19 Comments
User's avatar
Daisy Buchanan's avatar

Happy Birthday Jennie! This is such a beautiful, generous, inspiring and resonant piece of writing. XXX

Expand full comment
Jennie Godfrey's avatar

Thank you so much Daisy x

Expand full comment
Rosy Gee's avatar

Happy birthday, Jennie. I hope you have a wonderful day filled with love and happiness, which I have no doubt you will. I enjoyed this candid piece which gives an insight into how alcohol ruins lives. Sadly, my sister can’t find a way out her relationship with it but every day, I hope that she can.

Expand full comment
Jennie Godfrey's avatar

Thank you Rosy. I hope the same for your sister too xx

Expand full comment
Readwithyeovil's avatar

Well done Jennie for standing up and promoting sobriety. All we ever see is alcohol normalised on TV and social media and I make a point of never reposting anything that suggests it is ‘always 5 o’clock somewhere’! Somehow the non drinkers are characterised as boring but being around inebriated people soon makes you realise who are the boring ones! Up early to finish The List of Suspicious Things for the second time, I am delighted to be able to wish you a magnificent (sober) Happy Birthday. X

Expand full comment
Jennie Godfrey's avatar

Thank you so much! X

Expand full comment
Karen Smith's avatar

I love the idea of the brightness being turned up. I’m 14 years trudging the road to happy destiny - and I think about it as though I went soecsavers. Before, my life LOOKED terrible… but it was all to do with perspective… I have the same life now as I did before- more or less, but now that I’ve got better glasses I can see everything more clearly. And it looks lovely. Happy birthday. 🎈ODAAT.

Expand full comment
Jennie Godfrey's avatar

Love this!

Expand full comment
Karen Smith's avatar

Specsavers! Its very early 😀

Expand full comment
Rosamonkey's avatar

Congratulations! Keep trudging the road of happy destiny x

Expand full comment
Alison Darnbrough's avatar

Happy soberversary. I loved you comparing it to a relationship you couldn’t let go of, it can get us unexpectedly in its grip even if it doesn’t get super bad. I loved all you wrote about the miracles that come and all the good things that happen. I’m almost 5 years and although there are still times I feel like finding something to NOT feel the feelings, they are what make up this glorious, at times painful time on earth, and I wouldn’t miss those either now. I watched The Outrun last night, the new film based on the book by Amy Liptrot, who lives in my town and it was one of the most visceral portrayals of addiction I’ve ever seen, but showed what happens too when you get to the other side. Would highly recommend it. Enjoy your day.

“How do you do it?” said night. “How do you wake and shine?” “I keep it simple,” said light. “One day at a time.”

- Lemn Sissay

Expand full comment
Jennie Godfrey's avatar

I’ve read the Outrun and loved it. I must watch the film! Thank you x

Expand full comment
Rachel Farley's avatar

Yes, yes and yes to you my friend, just YES! X

Expand full comment
Sue Kittow's avatar

Well done you and happy birthday that’s such an achievement. I gave up smoking many years ago and that was horrendous so I really congratulate you 😊

Expand full comment
Anna Wharton's avatar

All power to you, Jennie. And happiest of birthdays xx

Expand full comment
Autotelic Musing's avatar

Congrats. It’s the greatest adventure x

Expand full comment
Laura Scott's avatar

❤️❤️❤️

Expand full comment
Claire V.'s avatar

Beautifully written and happy birthday x

Expand full comment
Lib572's avatar

Congratulations xx

Expand full comment