Something I wrote on day 187 was quoted on another website this week as advice to someone who just hit 9 months and is having that sloggish feeling. You know the one. Some of the difficulty of getting sober has worn off, but so has some of the novelty. You haven’t gotten that pony you wanted yet–and worse, you suspect you may never get your pony, and even worse than that, you suspect there is no pony. So there you are: sober, bored, awkward, and horseless.
I’d feel lousy under those circumstances, too. I did, in fact, which is why I clung to the idea in that post: that sobriety accumulates, even if it doesn’t always feel that way in the moment. That if I could just make it through the grayness of those days, they’d add up to something.
That was 853 days ago. In those 853 days I’ve upgraded my job twice. I’ve written two-thirds of a novel and a bunch of essays that I’m working with an agent to package as a book proposal. I’ve run something like 1,500 miles and raced three half-marathons. (All in one summer–never, ever do that. So dumb.) We’ve added a second dog to our family. I’ve found myself connecting with people, in direct and sometimes surprising ways. I regularly say true things. And yes, I did finally lose that 15 pounds I was harping on about (using one simple trick you’ll never believe!: dieting).
And you know what? Those 853 days were 25% pure pony. Thrilling and fun and wondrous and everything else I was holding out for. Everything you’re holding out for, maybe.
Which means they were still 75% slog. Not in a grim way–I’m not talking about depression, or emptiness, or fear, though all those guys have had their parts to play too. Just, you know, dailiness. Because I no longer get to artificially contort my life into one big highlight reel. I have to actually show up for it moment by moment, and it turns out not every single moment can be like the last scene in a movie. A lot of them are more like the part of the movie where the characters are parking the car or buying a falafel or putting on their shoes. Moments that are moving toward something more art-directed and swooning, plod by plod.
It’s largely a slog right this second! Job upgrades are about prepping for interviews and being the new girl again. Running is about weather and the tyranny of the IT band. Writing books is about time management and staring into space and staggering uncertainty. Dogs are about ear infections and stolen socks. And we haven’t even touched on my cuticles. They are shameful and I totally don’t want to deal with them. Not to mention I really want a falafel now.
But it’s a far, far better slog than I have ever slogged before. And 853 more days from now, there’s reason to believe it’ll be a better slog still.
There’s your pony. It’s maybe a little more wonky and wall-eyed than you had in mind, and hard to see up close. But it’s real.
By the way, I said on day 187 that the thrill of waking up without a hangover is bound to fade. And maybe it is. But as of day 1,040 it’s still my first waking thought most mornings. I still get giddy, knowing that even if I feel tired or groggy or, say, wild-eyed with resentment that I have to wear clothes and earn a living, it’s not because I deliberately ingested lots of a known toxin. Never underestimate the joy of not poisoning yourself.
Off-Dry 
What a fantastic post – true and funny and as real as opening my eyes each morning to find I am sober, STILL. Love this and may repost it, hope that’s ok. Xx
Definitely okay! I’d be honored. 🙂
oh lovely – done 🙂 xx
Good to hear from you…and good luck with the book!
Thank you! I need all the luck I can get with this thing. :-0
That was an absolutely perfect post.
Sharon
Thank you, Sharon!
I absolutely love this and am happy to have found your writing. I am also sober and love running, too. This is just amazing.
“Never underestimate the joy of not poisoning yourself.” Yes! Yes. Love.
Kate
This is EXACTLY what I needed to read.
Love this post! I’m almost at 8 months and feeling a bit “sloggy”. I needed this post. Thank you!!
Thank you for the post, which I read via Primrose’s blog. Day one again for me – I’ve tried for so long – but your words give me hope! Annie x
Keep trying. You learn something new every time and you will get there. 🙂
This is really beautiful. Thank you so much 💚💚💚
Thank you for saying so. 🙂
Early days for me too and I’m so glad I found your blog. Part of me wants to rush through from week two to year two but this reminds me that every day I don’t poison myself (even if it’s a sloggy, dull or totally shitty day) is infinitely better than those when I did just that. thank you x
I know that wanting-to-rush feeling so well. But try to enjoy the early-days slog–as you said, it’s already so much better. (Plus, until commercial time travel exists you kinda don’t have a choice. 😉 ) xo Kristi
Glad I found your blog too. Day 16 here. Wonderful post and great way to view the world! Thank you.
Happy day 16!
Hilarious! I always appreciate someone who can wring some humor out of the great slog that is life. Thank you!
So good.
I’m still on my wobbly new calf legs of sobriety but I sure appreciated that this be a sobriety slog somedays but it has to better than the slogging I’ve been doing. And not the not poisoning myself on purpose–I know that’s gotta feel good. 🙂
These are just two of my favourite nuggets from this post:
“I still get giddy, knowing that even if I feel tired or groggy or, say, wild-eyed with resentment that I have to wear clothes and earn a living, it’s not because I deliberately ingested lots of a known toxin. Never underestimate the joy of not poisoning yourself.”
“But it’s a far, far better slog than I have ever slogged before.”
Thank you again. You made me smile…again. 🙂
I discovered your blog today thanks to Hip sobriety and have been laughing out loud ever since …” She lives in Seattle with her husband John and golden retrievers Linus and Ella, who love you very much. ” and I love you too and so does my golden Rosie….thank you !!!
I am LITERALLY crying at my desk right now. And any minute some asshole is going to come along and completely ruin it but for now, for right this moment, I am going to rejoice in remembering the slog…and relish in the idea of starting over. I was sober for 7 months about 2 years ago and I didn’t just fall off that horse. Oh no! I dove head-first back into the ring of Malbec, late nights, hellish early morning hangovers and really, really bad hair. (What is it about alcohol and hair anyway? Ah, who knows?) But THIS morning one of my best long-distance friends shared your “Enjoli” post and here I am! Ready to get back on my pony. Because I remember how GOOD that slog felt, even when it wasn’t so good. Thank you, Kristi. Really. THANK YOU. I am excited to be following you. And even more excited about my new (again) journey! ❤
This essay is so good. I was especially taken by your comments about slog and twist life into a highland reel. The essay brought to mind Terry Pratchett and his Disc World books. In several of his books he makes the point you did, that much of life is slog. He goes a step further by saying men and women are not supposed to life their entire life in “pony days.” It would so to speak fry their brains.
Reblogged this on Sybal's Front Door and commented:
There times what other people post are so good, they have to be shared. This is one of them!