Live Your Life

When you begin living life sober, there is a tendency to withdraw from people and places. It takes time and practice to get comfortable doing things without the crutch of alcohol. You must push yourself a little in the beginning but over time, your new way of life will become the norm. Here are some of my tips for living life in sobriety;

Stop saying ‘No’ to opportunities to go somewhere new or do something different – This is an eye opening life changing decision. Life begins to unfold and aspects that you never dreamed of are revealed to you. It can awaken dreams, pursuits, hobbies and, interests.

 Explore – Drive a different way home, find a new way to get somewhere, get off the toll way and drive through the towns. Explore where you live, visit the historic buildings, parks, community events, sporting events, orchards, farms, towns, cities. Really and truly, you never need go someplace twice. We live in a vast land, there is so much to see. Start locally and then stretch out. You may not like where you are right now, nor what you do with your life, you may not want to do anything or think that there is nothing out there that will please and offer you satisfaction. If you stay where you are then this is true, but if you explore; who knows what will unfold. Develop your tastes, culture, preferences, ideas, opinions and lifestyle by exploring. 

People – Give everyone a chance. Fight the urge to label someone instantly and form an opinion that is unsubstantiated. Can you learn something from everyone? Yes but you can also learn a lot about yourself to by keeping an eye on your reaction to them. Go beyond first impressions, listen to what others speak about, inquire about them, find out what their interests are, where they go, who they admire, where they have been; you may find that you have more in common than you realize. If you really decide that the person is not someone who you would enjoy spending more time with then you have still made your life richer by exercising your curiosity. And, the other person will feel more valued for having your interest focused on them.

Do – Do something, go somewhere, read, walk, exercise, sing, laugh, love, make friends, eat, sleep, help, live, listen, pray, write, inspire, care, love, motivate, share, run, play, cook, fish, bike, hike, canoe, kayak, mountain climb, marathon, smell, taste, learn, enjoy, persist, grow, endure. Live your life. 

Don’t think you know it all and have done it before. Don’t get stuck, don’t get miserable and set in your old ways. Don’t be selfish, uncaring and fixated on yourself. Don’t drink…get a life!

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