Congratulations. As one who has never drank at all in his life (maybe in the late 70s a few glasses of wine spread across months), I can’t imagine how difficult this was.
There just came a point when I decided to quit. I think I realized on several levels (conscious and otherwise) that I could do better--live life better--without alcohol.
After I got use to not being a drinker (I normally just had cocktails at night, but it was still too much), I was astonished at how different life was than how I perceived it.
For one thing, the days are REALLY long when you don't drink. There's a huge opportunity for getting stuff done (both in terms of hobbies, chores, and work).
I was already an exercise nut so I had a chance to double down. I experienced a major jump upward in terms of cardio and lifting fitness. Surprisingly, I get a lot of comments from friends on how much more fit I appear.
In general, the future is significantly brighter.
I will tell anyone who is thinking about quitting, don't be surprised at the mentally grogginess and drowsiness at first.
Wow.
I had naps that were truly dreamlike. Frankly, I thought they would never end...until one day the overwhelming urge to nap was gone. I still nap, particularly after a hard cardio workout, but I am no longer drowsy.
Also, the mental grogginess departed (took a few months) and in place of it was a knife-like clarity of mind.
Something else I would say to those who drink but are thinking about quitting.
You have an opportunity to think sort of positively about your drinking past. It's not time wasted so much as it is a reminder of how you used to have a handicap...and now you don't.
If you can look at it positively, you see quitting alcohol not so much as a reminder of your past mistakes but as a promise of what you can now achieve.
It's like having sailed through a storm and now the sky is blue. The sea is calm and there's a steady breeze at your back.