After celebrating four years of sobriety, the Dancing with the Stars pro said she’s still taking things day by day.
Even though Cheryl Burke has reached a significant milestone in her sober path, she is not getting ahead of herself.
The 38-year-old Dancing with the Stars pro shared a TikTok video on Monday in which she looked back on her four years of sobriety. She reminded followers that she is still moving slowly in the hopes of remaining alcohol-free for the rest of her life, even if she is thrilled about the progress made.
“I’m quite happy with who I am. I absolutely don’t plan too far ahead because what got me through the first four years and what will hopefully get me through the remaining four years or the rest of my life is truly thinking about this entire process as one day at a time “In the video, she explains. “Depending on where I am in terms of my moods and emotions, sometimes an hour at a time, sometimes a minute at a time.”
“There are days when I do think about it, and I’ve been very honest with you guys about it, but I also know that feeling will pass, and I’ll be able to get through it for another four years as long as I have this platform. Thank you for listening. Burke wished himself a happy birthday and added the hashtags “#soberbirthday” and “#onestepatatime.” “within the caption.
Burke originally revealed that she had been sober for four years in a TikTok video posted on August 14.
She responded to an on-screen prompt asking her, “What am I celebrating?” in the 11-second video, “Realizing I just celebrated 4 years of MY SOBRIETY.”
The song “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish played in the background while Burke posed while wearing several jackets and sunglasses.
Burke included the hashtags “#soberlife,” “#onedayatatime,” “#soberbirthday,” and “#sobrietyrocks” in her caption in addition to a few emojis.
The professional dancer acknowledged last month on an edition of Burke’s Burke in the Game podcast that she has been thinking about drinking more frequently lately and that she is “trying to practise what I preach” by taking her recovery journey day by day.
I don’t want to say that I’ve been feeling like drinking again, but I have been thinking about it a lot more than usual, she added. I discussed it with my therapist, and I believe it’s also because I haven’t been very active with the programme and with taking that fourth step, which I seem to be stuck on for what feels like the longest time now, but I’m going to gradually get back into it.
Burke said, “But I just saw that there’s a time frame where I shouldn’t be out, and I think it’s over 10:30. I went out with my pals the other night.” “I realise that is more of a senior citizen hour, but I have seen that folks prefer to go out after dinner. Because I get triggered by folks who have consumed more than maybe a couple beers around me, especially late at night, I think it would be better for me to just drop people off as the designated driver and continue on my merry way.”
The dancer claimed that speaking publicly about her sobriety issues had been beneficial because “once you call it out, the shame goes gone.”
I’m really trying to call it out since that’s the name of the game and to avoid relapsing, she said. “I don’t want to even bring up that conversation. I believe it’s crucial to hold myself responsible, and by speaking with you guys, I’m doing just that.”
Please call the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP if you or someone you know is struggling with substance misuse.