Without systems in place to fill your new time, and a plan to create a supportive sober tribe, recovery from alcohol addiction can feel really boring and lonely. The good news is – it doesn’t have to be that way. All you need to do is some creative planning and a bit of mustering up some courage, and you’ll find that recovery is actually intensely rewarding. But without any direction, it can be hard to know where to start.
In this week’s episode of Through the Glass Recovery Podcast, we’re chatting with Brenton (@officerecovery), Charles (@charlessharrisonjr) and Josh (@josh.quits.forever) about how they’ve filled up the free time that sobriety gave them, and how they’ve built up a support system that keeps them accountable and provides them with the connection we all need when we decide to create a life that is free from alcohol.
Key topics in this episode:
- Nurturing relationships that are created in rehab or treatment programs
- The comforting realization that the recovery community is incredibly accepting
- The value of social media in creating a sober tribe
- The importance of finding people who will challenge you instead of pull you down to their level
- The value of creating new habits and routines, and how to get started
- Hobbies to fill your time – and find friends with similar interests
- Using platforms like Craigslist, MeetUp, and Facebook to find people with common interests
- Finding the courage to get out of your comfort zone
- The value of finding your authentic self, and choosing to stop trying to be what others want you to be in favor of being your true self.
The eternal quest of the individual human being is to shatter his loneliness. – Norman Cousins
For further listening about filling free time and finding new friends, be sure to check out these other episodes:
E104: Sober and Bored: How to Fill All That Free Time You Just Found
E68: When You’re Sober and Lonely
E39: How Loneliness Affects Recovery
Meet Our Guests:
A former Pastor with over a decade in ministry, Brenton has been on a recovery journey since July 2022. He founded the Instagram account @OfficeRecovery to blend humor and healing, helping others smile, learn to laugh again, and take the next right step forward. With an MBA in leadership underway, he’s passionate about creating supportive spaces in faith and recovery communities. Available for speaking and writing engagements, he focuses on faith, sobriety, and inclusive, compassionate leadership.
Hi, I’m Charles. A 47-year-old father, grandfather, and recovering alcoholic celebrating almost 5 years of sobriety. My journey has ignited a passion for fitness and helping others. I share my story, experiences, and insights on recovery, fitness, and personal growth.
You can find Charles @charlessharrisonjr on Instagram.
A daily drinker for over 30 years, Josh is proud to say that as of this podcast recording he is 2
days shy of being alcohol free for an entire year! Josh attributes much of his success to the recovery coaching he received with Through The Glass Recovery Services. Coaching, along with the free Monday Recovery meetings, helped keep Josh accountable throughout those tough first twelve weeks of sobriety. Josh is proof that an alcohol-free life can be not only possible, but amazing.
Find Josh @josh.quits.forever on Instagram.
Join the conversation:
The online recovery community is an amazing space to make new friends. Come check out our Monday night Sober Happy Hour on Zoom, or join our Facebook group Recovery Your Way, and let’s continue the conversation!
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