American musician and songwriter Ace Frehley stated in his book titled, No Regrets: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Memoir, “I personally believe this: We have only today; yesterday’s gone, and tomorrow is uncertain. That’s why they call it the present. And sobriety really is a gift…for those who are willing to receive it.”
Alcohol and drugs often give us this illusion that they’ll solve all of our problems, only to find that after the “high” is gone, they’re still there. The same thoughts, feelings and life circumstances continue to plague us, and even more problems seem to appear because now we’re chasing after the intense craving that comes with dependence and addiction. Sobriety is an incredibly powerful way to live because it forces us to battle our demons every single day. We have to use the tools we’ve learned to climb up that mountain of emotions and with every ounce of strength that we have; we have to pull ourselves back up – again, again, and again.
The holidays are a time that bring up a lot of challenging emotions, especially for people in recovery. This is because for many of us, friends and family are absent from our lives, or we’re unable to celebrate because we’re still working through our recovery. No matter what you’re going through this holiday season, you must remember to separate the story that society tells us is important from the real story that applies directly to you. Media, movies, billboards and more try to convince us that everyone’s out there having a great time with their loved ones during the holidays, when the reality is that there are so many people celebrating the holidays on their own – and so many others are focusing on their sobriety, too.
Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed by feelings of guilt, sadness, loneliness, or anger. Be open to experiencing all of the wonderful benefits that come with being sober this holiday season, including:
- Becoming a warrior for your recovery by using the tools you’ve learned thus far
- Strategizing the holidays as you would any other day – because that’s what they are
- Amping up your self-care, which could include crafts, watching a movie, relaxing, cooking some new food, reading a good book and much more
- Promoting others’ well-being by volunteering at local food banks and similar places this holiday season
This holiday season, you have a choice – and you’re strong enough to stay sober and build up your strength in recovery, which is something you can be extremely proud of.
Cumberland Heights is a nonprofit alcohol and drug-addiction treatment center located on the banks of the Cumberland river in Nashville, Tennessee. On a sprawling 177-campus, we are made up of 2 twelve-step immersion campuses, 12 outpatient recovery centers and 4 sober living homes. We believe that each person has a unique story to tell – and that’s why we always put the patient first.
Call us today at 1-800-646-9998 to take the next step towards your happiness and health.
