12 GIFTS OF SOBRIETY this holiday season
by gayle mcdonald Founder Sober Bliss
Being very unmusical, this will not rhyme, nor is it a poem, but my twelve gifts of sobriety are genuine and gratefully acknowledged every single day and not just at Christmas. Of course, there are the most profound gifts such as renewed freedom, pride and self-respect, self-confidence and a love for life and myself again. But in keeping with the well-known festive song, I have chosen some of the precious and sometimes underrated gifts of sobriety that I get to experience every day. Sing along if you wish but I can’t guarantee it will flow! On these days of Christmas, I’m remembering what my sobriety gave to me…. A lovely cup of tea. I’ve always loved my tea but there is nothing more wonderful than that first cuppa brought to me in bed which I savour and enjoy like nothing else. Two sons again. Sadly there are great chunks of my son’s childhood that I don’t remember thanks to being drunk or hungover. Now, I have them back and words cannot express how that makes me feel. 3 p.m. yoga Nidra naps. Living in Spain, siestas are obligatory but mine were always for recovering from early in the day drinking so I could drink again later on. Naptime is now the pure joy and deepest relaxation that is yoga Nidra! Four fabulous extra hours in the day. At least! I now have the time to actually do the things I want to do, instead of drunk dreaming about them while I wasted away the hours on the sofa. The couch to 5K plan. I do this sporadically, slowly, and with a bit of a love/hate mindset but at least I can do it if I want to and when I want to. No more writing it off because I am too hungover or favouring a drink instead of a run. Six marvelous mantras. My day starts with some journaling and repeating of mantras – I have six which I repeat often. They do change from time to time and are always positive and uplifting!
Seven wonderful waking moments every single week. Sobriety has transformed my days, I love my mornings of meditation, journaling, and happy music. Getting up at 5 is not a problem and I savour those delicious, precious moments when the rest of the world is still sleeping. I had no idea! Eight ways to be more woo. Despite being born on Halloween and being called a white witch (probably because of my hair) I had no idea about spirituality, woo or anything remotely ‘out there’ before I got sober. Some of my explorations into the woo side of life have become my strongest sober tools – here are eight of them: meditation, spellcraft, affirmations, oracle cards, demonology, smudging, crystals, and reiki healing Nine hours of sumptuous sleep. Intentional, nourishing, restorative sleep. There is nothing more beautiful than climbing into bed feeling proud and happy to be sober instead of passing out or being put to bed by my kids or husband. Ten minutes of meditation. Daily dips into peace and calm to help unclutter my mind, connect to my inner world, and set the tone for the day. Eleven phenomenal new friendships. There are of course many more but I had to find something for 11! I am so grateful for all the wonderful, amazing sober folk who have come into my life, and to think I used to believe not drinking made a person dull and boring – so not so! Twelve magical months every year. What can I say! While there have been great months and rubbish months since I quit drinking and despite the ups and downs of each one, thanks to living AF, each month has been magical in its own special way. Looking forward to more days, weeks, months, and years of AF magic and sparkle!
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