My life is fun, because there is joy. I look forward to waking up and being present for the day ahead of me. I focus my attention and energy in the moment, whether it's enjoying a cup of coffee, working out, talking on the phone to a friend, or playing ball with my nephews. I am not worried about getting a buzz before I do it...sneaking to hide alcohol while I am doing it...or obsessing over my next drink when it's over.

So, you can look at it two ways. You can accept alcoholism as bad news; you have a chronic, complex, incurable, progressive, fatal if not treated disease. Or, you can accept alcoholism with the good news and choose recovery.

 The twenty year old 'me' liked the effect produced by alcohol.  It was a state of euphoria. It made me feel relaxed, happy and confident. I wasn't suffering any major consequences other than the occasional hangover. I was drinking on the weekends with friends out at parties like most all college kids do. Thirty-two year old 'me' was a completely different story. Alcohol had become my solution...my master.

So, this Easter, I celebrate! I celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I celebrate the light in my life over the darkness. I celebrate my brother, who has been released from the bonds of addiction and given new life. I celebrate my grandmother, who is free from the pains of Alzheimer's disease. I celebrate God who has given them both eternal life. And I celebrate new beginnings, which I receive each morning I wake up.

Hi, my name is Allison. I am an alcoholic. I say this with gratitude. I say this with joy. I say this without shame or embarrassment.