What are the biggest gifts of sobriety?

To inspire and encourage others, I wanted to ask…

If you’re sober, I’d love to know…

What are the biggest gifts of sobriety?

We ask this in the My Sobriety Story series, so I’ve pulled together some recent responses below. You can find the full stories here.

Whether you’re sober curious and looking for inspiration… navigating a tough stretch… or feeling steady in your sobriety and wanting to reflect and connect—I hope you’ll find these responses uplifting and expansive.

We’d love to hear from you, too. What gifts has sobriety brought to your life? Please share in the comments.

And if you’re alcohol-free and would like to contribute to the My Sobriety Story series, we’d love to have you. You can email me here for the questions and guidelines.

“I’ll start with: finding myself. Loving myself.” —MaryBeth Murphy

“Freedom from unfounded fear has been the biggest gift. It changed the level at which I experience life. I’ve loved and been loved. I’ve built and raced exotic vintage motorcycles at a competitive level. I’ve traveled way off the beaten path, learned to live in the moment, and, at various times in my life, lived my dreams. I’ve felt, seen, and experienced things that I never thought possible.” —Steve Munro 🇨🇦

“For me, the biggest gift of sobriety has been living in integrity. What you see with me is what you get all of the time. There aren’t multiple versions of me that appear depending on context. I show up as the same person consistently, and that’s a gift not only to me but to the people I touch.” —Jessica Dueñas

“When I was three years sober, I was a graduate student in Stanford’s Teacher Education Program. If I had been drinking, I never would have even applied to the program. My low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and fear of failure would have silenced that ambition. Completing that program set me on course for a 34-year career in education. I showed up for my students—community college, four-year university, high school—in authentic, honest, and sober ways. I was able to be present in my mother’s life, sober, for ten years before she passed. I was able, and continue to be able, to be present in my daughter’s life; she has never seen me drunk or stoned. I was able, at 40 years in recovery, to be my sister’s caregiver when she entered home hospice.” —Vince Puzick

“Learning how to stay—especially when things are uncomfortable.” —Lisa Schmidt

“I’m never hungover. I have so much more capacity now, never worrying about ‘Where did I leave my drink?’ or ‘How much can I drink tonight and not have to stop too soon?’ I spend that extra energy on things I genuinely enjoy, which has increased my experience of joy as well. When I love, I love hard, and I’m able to give it the energy and attention it deserves in a productive and meaningful way. —Sydney Allen

“The incredible boost to growth that sobriety brings. I could never figure out why I always felt like a child, even as an adult. Then I heard the concept of emotional stunting, where you stop growing emotionally at the age you start using. So, I am currently going on 21 (again).” —Mid5 Coaching Scott Cameron

“When people tell me to just be myself, I don’t look to stage left for someone to feed me my lines.” —Little Edits Atelier

“The biggest gift of sobriety is being utterly and completely present. I am reliable. I can be trusted. I feel healthier. I have memories that I can actually look back on. I make every decision without question. I have new hobbies and new friendships. I get to live life each and every day knowing that I didn’t say or do anything I will regret. My life in sobriety is everything I thought I had in active addiction, and boy, was I oh so wrong.” —Rilee Wagner

“Sobriety has truly touched every single facet of my life in a positive way. I have more time, energy, and mental space that allows me to show up better for the people that I love. I am now a better daughter, friend, and partner. Because I’m no longer poisoning myself all the time, I’ve been able to really get into health and wellness. My sleep is out of this world, and I’m the most physically fit I’ve ever been.” —maja roglić

“Every. Single. Thing. I’ve been given another chance at life, and I never take it for granted for a second. A friend recently described me as moving through the world with ‘pure, unbridled joy,’ which would have been a laughable concept a decade ago.” —Carly Schwartz

“That was 17 years ago, and I can say that the biggest benefit is that I am still sober. Despite what life has to give, I can manage it without a drink. I attended many AA meetings, where I met my best friend. It was a lifeline having someone who was sober to hang out with and know that we were on the same journey, taking this one day at a time. I met my husband in AA. It was, and still is, the most mature relationship I have ever had. I got my Doctorate in Nursing, and I will be retiring from my current role as a Clinical Professor. Though I am retiring, I still have things to accomplish and look forward to the next chapter.” —Sue McWilliams

What gifts has sobriety brought to your life?

Please share in the comments. And before you go, would you take a second to tap that little heart? It lets others know there’s something helpful here and grows our sober community.