STEPPING INTO SPRING: SOBER, POSITIVE, AND IN CONTROL OF A LIFE YOU LOVE

As the world awakens from its wintry slumber, the arrival of spring brings with it a sense of renewal and transformation. It's a time when nature sheds its frosty coat and bursts forth in a vibrant display of colour and life. Similarly, for those embracing a sober lifestyle, spring symbolises not just the changing of seasons but the dawn of a new chapter—one where they are in control of a life they love.

Embracing Sobriety for a Healthy Spring

Spring is a season synonymous with health and vitality. The blossoming flowers, the fresh scent of rain-kissed earth, and the longer days all beckon us to step outside and embrace a healthy lifestyle. For those on a sober journey, this is the perfect time to reaffirm their commitment to well-being.

With sobriety, the body experiences a transformation akin to the awakening of nature in spring. The absence of alcohol allows for improved sleep, clearer skin, and enhanced physical fitness. It's like a personal renaissance, as your body and mind become more aligned with the natural rhythms of life.

The Vibrancy of a New Season

Just as spring infuses the world with vibrancy, embracing sobriety can infuse your life with a newfound sense of vibrant energy. When alcohol no longer dulls your senses, you become acutely aware of the world around you. The colours seem more vivid, the laughter more infectious, and the moments more precious.

This heightened awareness is not limited to the external world; it extends to your inner self as well. Emotions are felt more intensely, allowing you to engage with life's ups and downs with clarity and authenticity. It's like seeing the world in high-definition, and it's nothing short of exhilarating.

Spring: The Metaphor for Transformation

Spring's arrival serves as a powerful metaphor for the transformative journey of sobriety. Just as the barren trees sprout leaves and the once-frozen rivers flow again, those on a sober path find themselves in the midst of their own rebirth.

It's a chance to shed the old, unproductive habits and make room for new growth. Sobriety is not just about abstaining from alcohol; it's about embracing a holistic approach to life.

This might include healthier eating habits, regular exercise, and mindful practices that nourish the body and soul.

Control of a Life You Love

Sobriety empowers you to take control of a life you love. It's about reclaiming your autonomy, making conscious choices, and aligning your actions with your values and aspirations. Spring is a season of renewal, and it's an ideal time to set new intentions and chart a course for the future.

When you're sober, you are the captain of your ship, steering it towards destinations that bring you joy and fulfilment. The clarity and focus that come with sobriety enable you to pursue your passions and dreams with unwavering determination.

The Next Chapter

As you step into spring, embracing sobriety with open arms, you're not just turning the page; you're beginning a whole new chapter in the story of your life. It's a chapter filled with the vibrant colours of self-discovery, the sweet fragrance of authenticity, and the steady rhythm of living a life you truly love.

So, let the arrival of spring serve as a reminder that, like nature, you too have the power to undergo a remarkable transformation. Embrace sobriety as your ally on this journey, and step forward with confidence into the next chapter of your life. The season of renewal is here, and it's time to flourish.

Kate Drummond Dip. FTST IIHHT Holistic Life Coach

www.thepurposefullife.com

Think back to your days of drinking. How much shame and guilt did you feel? Shame in how much you drank, didn’t follow through with plans, had conversations that you did not recall the next day, and many more reasons that we had immense feelings of shame about. Shame and guilt were an everyday part of my life when I was drinking. People would ask me questions about our conversation the day before, and I had no recall whatsoever of the conversation. I would turn a deep shade of red for my typical pale Irish complexion. Where did my shame come from? Deep inside me, it lived and breathed.

I can recall being newly sober and being so embarrassed about it. I only told a very few people around me that I was ashamed of being sober. What?! Wait a damn minute! I got sober, so I did not have to feel ashamed anymore! You see, I am an ER nurse, and healthcare professionals can be some of the most judgmental people around. I can’t recall when, in my sobriety, I stopped being ashamed (probably close to my one-year mark) and started to be proud of my sobriety. I fought through some very deep demons to get sober, and damnit, I was not going to hide it anymore. Rather than put an ad in the paper or shout it from the rooftops, it was a slow build. One day someone at work said, You always leave at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesdays. What are you going to do at AA or something? It was that moment; I remember it to this day, 10 years later. Why yes, yes, I am. My very first open admission of being an alcoholic to anyone outside my inner circle. It was so easy after that; I began to be an open book about my sobriety in every aspect of my life. I would see fellow RNs and MDs in the rooms with me, and they would always say they wish they had the courage to be as open as me. In the hospital halls, people would quietly come up to me and admit they too were in AA. I cannot tell anyone else to be open about this shitty disease we have; it must come from within them. But it is a disease, and we, the alcoholics, know that after going through the 12 steps, but outsiders don’t believe or don’t know that we truly cannot stop drinking on our own.