For years, I spent Christmas mourning the holidays of my childhood. Grammy and Grandpop's Christmas Day feast was a warm, loving tradition I could rely on—until it ended, as all things inevitably do. Clinging to those memories, I sabotaged my own holidays, drinking mimosas in the morning and boxed wine all day.

Sobriety taught me that while I can cherish the beautiful memories of my past, I have an even greater opportunity to create new ones. Today, I focus on building traditions with my kids, knowing that one day these moments will become their cherished memories. When that time comes, I’ll have the chance to reinvent the holidays again—perhaps for my grandchildren.

Christmas is no longer mourning what’s gone; instead I have gratitude for what was and joy in shaping what will be.

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#HolidayTraditions #SobrietyJourney #CherishedMemories #CreatingNewTraditions #FamilyFirst #GratitudeAndJoy #ChristmasInRecovery #BuildingNewMemories #HolidayReflection #SoberLiving

I read an inspiring story this morning about a woman, born blind, struggling to accept her handicap and turned to alcohol. It wasn’t until she was able to finally accept her handicap that she became open to help. She connected with others like her and before long was running her own business. It’s amazing how our potential depends on our mindset.

My self-pity and lack of acceptance seems to live somewhere between comparing myself to others and comparing myself to who I used to be. My solutions live in hope and aspiration of who I want to be.

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Visit me at ⁠⁠⁠recoverydailypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠ or email me at ⁠rachel@recoverydailypodcast.com⁠.

#SelfAcceptance #RecoveryJourney #MindsetMatters #OvercomingChallenges #HopeAndHealing #PersonalGrowth #SobrietySupport #AcceptanceIsKey #FindingSolutions #InspirationForChange

I was talking to a friend today about life changing hard stuff he’s dealing with, and he responded, “at least I have the program.” Wow! It immediately pulled me back to when I experienced the same hard stuff in my life as an active alcoholic. Back then it felt like there were no seasons, and my life was just one long cold, dark winter.

How fortunate I am to no longer be chasing that euphoric feeling only to find myself more isolated and fearful of the hard stuff in life. Today I experience the seasons, both externally and internally, trusting that there is a reason for the season. The lessons from my experiences bloom like flowers when the season changes.

How fortunate I am to have the spirit of joy that always glows inside me, like the sun, even on cold, rainy days. That sun doesn’t get effected by what’s happening around me. My joy is a state of being, always burning stable and bright if I put in the work: go to meetings, practice the principles of my program in all my affairs, and recover out loud, giving away what was so freely given to me.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube.

Visit me at ⁠⁠⁠recoverydailypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠ or email me at ⁠rachel@recoverydailypodcast.com⁠.

#SobrietyJourney #SeasonsOfSobriety #RecoveryIsPossible #GratitudeInRecovery #SoberLiving #MentalHealthMatters #AlcoholFreeLife #RecoveryCommunity #LifeLessons #OneDayAtATime