Happy 4th of July weekend!
I don’t know about you, but parties, holidays, weddings, you name it…any type of celebration was an excuse to drink for me in the past. I could hide the amount I was drinking because there was so many other people and they were drinking too. They weren’t watching or counting my drinks and everybody was doing it—all excuses.
My obsession was lifted when I surrendered to God and stopped drinking. At first, it was hard to be in a celebration setting around other people who were drinking alcohol. Not because I wanted it, I just didn’t know how to be around others who were having fun and drinking without me joining into the drinking part.
When I first got sober, I thought that I would never have fun again if I wasn’t drinking. Not true. I had to show up many times in a row sober to know that I could do it—to know that it was possible.
For all of us that are already in sobriety, the upcoming 4th of July Celebration is just another day to show up sober and still be able to celebrate without alcohol. The alcohol will always be there. It is learning how to navigate without it by having a plan. How do we do it?
My is my plan:
• Arrive early before everybody starts drinking.
• Bring my own water or soda.
• Stay with my sober friends in the crowd.
• When people are drinking too much I can leave early.
• Have my own transportation when I need to leave.
This plan has worked for me early in sobriety and throughout all of the sober days of my life —8,027 days. If you are newly sober, I know you can do this because I did it. It is possible to show up sober, celebrate, and have fun without alcohol.
• Try this 4th of July sober.
• I know you can still have fun.
• Have a plan
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
