Summer thoughts: comparison and spontaneity
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Hi everyone! Apologies for the unintentional month long hiatus from this newsletter… Work has been pretty busy lately with our new launch (check out Social Spritz !!)
A little sobriety check-in on my end: I’ve been feeling very steady lately, which I’m grateful for. I even had a consultation with a new therapist last week, and one of the things she said was, “You seem very stable.” This was nice to hear, and is probably the reason I’m restarting therapy again and finally feel ready work through some things I’ve been pushing down the last few years.
But sometimes... I’ll admit I feel too steady and stable? Or maybe “predictable” is the better word.
One of the things I love most about sobriety is knowing I can trust myself. I know I’ll wake up the next day and follow through on the things I said I wanted to do. I’ve gotten into a routine of planning my weekends on Fridays, writing down both the chores/things I want to get done and leaving some room for fun.
But as the weather warms up, I’ve found myself craving those spontaneous summer days where you just see where the day takes you. It’s easy to associate drinking with those kinds of days—a beach day turned happy hour, turned fun night out.
As we’ll talk about later in this newsletter, warm weather can actually be a big trigger for people in recovery. Seeing people drinking on patios, at the beach, or in the park can make it feel like alcohol is what creates those carefree moments.
A helpful reframe for me has been realizing that spontaneity isn’t something alcohol creates - it’s something we create by being open to it. Just last night, I went on a two-hour walk with a friend that turned into spontaneous tacos at a spot we happened to pass. It was a small moment, but reminded me that unplanned, joy-filled moments are still available without the help of alcohol and lowered inhibitions.
Maybe the reminder we all need this summer is to leave a little more room for those moments, plan a little less, and simply see where the day takes us :)
— Steph
If you’re new, check out our intro to Steady Sunday here!
💻 This Week’s Meetings
You can always find our full monthly meeting calendar here!
Tuesday, 6/30 — 5:30-6:30 p.m. PT / 8:30-9:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, 7/1 — 5:30-6:30 p.m. PT / 8:30-9:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, 7/5 — 10-11 a.m. PT / 1-2 p.m. ET
Zoom meeting links are sent in our Discord chat:
✨ Meeting Notes
For many of us, our brains are wired to think that summer and sunshine = prime time to drink. Whether it’s vacations, beach days, barbecues, or just the feeling that alcohol makes experiences like these better, this time of year can naturally bring up feelings of frustration or jealousy. It can be hard watching others “get” to drink, let loose, and have fun while you’re staying sober. When those feelings come up, try taking a moment to step back and ask yourself what you really need in that moment. Maybe it’s connection, relaxation, comfort, or fun. Summer can make it easy to romanticize alcohol, so it’s important to remember that we can meet our needs in ways that are so much better for us than escaping through drinking.
If you’ve been feeling that comparison spiral this summer—seeing people traveling, going to concerts, doing all the things—you’re not alone. Instead of feeling like you need to go somewhere else to make the most of your summer, what if you made a bucket list of things you’ve been wanting to do in your own city or nearby?
Another way to think about it…
One perk of sobriety we recently talked about is being reliable, not only to others, but to ourselves too. Whether it’s showing up in your relationships, working toward big goals, or simply becoming a more responsible, trustworthy, and consistent person, it all matters no matter how big or seemingly small. Plus, the small victories are often what lead to the bigger ones. And it is so incredibly empowering to trust that our actions will align with our words. ❤️
✍️ Journal Prompt
As a way to practice gratitude and reflection, try to think of a time recently that:
you helped someone else
someone helped you
you helped yourself
Always cheering you on,
-Steph & Annie
P.S. Have ideas for anything you’d like to see in this newsletter? Comment on this post or reply to this email!