great stories.
I wish I was able to write such a story. Maybe I will one day.
Thanks
Robin
Wonderful messages of hope! Thanks for sharing 🙂 I wrote one up last month and wanted to share here, since I know you probably couldn’t include them all in this post:
Remember: You are loved. You are important. You matter. It’s ok to make mistakes. It’s ok to need and ask for help. It’s ok to be vulnerable.
Making changes to your drinking habits is hard; society normalizes this thing that is actually quite harmful. Personally, my drinking was straining not only my health, but also my most beloved relationships. I decided that these relationships were far more important to me than my relationship with alcohol. I’ve been alcohol-free for more than three years now and these have been the best three years of my life! I’m so proud to be showing my child that one can lead a full, happy life without drinking.
You, dear reader, can do the same. I promise, your closest loved ones will still love you and want to spend time with you, even if you choose to no longer drink alcohol. People love you for YOU! You don’t need alcohol to be yourself. If you are struggling right now, please reach out to a friend or family member and ask them to just listen; be honest and open with how you’re feeling. They’ll be honored you trusted them enough to start this conversation, and I hope you’ll be reminded of how much you are loved.
Keep going. Keep trying. Keep trusting. You’ve got this!
With love from California, USA,
Taylor
It is very helpful to read about the experiences and good progress our friends have made and are constantly continuing to make. We always join them with warmest wishes for ongoing success and good health.
Very appreciative for all these comments that are supportive and full of wisdom! Daily we need to be reminded of the important things and how to navigate in this life successfully. Thank you.