I wanted to write a separate post just to share my own happiness about this past year. I would recommend also reading Clarion's recent post, because that was pretty inspiring. I don't want to do a brag post, but really try to inspire any of you trying to break free of alcohol in 2015. This is day 309 AF in a row for me. I started AF on January 1 last year for 40 days, drank four times in February, and stopped completely on February 26th.

I share Clarion's general amazement with how things unfold unexpectedly once you remove alcohol from your life. I actually started this TSM thing two years ago this week and it was a bit messy getting to where I am now, but it has been very much worth it. Really, I was unable to picture what life was going to be like alcohol free. In fact, I never even intended to be alcohol free because I thought that was impossible. Things sort of just happen along the way and, once you look back, you realize how far you've come. One thing followed after another, pretty much in this sequence...

Decreased drinking at first led to...better control of emotions, freedom to focus on other things, which led to...normalizing hormones, better health, which led to...better relationships, more attentive parenting, better sex, which led to...more ambition, more "manliness," which led to...discovery of the manosphere and a dramatic change in thinking and behaving, which led to...consistent heavy weight lifting, which led to...even better hormones and health, better sex, more confidence, which led to...adopting intermittent fasting, self-control and self-mastery, which led to...adopting Zen meditation practices, which led to...where I am today! I'm far from perfect (e.g. still have the diet soda problem), but I really never could have envisioned this for myself 2-3 years ago, when I was knee-deep in dysfunctional drinking.

Here is some more detail about how different areas of my life have improved thanks to removing alcohol...

Emotions >>> I used to have all sorts of regular angry outbursts, pouting, depression, marriage drama, etc... In 2014, I largely removed such things from my life. Looking back, I attribute nearly all of this negative emotion to my heavy drinking.

Hormones >> As a man, I think my testosterone levels were too low, and my estrogen levels too high (mostly from beer). Testosterone is not just about your sex drive, but really controls your entire ambition, motivation, and energy levels.

Sex >> 2014 was likely the most frequent sex I've had in any given year. Nothing earth-shattering, but just consistent, good sex. It has been great knowing I'm "good to go" at any given time, and I don't suffer from those alcohol-induced "softies." Looking back over the years, there were times I definitely chose getting drunk over sex. The testosterone and changed attitude have made me much more "manly" and "dominant" in bed, which my wife has responded very well to.

Money >> Without a change in my hourly rate, I made BY FAR the most money I've ever made. Again, ambition, motivation, energy, and sobriety have made this all possible.

Mindfulness and Concentration >> My mental faculties are definitely the best they've been in my life. Sharp, focused, good memory, etc... (I was showing a lot of mental deterioration this time two years ago.)

Parenting >> Again, by far the best parenting and relationship building since I started having kids. There is simply no comparison between "drunk dad" and "sober dad." I definitely did my oldest a disservice in life (she's now about to graduate from college), but have really turned things around with the rest of them (and even my oldest, really). I also had numerous occassions throughout the year when I was suddenly called upon to do something that I could (or should) never have done drunk (e.g. taking a kid to the ER, rescuing a stranded daughter, etc...).

Weight and Overall Health >> I'm the leanest I've ever been (down 11-12 pounds from last New Year's Day), and it feels fantastic. I've definitely looked at myself in the mirror more this year than any other year! It's not just from removing the hundreds of thousands of calories I would have consumed over the past two years (do the math, it's shocking -- 30 drinks a week, 52 weeks a year, 100-300 calories per drink = 150-300K calories), it's also from avoiding the binge eating when drunk, the morning-after fatty breakfast to feel better, etc... I now have the same basic look as Adam Levine which, again, just adds to my confidence and motivation.

Career >> Ugh, this is my last hurdle. I've simply got to make things happen this year. To that end, I've completely taken leadership in my family and we're planning a "big move" in 5-6 months or so (the planning started 6 months ago). My wife will be quitting her job (which she wants to do, and she's very excited about our future prospects) and all responsibility will fall on me to produce -- five people are completely depending on me to succeed. Gulp. Three years ago, I would never have been ready and able to do this, but I am now. Hopefully, this time next year I can share success in that arena.

Anyway, just a final word of encouragement for your 2015. Your "path" will likely be very different from my own, but I can guarantee that your life will be better than you ever thought possible if you can either remove or dramatically reduce your alcohol consumption. TSM seems to be the most hopeful way to do this but, I'd echo Clarion, you've got to find at least some inner strength at first. You will grow stronger each day until your life blossoms in a whole new way.

Ha! We're two peas in a pod! I could have written your post!

Exactly like you, I am making far more money, lost a ton of weight, and am far sharper mentally (used to be I thought I was getting Alzheimer's, -always an excuse, right?) than I used to be.

All good.

Those were certainly good posts !!

I also had the best year I can remember, in 2014. Started TSM in July 2013, and starting in March 2014 things really clicked, and the drinking went down to next to nothing.

Not alcohol free, but to me it's irrelevant, as the holidays resulted in a six or seven drink blowout over the week of Christmas and New Year's. Have not been above the legal limit in over 10 months.

More importantly, all the things mentioned occurred for me also, except the weight-loss. I'm not overweight anyway, but somehow I developed a real craving for chocolate which seems to finally be going away.

Finding that my wife actually likes me now, and smiles when I'm around, is indescribable. Plus, many other aspects of my life have ramped up, including purchasing some property to use in the summertime , and making a tangible and exciting five year plan. That NEVER would've happened when I was drinking, never. Even more astonishing, is the discovery that not drinking is actually preferable. WTF !!! Unbelievable, but true.

We were chatting tonight coming home in the car from said property, and I noticed her just looking at me and smiling, for the aforementioned reasons. I mentioned what would have happened a half ago in the same situation with some visitors. Alcohol Addled me wouldn't have generated many (or ANY) good memories, and it would've been a chilly ride home.

It's hard to describe in any other way. My relationship with friends, my kids, the rest of my family, profession, my musical efforts, and most of all happinessis is now all good. I might mention also, that I forgot how to like myself, but now I do.

TSM allowed me to do this. I wanted to add my story to encourage any and all of you to keep at it, and discover how wonderful it is to truly change your life for the better.

Thanks for sharing. I guess on the negative side, I have wasted so much time and potential because of alcohol, but am mostly at peace about the whole thing.

It is amazing how many things get screwed up because of drinking -- and my drinking wasn't even high enough for my wife and kids to even know I had a problem. The flipside to that is that nobody but me has overtly noticed the changes. It's just better, they're happier, but, in their minds, it's not due to my not-drinking. I also compared last year's 8 hour ride home (complete silence, anger) to this year's (affection, my wife humming and smiling, followed by great sex that night).

Righto Barry. I cannot and will not ever go back to drinking as I did. oh yeah, and without doubt, the sex is great!

Well done Barry! Congrats on not only getting your life back. But on your choice of endeavors to better yourself. Very impressive on how far you've come. Applause.

Thanks so much for the inspiration! Congratulations to you!!!!