Sobriety (n).
Sobriety (n). akin to a choose your own adventure book
What comes to mind when you hear the word sobriety?
For me… We have to start with a bit of context. Do you remember those books where you got to choose what happened next? The ones where you would reach the end of a chapter and, based on your decision, would be directed to a specific page.
Well, I always loved those books. I love options. And I always thought it was fun that the author had thought up multiple story lines so that they could offer said options to their readers.
Sobriety is like a choose your own adventure book.
So what exactly does that mean? Well, there is no set path that every person in recovery must follow. In fact, there are an endless number of forks in the road, options where you get to choose which path is best for you.
Everyone Has Opinions About Sobriety
That was one of the things about aa that got me all fired up. That there is only one way to successfully get (and stay) sober. It was (and still is) infuriating that there are people in the world who truly believe this is the case.
Talk about having a limited mindset, an incredibly narrow view of the world.
As I continued along my own sober journey, I began to recognize all of the different ways people supported themselves and set themselves up for success. And, while I recognized that some of those were simply not for me, it continued to expand my own horizon. It showed me all of the different ways to get and stay sober, and I know for a fact that there are infinitely more out there that I have yet to observe.
We, as humans, are unique. We are individuals with our own beliefs, backgrounds, traumas, histories, opinions, characters.
And that’s the point, isn’t it?
If each of us is a unique individual, our paths through life are just as unique; our sober journeys are just as unique.
You are the architect of your life. You get to decide what next step is the best step for you. No one else has that power. Right now, you’re in the middle of your choose your own adventure book and, the next time you come to a fork in the road, tell everyone and anyone whispering their opinions into your ear to shut the fuck up. And then decide which path you’re going to take.