Before getting sober, I vividly remember wondering how other people were so happy living “boring,” sober lives. I couldn’t fathom spending one second sober. In fact, I often made fun of the friends who gracefully declined to party with the rest of us. The sober individuals in my life never pressured me to evaluate my ... Read More
Featured in Alumni
Alumni Outlook: How to Empower Others in Addiction Recovery
5 Benefits of Self-Care for Mothers in Recovery
As a mother in recovery, I have had quite the experience of raising two beautiful children while also working a full-time job and maintaining my sobriety. Recovery is full of ups and downs for all of us, and especially adventurous for the mothers in recovery. By nature, mothers are often nurturing, compassionate ... Read More
How to Address and Overcome Past Holiday Guilt
The holidays typically evoke images of family bliss: —Uncle John carving up a big turkey for a traditional family dinner, Grandma bestowing her precious gifts, and Aunt Mary gracing the family with the hilarious stories of her childhood. The reality is that this dreamy scene usually is nothing more than that—a ... Read More
5 Life Lessons I’ve Learned in Recovery
I know we often hear people say hindsight is 20/20 - and let me tell you this has never been more relevant than it is now. If I could go back and change how everything played out, honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. I am constantly reminded that everything is exactly as it should be. Life is an ever-evolving journey ... Read More
Overcoming Grief and Triggers Over the Holidays
There is no doubt that the holiday season is a favorite time of year for many people. Glistening lights garner undivided attention and ease the stressors of the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Rosy cheeks, illuminated by a comforting fire, snuggle up on the couch and indulge in the laughter creating the perfect ... Read More
“I’m Still Fun, Even Though I’m Sober”
When I was first asked to write about the topic of fun in sobriety, naturally I started scrolling through Google looking for everyone else’s “fun in sobriety” experience. My screen was flooded with “10 Ways to Have Fun in Sobriety,” “20 Fun Activities to Rediscover in Sobriety,” and many similar self-help articles. If ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: The Continued Benefits of AA Involvement and Spiritual Practices
It would be fair to say that most of us, recovering alcoholics, are typically not advocates of discipline, change, or structure - at least outside of our addiction. However, upon venturing into the realm of recovery, these practices have been my saving grace. Early on, someone told me, “You only need to change one ... Read More
Alumni Outlook: A Woman’s Take on Grief, Loss and Emotional Trauma
“Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” ― Leo Tolstoy January 6, 2013, was just another day, seemingly like any other day. After battling (what we all believed to be) the flu, I remember it ... Read More
