Rock n’ Roll Legend Sir Elton John just celebrated 29 years of sobriety, what an incredible milestone! Now, 72-year-old, the singer recently shared a photo of his Alcoholics Anonymous sobriety coin to commemorate his tremendous life accomplishment.
The AA coin was marked with the organization’s motto of “Unity, Service, and Recovery,” as well as the common saying of “To thine own self be true.” AA has a history of standing by this motto, and it certainly applies to people in this world like Sir. Elton John!
“29 years ago today, I was a broken man. I finally summoned up the courage to say 3 words that would change my life: “I need help”,” John writes in his social media post. “Thank-you to all the selfless people who have helped me on my journey through sobriety. I am eternally grateful.”
John has been incredibly candid in documenting his struggles with drugs and alcohol. In the newest biopic on his life titled “Rocketman,” the film shows what happened behind the scenes to make John decide to give up his addictions for good. These substances once included marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol.
“The life I was leading — flying on [his legendary private plane] the Starship, living in beautiful houses, buying things left, right and center — it was not a normal life, not the sort of life I came from anyway. I lost complete touch with that,” he explains to Variety.
He also explained the health issues he would experience while using drugs.
“There were times I was having chest pains or staying up for three days at a time… I used to have spasms and be found on the floor and they’d put me back to bed and half an hour later I’d be doing the same. It’s crazy.”
In 1990, John experienced the death of his close friend, Ryan, White, who died from complications from AIDS. This situation helped the singer put his life into perspective. John then checked himself into Chicago’s Parkside Lutheran Hospital on July 29th, 1990. Since becoming sober, he has accomplished a great many more amazing things in his life.
On such accomplishment was the founding of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The foundation has so far raised over $400 million. He’s also been with his life-partner, David Furnish, for 25 years. And they plan to mark their 5th wedding anniversary together soon!
“My sobriety has brought me everything that I could possibly wish for,” he says back in 2004.
We are so happy to see Sir. Elton John is living so well these days!
Do you have a similar sobriety accomplishment that you would like to share? Let us know in the comments section, and please share this story with your friends and family.