JOY OF LIVING
We asked these three clean and sober individuals from different walks of life what brings joy to their lives now that they are in recovery
THE CONNECTION
“What’s different in my life now is the connection I have with people, because when I was out there, I would isolate and I was disconnected from the world. When I got sober, I felt an immediate connection with everyone. It gets me out of my head, it gets me out of myself. It brings joy to my heart to connect with these people who I know and they know me, and are on this path with me. It opens up so many other doors in my life when I’m not isolating. It gets my day on the right track. I can make decisions and choices for myself that aren’t self-seeking. To me, my Higher Power is connection, whether that be with people in the rooms or people I love. It’s that ability to be open and vulnerable and be able to share with people, which is something I didn’t do for a long time.”
—Meg, sober since February 9, 2022.
HELPING OTHERS
“I recently found out a good friend of mine had relapsed. My sponsor took him in to sober him up. I asked him if he wanted to go to a [12-step] meeting and he said yes. After staying with my sponsor for two nights, he wanted to go back to his apartment, but I didn’t think he was ready. I suggested he go back to treatment, but he didn’t want to. I eventually convinced him that treatment would be the best thing for him and he agreed. It brought me joy to be able to help someone get back into treatment. I’ve been there. I’ve gone out and have been scared to come back. I’ve been embarrassed and tried to make it on my own. I was happy to be there for him and do something for him that was done for me. It’s hard to explain how being of service keeps me sober. It’s like a circle where we can’t keep what we have, unless we give it away. By giving it away we mean that we help others and that gives me joy.”
—Juan Guzman, sober since April 8, 2022.
GETTING CLARITY
“Sobriety returned my self-esteem. It has given me clarity and strength to achieve goals that I never thought were possible, or that I would only dream about when I was in active addiction. Things that give me joy are having a regular training schedule and going to my boxing studio. I’m actually training for a Spartan Race in May. I would never have done that in my active addiction. I also have a yoga practice like I never had before. In addition to all of that I do a gratitude list every morning and I send it to 15 people. I was a dancer before, so I had an active lifestyle, but I had no discipline or structure, or self-respect and I wasn’t doing it for myself like I am now. I made a career change during my active addiction. I went from retail to set decorator and was burning a lot of bridges, but within less than a year of getting sober, I have exceeded my expectations and I’m a full freelance set decorator. I’m able to be creative in a way I never thought I could. I always thought I needed substance, but I have achieved so much because I’m sober and I work a program of recovery.”
—Joe Brunelle, sober since May 23, 2022.
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