Jake Owen is celebrating a sobriety milestone. The Florida native shares on his Instagram Stories that he has been sober for 689 days, and is grateful for his decision to stop drinking.

“I know you’re thinking about it. You kinda wanna explore ‘maybe not drinkin’ anymore’ … Well, take it from me, your friend, Jake…689 days ago I made a decision,” Owen writes. “I’ve stuck to it, and I’m really proud of myself. I was not at a point where I had a drinking problem, I was just being an a**hole and being a person I don’t want to be. Trust me, there’s [probably] someone reading this that I affected in my days of being an idiot and I can never take that back…I said things I shouldn’t, as well as did things I would never do sober. I had to own up to those instances and the ONLY thing I could do was be a better person going forward.

“I’ve been fortunate to have friends and family around me that support me and I’m so grateful for that,” Owen continues. “I just want to encourage any of you that might be considering quitting drinking that you should! Life is so much better. Sleep better. Feel better. Be better. Shoot… I’ll be your supporter. I’ll cheer you on.”

Owen also shared a link to an episode from the Huberman Lab podcast, “What Alcohol Does To Your Brain, Body & Health.”

Last summer, Owen announced that he had stopped drinking, after he was appalled by his behavior while he was intoxicated.

“317 days ago I embarrassed myself after drinking too much alcohol one night. It wasn’t the first time either,” Owen said at the time. “The next day I told myself, ‘never again.’ I am better than that, and the people I love the most deserve better. My family, my little girls, and my friends.

“Just wanted to share my journey in case anyone woke up this morning and wants to make a change,” he continued. “None of us [are] perfect… I’m just trying to be the best version of myself these days.”

The singer later expounded on his decision, and his newfound lease on life once he cut out alcohol.

“It feels pretty good,” Owen acknowledged on Audacy’s The Wake Up Call. “I’ve told a lot of people that I’ve learned a lot … I, in a way, surprised myself that in a business like we have, when you’re out there every night — every night is a meet and greet. Every night is a party for everyone you’re playing for. In a way you become accustomed. Next thing you know, it’s like, ‘Man, I’ve had a couple beers this week.’”

One night, Owen made the decision to just stop drinking, and he never looked back.

“I just stopped.,” Owen revealed. “I’m proud I did. What I realized in these moments was that it’s not easy for a lot of people. For me, it wasn’t hard. It was just something I decided to put down. For people who struggled and have reached out asking how I did it? It’s amazing to be able to connect with people like that.”

Owen released his latest album, Loose Cannon, in June. The record includes his current single, “On the Boat Again,” a take on Willie Nelson‘s “On the Road Again” hit.

“I think with this new record, I have songs on there that are super believable from a standpoint that I’ve definitely lived them,” the 41-year-old tells American Songwriter.  “But then there’s a song or two that I’m delivering from a messenger of a character. It’s funny, I’m either writing something that’s very serious and honest or it’s very fun and completely careless. If you don’t take yourself so seriously, you can have a lot more fun.”

Owen will embark on his Loose Cannon Tour next month. Find all of his music and upcoming shows at JakeOwen.net.

Read ’12 Country Music Singers Who Are Sober’ here.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Big Loud Records / Daniel Chaney