10 Things I Love About Sobriety (from 10 Years AF)

3 Promises, 2 Changes, 5 Lessons — A Decade Alcohol-Free

This month, I celebrate ten years since I put down my last drink — and picked up my freedom.

At the time, I thought I was giving something up. What I didn’t realize was that I was making a series of promises to myself — promises that would completely reshape how I live, love, and lead.

In this week’s Sober Edge Podcast, I share 3 promises I’ve made to myself, 2 changes that surprised me, and 5 lessons I’ll never unlearn — a reflection of the woman I’ve become, and the journey that continues to unfold.

3 Promises I’ve Made to Myself

1. To never abandon myself again.
   I used to reach for a drink when I felt disconnected or unsure. Freedom from alcohol has taught me to stay with myself, even when it’s uncomfortable.

2. To lead with curiosity.
   By using curiosity as my ‘north star’, I suspend judgment. It also gives me permission to be a ‘dabbler’ and follow my heart.

3. To find joy without needing proof.
   I stopped waiting for milestones to feel good. Joy has become a practice — a chance to lean into gratitude every day.

2 Changes That Surprised Me

1. I’ve learned to trust the messages from my body (and my nervous system)
   In the beginning, calm felt foreign — almost unsafe. But over time, I have learned to trust the wisdom of my body and not fear my emotions.

2. My relationships became deeper, not fewer.
   I feared losing friends when I quit drinking. Instead, I found deeper connections — the kind that grows from being comfortable in your own skin and showing up as your most authentic self.

5 Lessons I’ll Never Unlearn

1. Healing and self-discovery are not linear.
   There’s no “after.” Just deeper cycles of becoming.

2. Being fully present is the best gift. 
   There is so much freedom moving out of the past and rumination and out of the future and worry and, instead, embracing only the present moment.

3. Time is different.
   I no longer have a scarcity mindset about time. Now, I enjoy time or use time rather than wasting it or fearing it is passing too quickly. (Trust me, when you stop drinking, the extra time can create a whole new life — ask me how I know!)

4. Passion and compassion are meant to be shared.
   We can learn how to raise our vibration when we truly share our gifts and cultivate compassion (and self-compassion)

5. You don’t become someone new — you remember who you are.
   I have learned the art of ‘becoming and unbecoming’. Being AF has allowed me to get back to my true essence.

Closing Reflection

If you’re somewhere on your alcohol-free path — 10 days in or 10 years out — maybe take a quiet moment and ask:

What promise can I make to myself today that my future self will thank me for?

Here’s to the next decade — more awe, more joy, and more peace in the simple act of staying present.

With gratitude and a warm heart,

Teri