Commemorating Your Sobriety

An important part of recovery is commemorating sobriety milestones. Acknowledge steps along the path to health with these suggestions for the first five milestones in a person’s sobriety.

30 days

Maybe you or your loved one is leaving a treatment center following a 30 day stay.  After connecting with the sober person about their ability to engage socially, plan an intimate gathering of friends or family to acknowledge this first milestone. Be careful not to serve alcohol, or frequent a restaurant that could trigger drinking desires. Sobriety is still fresh at one month.

90 days

Three months is an important amount of time for a newly sober person. If attending 12-Step meetings such as those of Alcoholics Anonymous, receive a sobriety chip at a regular meeting! Invite sober friends to have a cup of coffee and chocolate cake and discuss the successes and challenges of the previous 90 days. Set sights on the sober future.

6 months

Half a year has passed with no drugs or alcohol. For many addicts this is a true miracle. Plan an outdoor activity such as a hike, trip to the beach, or adventure to a local park. Get outside and enjoy nature. Take time to notice the wonder of the natural world and the gift of seeing it through sober eyes.

12 months

An entire year free from drugs and alcohol is a real accomplishment! Enjoy this moment, but don’t let the success of the last 365 days create complacency. Addiction is a powerful disease and letting up on a program of recovery could mean a relapse. With these cautions in mind, a special treat is well-deserved. Plan a healthy and fun activity, or purchase a gift to acknowledge one year of sober life. A road-trip, a piece of jewelry with special meaning, whatever it may be, celebrate this new way of life!

18 months

Revel in this milestone and get ready to continue on a path of living honest, healthy, whole, and clean. Set aside an afternoon to write out the changes that have happened in the last year concerning job, family, personal relationships, physical health, mental health, and overall quality of life compared to 18 months ago. The changes will be astonishing!

To infinity and beyond!

Sobriety birthdays are an important marker of the changes in a newly sober person’s life. With each new day comes growth, improvement, and a new perspective on a life no longer controlled by drugs or alcohol. Celebrate these victories while keeping a balanced eye toward the future. Yesterday’s successes do not ensure tomorrow’s sobriety, but continued dedication to recovery will mean a happy, healthy future. If you or a loved one needs help beginning this journey, contact the Pat Moore Foundation 24 hours a day to talk to an alcohol or addiction specialist.

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