700 Days Clean Today!

Two years! Pretty cool, huh?  Took it one day at a time and it added up pretty quick.

I woke up this morning and pondered the question “Should I use today?”. I thought “Nah, not today”. I still do that every morning to remind myself how close I am. I went to my home group at 6 am and celebrated. I remembered where I was two years ago and I thought how it is different. It is different because today I am a good person. Today I am employable. Today I can visit my family without them hiding their purses and wallets when I walk through the door. Today I can use someone’s bathroom without looking in their medicine cabinet. Today I am a good friend, a wife, sister and mother to 3 purrfect kittens. Today I can be trusted. Those things mean everything to me.

I owe it all to a wonderful and caring counselor, a patient sponsor, the fellowships of NA & AA and the great friends I have met here.  Thanks to all of you, the ones who were with me from the beginning and the new ones that help me every day.

So many members come in and ask “Will it get better?”. Yes, it does get better if you put down the drugs, face your demons and learn to live life again. It takes time and it takes diligence and , mostly, it takes the support of people around you who understand what you are going through and can share their experience, strength and hope.

For those who are just starting this venture…remember that clean time is only a number. If you got up before me this morning then you have more clean time than I do. We each only have today.

The journey begins with the first step. I hope everyone who is here today and struggling takes that first step. It is worth it!

My heart and my thoughts are with you all.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

Congratulations Kleen!!!  Thats awesome. Of course ya realize that I am only a couple days behind you.  It does just keep getting better and better. You put things in print well for individuals following........  

[merrymaria]

a big congrats to you...that is so wonderful and every word you wrote is true.  life seems so bleak at the beginning till we taste that wonderful freedom....way to go and keep on going girl....maria :)

[daisy699]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Ibkleen you are such an inspiration tome since I've joined this forum, we both have the same DOC and to know that there is HOPE and it can be done is so encouraging!! I have 96? days and like u I take it a day at a time (sm x's a min) I ask myself periodically through the day if the thought pop's up of using and always reply to myself "not today" , there's always tom. which of course I hope I can put it off another day! Life has gotten so much better for me in such a short time and I count my blessings EVERY day for the people around me that support me! Also the ppl on this forum like u that truly care are very encouraging and I just want to say I am so proud of you and THANKYOU for giving me hope..Daisy

[dominosarah]

Congrats on your clean time!!!!  You said a mouthful with the medicine cabinets, purses etc.  Nothing was safe during our using.  I am so glad i am getting to know you.  Your words are inspiring and you always tell it like it is.  The truth is sometimes hard to hear but so necessary with this addiction.  You are a great asset to this forum and you are very much appreciated.  Way to go IBK.......so proud of you       sara

[robertfle1]

Funny I was on illegal drugs for many years. I fought my demonds with marijuana, and meth. I gave up the meth 11 years ago and have not touched it since. (and I was bad seeing I made my own). Then July 28th 2003 I gave up the Marijuana. Finally beat the demonds! Febuary of last year I had a hernia surgery. Then I started having problems with my feet. So the hydros that were prescribed to me for my operation turned into Tramadol for the feet. Year and a half later I'm still taking them. Never figured I would get strung out on pain pills or have to go through another drug withdrawl (withdrawal). Seems like it's the never talked about hidden drug addiction shame of the country. I had never heard of such a thing, and come to find out it's very common. Congratz to those of you that have the clean time. I hope i can overcome again, because I remember those days when no one wanted me arounf or trusted me. Just like IBKleen was saying. Anyway a super cogratz!!

[pegatha1981]

"Congratulations" to you!! Thank you for being such an inspiration...and for some of the fun stories, and experiences you've had (Woodstock,etc.).  You're an awesome person, and one that i admire.

[leeisgettingclean]

congrads on your time, its awsome that you been clean all these days and still take it only one day at a time

[Cassie415]

Congratulations on two years clean!! Your post was just really inspiring and honest and humble. Thank you so much for all the help you've given me, and all the help you've given others, AND all the help youll continue to give. I always look to read your posts because they are to the point and always informative. COngrats on your two years, that is great.

[IBKleen]

Each of you is the reason I am still here today. You are all such wonderful and beautiful people.

Thank you for all of your kind words and for making me cry at work. LOL

[Cissy373]

WOW Congrats to you for 2 years and thank you for your post, it gives me hope that I can do it too.

Cissy

[SophieShine]

Congratulations!!! You are such a fantastic woman, so full of life and truly inspirational.

[avisg]

You know how I feel about you and I know how hard some days have been for you but still you have pushed on threw sometimes in severe pain but still pulling threw it .You are the one that taught me to do it day by day. That when you get to far ahead of yourself that's when you get into trouble .You also reminded me how important recovery care was no matter what type. To just choose something .You make a great difference to so many people :)
luv
ya

[freebird227]

Congraulations! ! !  I really enjoy the experience strength and hope you share on this site. I think you do a great job at being  honest with people without making it personal.
Keep up the great work
Service work is so good for us,you help to keep things fresh.

[toxictome]

CONGRATULATIONS on 2 yrs!!!!

You were a BIG help to me when i first came on here.

You keep it simple and honest.

and as I always say..."It WORKS if you WORK IT"...so keep WORKING IT!!!

[seriouslyaddicted]

Wow, this being my first day on here and haven't taken anything for the first time in 2 years, just made me cry reading this. I pray I can look back in 2 years, and be where you are today. I am feeling miserable today, but I am just trying to take it moment by moment, I can not even look at tomorrow, because it terrifies me, what tomorrow may bring for me. Thanks for your wonderful post, it gave me inspiration.

[whitie]

wow................ good job !!

not to mention thanks for your help around here !!
great job, IBKleen !!

[Fantasma]

WHOO-HOO! Congrats, Congrats *APPLAUSE*

[TakingAction]

Hold on, let me bow down!  That is so great, so great.  I can see the strength and truth in your words.  What an inspiration to us all just getting started.  

Kittens, not drugs- I love it.

Take care.

[addict3]

IBK,

Isn't today also 21 years free from H??.... I am requesting extra "Happy Dances" in honor of that!!!

Congratulations on 2 years clean from the pain pills also!!

Seems like you are on here about any time I log on.  Thanks for the dedication.

[TakingAction]

IBK,

Was just thinking about your sobriety and what you said:  "Took it one day at a time and it added up pretty quick."

Most of us just getting started know that each day seems like an eternity, and yet here you are, two years clean, saying that it "added up pretty quick."  What a wonderful testament to the fact that it does get much better in time.  I will keep that in the back of my mind.  Thanks and congrats again.

[CATUF]

: )

[IBKleen]

I just got home and I am off to dinner. On my way home I considered hitting another meeting because I thought I could get another coin. How is that for an addict? Two coins are better than one right? LOL

Addict3 you touched me. I am clean 21 years today from my DOC and that was by accident that I got clean on the same day day two years ago. I celebrate that 21 years in my heart but know that I am not clean 21 years from all drugs.

It is because of each and every one of you that I was able to celebrate today. I thank you all for helping to keep me clean.

You all enjoy your night and stay strong.

Big Hugs.................

[dominosarah]

Nothing gets by addict3 IBK!!!  He keeps me on my toes and i am forever grateful to him for that.  GUARD UP my friend.........sara

[LateAugust]

Everything you wrote was so very well "spoken"......   Congrats to you and what you have accomplished,  you should be so very proud.  Thank you so much for sharing your "words of wisdom/experience".......    only the best to you always......

[Peg626]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That's just amazing!!! I don't mean that in a bad way. . . . I mean that in the best way possible. You are an amazing person & it's wonderful that you've stayed clean for so long. I look forward to walking in your "clean" footsteps one day. I'm only on day 27 & on one hand, it feels like FOREVER since I've taken hydrocodone. . . . . .but 27 days is really not that much, in the grand scheme of things. Don't get me wrong, I'm VERY PROUD of what I've been able to accomplish but. . . . 700 days. . . . . WOW!!!!

You were one of the many helpful people to me on this forum. Thank you so much for being there, and encouraging those of us in the very beginning stages, to keep going. What an AMAZING accomplishment for you, keep posting & keep helping!!!!

[newstart730]

I'm so happy for you!  the first paragraph of your post really struck me- because that's me!  and I'm trying so hard for it to change.  Your help on this site is invaluable, and it is truly appreciated.  It is wonderful that you have changed your life AND you are choosing to help others as well.  I hope you are swelling with pride :)

[10356]

Congratulations IBK !! WOW 2 Years !! Thank you for the time you give to the forum.. You are an inspiration to many...  Hope your day was filled with Joy.. lesa

[danatcathays]

Congratulations, after your help the other day, I stepped your way. Thank you