8 years sober today š Great way to wrap up a fun weekend playing the PDX Waterfront Blues Festival with
@ohhedead , and exploring the greater Portland area with my girlfriend
@ris.kat .
6 of the past 8 years, this annual occasion has fallen on a day where I am either playing š„ at an OHD show, or teaching š„ š¹ lessons at
@7drumcity . At first I thought this was just a symbolic coincidence, but Iāve come to realize itās simply a reflection of my calendar being consistently filled with opportunities provided through these institutions whom I consider family.
The truth is, although Iāve been abstinent from alcohol and drugs for the better part of a decade, I canāt honestly say Iāve been abstinent from āexcessā in general.
Being sober opened so many doors and opportunities that I thought would never be able to access. But in that success, Iāve often struggled to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Overextending yourself is especially hard to avoid when you enjoy the work you do, but one thing I learned in recovery is that every decision is either a step toward sobriety, or a drink. At the end of the day being overworked is a step toward the wrong thing, and unsustainable in the long term.
Ultimately, I feel blessed to be surrounded by people who support not only my sobriety, but me as a person. Working on yourself and setting boundaries is much easier when people have your back, and Iām grateful to be reminded to know I have that in spades ā„ļø ā ļø
