April Abides – My Hall of Fame Speech

100 days. Damn.

It’s hard to put into words what this milestone means to me, but I’ll give it a shot—because if there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey, it’s that sharing your story matters.

I dipped for 18 years. It became part of my routine, my stress relief, my crutch. But what I didn’t realize was how much of my life it was stealing from me. Time, health, energy, presence. My wife and my 9-year-old daughter never said much, but they knew. They were patient, loving, and quietly hoping I’d find my way out. This Hall of Fame isn’t just for me—it’s for them, too.

When I joined the April Abides group, I wasn’t sure what to expect. A bunch of strangers on a forum? Turns out, that group of strangers quickly became like brothers. And like The Dude, we just abided—day by day, post by post, promise by promise. I took it upon myself to help run roll call, not because I had it all figured out, but because I knew accountability was our lifeline. I became one of the unofficial group leaders, but the truth is, every one of us carried each other.

And here’s the kicker—I didn’t just quit dip. I quit drinking, too. Cold turkey. Double quit. It wasn’t easy. There were nights I wanted to cave, days I was irritable and tired. But I made a decision: I wanted to be the man my wife and daughter already believed I could be. I wanted to show up. Fully. Honestly. Sober.

Now, 100 days later, I feel clear. Focused. Grateful. And not done. This isn’t a finish line—it’s a checkpoint. I’ll keep posting roll. I’ll be there for the next guy who shows up on Day 1, scared and unsure. Because that’s how this works. We give back. We abide.

To my April Abides brothers: we did it. And to anyone reading this wondering if you can—you can. But not alone. Come join us. Post roll. Keep your word. One day at a time.

Special thanks to the members, conductors, and mods,. Y’all are real MVP’s. It takes a special person to selflessly take the time out of each and every day to share the knowledge, experience, and encouragement they do. I don’t think I could have done this without this community and the support it offers.

Also shout-out to my family and coworkers for their loving support and patience, y’all are the best.

“Say, friend – you got any more of that good sarsaparilla?”

NOTE: This piece written by Kill The Can community member gooseonator