After 48 years sober, I’ve come to some tough realizations. The first drink I ever had resulted in the worst hangover of my life. I was so sick I couldn’t keep water down for more than a week. A normal person would have said: “If this is what drinking is like, I don’t want any…
Does anything require more commitment than getting clean and sober? Commitment: the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc. a pledge or undertaking; an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.¹ All good definitions. But what if commitment actually creates freedom rather than restricting it? Shouldn’t that also be a definition of…
My diagnosis taught me some valuable lessons about friendship that have helped me maintain a social life without alcohol. After dealing with bloating and stomach pain throughout my 20s, I was finally diagnosed with celiac disease in my early 30s, right around the time the COVID-19 pandemic started. For those unfamiliar, celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder…
How my cancer picked a fight with my alcoholism, but ultimately paid the tab I was once a professional alcoholic. Meaning, I was paid to drink alcohol. I spent my 30s working in the upper echelon of California winemaking, gulping the rarified air that is the cult/luxury wine industry. It was a natural career progression, having…
“You have the power to change your life.” This series showcases personal stories of addiction recovery and sobriety. Today’s edition is by Jamie Marie, an Energetic Healer and Connection Guide/Recovery Coach at A Connected Life Recovery. Jamie Marie believes in the healing power of connection and nature as an essential pillar of recovery. You can find her…
“Giving up was the key.” This series showcases personal stories of addiction recovery and sobriety. Today’s edition is by C.L. Steiner, a freelance writer from Brooklyn, NY, currently living in North Carolina with his wife and not far from his daughters and grandchildren. His best work these days can be found in his Substack newsletter, I’m Not Complaining, and his…
What I’ve learned during three plus years of sobriety My last drink was on January 6th, 2021. January 7th will always be a special date for me, because I finally gave up the drink for good. I surrendered and accepted that alcohol was no good for me. And it’s the day I started writing, just…
Community, belonging, and acceptance in sobriety “Head down to the common room and join the group,” David tells me. “Join?” I say incredulously. “Sure, go ahead. They are doing the tenth step wrap-up. I’ll be right there,” he says. “Um, you mean, participate?” I ask. “It’s okay, just walk in and grab a seat. They’re…
From “Sober Letters To My Drunken Self” When I first stopped drinking, I counted the days. After 30 days had passed, I counted the months. After 12 months, I counted the years. Now that 10 years have passed, I’ll stop counting. To make it this far, I’ve battled with the three-headed beast and emerged victorious….
A mantra to help you stay sober “Be kind to your future self” is a powerful mantra with wide application, including in sobriety.¹ One way to be kind to your future self is to choose delayed over immediate gratification. Seeking immediate gratification is a human tendency driven by the brain’s reward system—specifically the release of dopamine (the hormone that makes you…