Forty years sober today.

[rzemanfl]

Last edited Tue Aug 12, 2025, 07:11 PM - Edit history (1)

It just crossed my mind. I entered DePaul Rehabilitation Hospital in Milwaukee 40 years ago this evening. No relapses in all that time. I was thirty-eight years old. I am not seeking any sort of recognition, just want folks to know it can be done.

ON EDIT- thank you for all the recs and responses and for not mentioning my stupid typo, now fixed.

[SheltieLover]

1. Congrats!

[enough]

2. Many happy returns!

[Lonestarblue]

3. Congratulations, and good for you!

Thanks for sharing. Sometimes life gets hard. You reminded us that perseverance can pay off.

[AltairIV]

4. Congratulations!

[applegrove]

5. Good for you. I love a good quit. (Been there)

[MIButterfly]

6. Congratulations, rzemanfl!

Good for you! That is quite an accomplishment. You deserve all the accolades you can get!

That's an inspiration for anyone dealing with any kind of addiction.

[LoisB]

7. Congratulations!

[wendyb-NC]

8. Thank you, Congratulations

You are an inspiration, I am 19 years sober, and I plan continue.

[elleng]

9. Congratulations!!!

[calimary]

10. That's TERRIFIC!!!

Congratulations on a truly outstanding accomplishment!

That’s a LOT to be proud of!

I was originally gonna recommend celebrating with some milk and cookies, but your achievement, just by itself, is sweet - and filling - enough!

[AllaN01Bear]

11. ""

[634-5789]

12. Mine was 2-17-95.

And yeah, it can be done. You did great! Keep up the dailies!

[Magoo48]

13. Congratulations. That's a hell of a lot one days at a time. Extremely happy for you.

I just took 41 years on the 7th.
As my wife told me, again, this year, “41 years and still no apparent growth.”

May you be happy, joyous, and free my friend.
🐝🐫

[hamsterjill]

14. I'm sure it wasn't always easy!

But I commend you. That's amazing and whether you want recognition or not, you deserve it. Good for you!!!

[greatauntoftriplets]

15. Congratulations!

[rurallib]

16. That is a big deal! hope your family is really proud!

[JMCKUSICK]

17. Congratulations rzemanfl

[Torrent63]

18. Well done.

Congratulations.

[GreenWave]

19. My kidneys told me to cut it out many moons ago.

I have obeyed them!

[3catwoman3]

20. That is a huge triumph - good on you!

[Wifes husband]

22. 33 years here

[3catwoman3]

23. And a hat tip to you, too, and everyone else who battles this demon.

[TygrBright]

21. That's a lot of days. Well done, you! n/t

[gerryatwork]

24. Congratulations

I have a sense of what you accomplished. My 2nd started her sobriety about 15 years ago. I give her a lot of credit. Even though she left me for her future husband she met at AA about 14 years ago.
Congratulations it’s a great personal accomplishment

[4Sitka]

26. Congratulations!

[cate94]

27. That's wonderful

I won’t live long enough to reach that goal, but I certainly want to be sober the rest of my life. You are an inspiration!! Thanks for sharing!

[ShazzieB]

28. May your success be an inspiration to many others struggling with addiction!!

[OldBaldy1701E]

29. I am glad if you are glad. (n/t)

[MustLoveBeagles]

30. Congratulations 👏🎉

That's quite an accomplishment.

[NoMoreRepugs]

31. It can be done.

[ariadne0614]

32. You are verifiably worth the effort it took. n/t

[Permanut]

33. Nicely done!

30 years here, and worth every minute of it.

[CTyankee]

34. Wonderful! I am now convinced that no one should drink alcohol.

It's just not good for your body. Especially as you get older.

I had fallen in love with Merlot, just loved the taste. Now I get FRE's alcohol free Merlot and I can enjoy the taste of that wine and not worry about harmful effects on my body.

[markie]

35. good!

[FakeNoose]

36. You turned your life around - and it's great to let people know it can be done

I'll bet your family and friends are so proud of you. Awesome job!

[LearnedHand]

37. Wow! Just, wow

Way to hang in there!

[orangecrush]

38. Congratulations

[FemDemERA]

39. Congratulations!

[Rhiannon12866]

40. Thank you for sharing it can be done and Congratulations!

I celebrated 16 years on April 30th also to show it can be done. Those who stood up for me were a dedicated AA member who celebrated 51 years last November and my good friend who came back and now has 3 years.

[Dem4life1970]

41. So very awesome! Congrats and thanks for sharing!

[Javaman]

42. Congratulations!!! nt

[MLAA]

43. Fantastic!

[soldierant]

44. So wonderful.

Congranu;ations, Sugar.

[Turbineguy]

45. That's good!

One of my best friends will get there in one more year.

[LudwigPastorius]

46. I only wish I'd quit at the same age as you.

But as it is, I've got 5 and half years of sobriety, and I'm not going back.

[MissouriDem47]

47. Congratulations - Time Flies When You're Having Fun Doesn't It?

[proud patriot]

48. Sept. 1st wil be my 1 year Anniversary of no booze

Congrats on 40 years

[Wifes husband]

79. First year is the hardest

I have 33 years, and the first year was definitely the hardest. I had several 9 month chips.
So, genuine congratulations. The rest is just putting in the time. Ex

[pioche4]

49. Congratulations

[Hornedfrog2000]

50. That is awesome

I was almost 30. Had 2 OWIs. I had no drivers license, was only a highschool dropout, and had nothing. It was 2015, and I met someone I wanted to marry, but knew that would never be possible with how i was living. I knew my life was going to be hard, regardless, but I could make it hard on my terms. I was going to work harder than I ever have. I was going to give myself a chance because when I really thought about it, I had always defaulted to, " you cant do that, or you arent good at that", but i never gave myself a chance.

Trump stole the whitehouse with the help of Putin, and I knew I had to get ahead, because they would literally try to steal even more from us (this was literally my big reason for turning my life around). Fastforward to 2025 I am in graduate school for my doctorate, and will be making more money than I had ever imagined.

I used "welfare", grants, etc to get to this point. Without them I would have never had a chance. I appreciate the minute, fractional percentage of help i received from everyones taxes to help me become a productive member of society. I will never forget that I would not be here without charity, welfare, and kindness of others.

I have never been the smartest person, but being succesful sometimes is about finding a way, any way.

[Duncanpup]

51. Congratulations

[Pototan]

52. Congatulations, however

this is a bad time to be sober

[Bristlecone]

53. Congrats

I’ve heard the 41st year is the hardest…..

[rzemanfl]

67. LOL.

I think you win the thread.

[Farmer-Rick]

54. Wow

That's something to be very proud about.

Congratulations!

[Pachamama]

55. It is a very big deal and important what you have achieved

I admire it and know unfortunately the experience of witnessing someone I love who couldn’t do it and all the terrible things and destruction that comes with alcohol abuse.

Sending you lots of appreciation and good thoughts for what you have overcome and achieved - for yourself and all those that love you.

[TommieMommy]

56. Congratulations 👍👍

[johnnyplankton]

57. I have a birthday Saturday and was just thinking I should have been dead 20-plus years ago.

But I got sober and stayed with meetings and things continue to get better.

[RamblingRose]

58. Mr. Rambling is on Day 4 of outpatient rehab. Right now I find it hard to go out to eat, especially since most of the

restaurants around us are Mexican. I love a margarita w/ my dinner but am staying dry in solidarity.

Congratulations!

[WmChris]

59. Keep on keepin on

3/13/82

[if..fish..had..wings]

60. 3-26-1991

Nice going

[bif]

61. Kudos!

[NNadir]

62. Wow! Congratulations! An outstanding achievement!

I'm glad you celebrate the anniversaries.

[Bluejeans]

63. applause

< applause > That's one hell of a record! As we would say in the military, "Keep on keepin' on!"

[Ziggysmom]

64. Congrats. A few of my uncles went to DePaul for treatment back when I was a kid. I think

they closed and tore down the building around 25 years ago. I’m so happy you are sober and a Dem!

[rzemanfl]

70. Yes, the building is gone.

If I wasn't a Dem, I'd probably still be drinking and the Secretary of Defense or something.

[sinkingfeeling]

65. Congratulations!

[Clouds Passing]

66. Fantastic rzemanfl 😃

No relapses too! Many more continued years of a clear mind…..

[berksdem]

68. Congrats!!!!

[SpankMe]

69. Huge achievement. Will-power of steel. Much applause to you. n/t

[Old Crank]

71. Very nice. Keep it up.

I've been lucky not to ever know the demons that this stuff can unleash.

[ChazInAz]

72. Bravo!

I turned forty-four on the Ides of March.
Life's better this way, isn't it?

[BubbaJoe]

73. 31yrs for me soon

Oct 10, 1994. Still going. Funny thing is now where I live there are 10 or more bars within staggering distance.

[BoRaGard]

74. Excellent!

[k55f5r]

75. Wow! Congratulations 🎉

Also, thanks for reminding me of my upcoming 40 yr sobriety anniversary. 40 yrs September 10th.

[vapor2]

76. CONGRATS!!

[sdfernando]

77. An amazing milestone

Contrats rzemanfl !!!!

[littlemissmartypants]

78. ❤️