IT WORKS IF YOU WORK IT
We asked these clean and sober individuals about the work they put into their recovery that is helping the stay clean and sober
MOMENTS OF PEACE
“I was really good at getting sober, but not staying sober. What’s working for me today is I’m working the program in a way where I’ve finally surrendered. I’m at a place where I’ve been able to let go of all of the people, places, things, and behaviors that always led me back to using. I’m in several fellowships because I recognize all of the versions of my disease. So, if I’m not working on the sex stuff, the drug stuff is up. If I’m not working on the drug stuff, the sex stuff, food, and all that is up. Now I just do the things that I’m told to do. I go to meetings every day. Today, I work with the sponsor. I’m working the steps. I do a lot of service and try to do as much as I can….I’ve been in Sober Living since November, and it’s been amazing. I have moments of peace. I feel like my life has value where it never did. I guess I’m just happy.”
—Rich Lombardo, sober since April 13, 2024.
FUNCTION AGAIN
“I am from San Francisco. I just moved here after almost six months in treatment. I’m a 51-year-old man living in a sober living house with mostly 20 and 30-year-olds and the support and the community in that house is really helping. We go to meetings together, and I still have my friends from treatment, and that also is something that has really helped my recovery—community. I almost killed myself, by daily drinking myself to death, to the point where I couldn’t climb stairs… fortunately I came to my senses and realized rehab is a place I needed to be… This is my first time in treatment, my first time trying to get sober at 51 and I feel amazing. I can walk again. I can function again.”
—Tyler Clark, sober since October 1, 2024.
HONEST INVENTORY
“When I first got sober, I wanted to stop drinking, but I didn’t know that if you removed the alcohol, I’d still be left with the crazy – so for a really long time, I kind of did the bare minimum. I did some meeting and fellowship, I worked the steps, but I never did an honest inventory. I did amends to people who I wanted to and when the pandemic hit, and the world shut down, I wasn’t doing anything for my sobriety aside from some meetings online. Then there was a point where things started to open back up and I wasn’t getting back into in-person meetings. I started to feel kind of anxious and depressed. My sponsor suggested I go back to meetings, get some commitments, fellowship, and try working with others. I did what was suggested and started to feel so much better. The fellowship is huge for me after my meetings. I do sober movie groups. I am of service to others and it’s working… I feel like I have a big, beautiful life today. It sounds cliché, but it works if you work it, it truly does.”
—Christopher Decker, sober since January 5, 2014
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