Reclaim and Redefine Sobriety
The Novelty of Reclaiming and Redefining Sobriety
Before I dive into my thoughts on how to reclaim and redefine sobriety, I want to share this excerpt from my book:
According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, the term “sobriety” describes the state of being sober or the quality of being sensible or serious.
Urban Dictionary, on the other hand, defines sobriety as the following:
“What you suffer from lack of alcohol. Symptoms are such things as remembering where you live, walking straight, being able to have a conversation without breaking down into fits of laughter, etc…”
That’s just the top definition. The second is, “the state in which everything sucks.”
It’s not until the fifth definition of sobriety that Urban Dictionary finally hits the mark: “A word that means whatever you want it to mean. A word that has changed meaning throughout time. A word that people use to make others feel inferior. A unicorn of words.”
Sobriety is not dirty. It is not bad. And it is nothing to be ashamed of.
So why are we conditioned to believe that we need to be ashamed of our sobriety?
My senior research study in college was about how the black community has used music to reclaim and redefine the word “ghetto.” Then it dawned on me this past year that the ability to reclaim and redefine a word that society has deemed bad is not limited to one particular group. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that we (read: any community of people) have the power to reshape words when those definitions have become wildly misconstrued or when they simply no longer serve our community.
…
To me, sobriety is about transformation. It is a beautiful awakening where I have begun to actively participate in my life. It is an accomplishment of which I am incredibly proud. It is something I cherish and am grateful for each and every day. The day when I stopped drinking was the first day of the rest of my life.
Sobriety is light and peace. it is filled with hope, passion, and pure joy.
Sobriety is my superpower.
Gone are the days when we will continue to allow others to confine us within their rigid definitions. Those confines do not suit us. In fact, they only suit the people who aren’t yet ready to comprehend the beauty of who we are. Today is the day you get to decide what sobriety means to you. Today is the day when you get to burn the old definition that has been holding you back. Today is the day when you get to redefine sobriety on your terms, for yourself.
Your sobriety is your own.
…
And you get to decide what sobriety means to you.
What Does It Mean to Reclaim and Redefine?
Basically, it is replacing the old definition of a word with a new one.
Yes, it is seriously that simple.
How often do we, as a society, just accept the old, outdated definitions of words? If we are being honest with ourselves, we do this constantly. We don’t accept them because we’re lazy or just don’t care. No, we accept them because we that is literally what we have been conditioned to do. Thinking outside of the box and exploring the uncharted possibilities of the world is considered radical. So, as we grow up, we are reminded to stay in line and keep with the status quo.
When I finally learned that there are no rules, I simply had to share it with everyone.
I’ll repeat it again: there are no rules.
We are the creators of our realities. And we get to decide which definitions serve us, and which do not.
Redefine means, well, exactly that. Throw out the old definition and adopt a new one (regardless of what you were told growing up).
So, that covers the “redefine” portion of this rambling blog post. Now what about “reclaim?”
Reclaim and redefine: the two go hand in hand.
When we rebel against societal constructs and we challenge outdated beliefs, we begin to take back our power. Or, you could say, we start to reclaim said power.
Since I’ve already used a few dictionary definitions, here is the one for reclaim:
According to the Oxford Dictionary, it is to “retrieve or recover (something previously lost, given, or paid) or to obtain the return of.”
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as, “to recall from wrong or improper conduct, to reform, or to rescue from an undesirable state.”
It’s what happens when we no longer allow others to define us or confine us in their suffocating categories.
It’s As Simple As That
You reclaim and redefine.
It truly is that simple. At least, it is that simple in theory.
Reclaiming and redefining a word is very straightforward when we are only talking about it. Now, putting it into action is significantly more challenging.
Think about it. We spend the majority of our lives believing one thing. So, for me, I spent 25 years believing sobriety was dirty. It’s not hard to see how I may need more than one 30 minute conversation to fully change my beliefs.
Like basically everything in life, it’s a practice.
It all starts with a decision. A decision to reclaim and redefine a word, any word. And, in this instance, the word sobriety (or alcoholic or addict).
So, we make a decision to rebel against the antiquated beliefs passed down over generations. Then what? We continue to make that decision again and again and again.
When I first began this process, I went through my “reclaim and redefine” process every single day (and, occasionally, multiple times a day).
And that’s it. Wake up and choose rebellion, every single morning. Then, practice until it becomes second nature. And, then, continue striving to live your life on your terms.