To change old routines when I got sober, I needed to change how and where I did everything and fill any spaces that were left in my life by removing alcohol. I filled those spaces with new enjoyable activities and beverages.
I head this morning: "You can carpet the world or just put sneakers on." In this respect, I changed the route that I took to work so that I wasn't passing the stores that I routinely stopped for little travel boxes of wine before and after work.
I remember watching TV after work was difficult for me. I felt really uncomfortable with nothing in my hand and snacking didn't do the trick for me. I started drinking sparkling water with a splash of strawberry lemonade in it. I called it my spritzer. It became a big deal, and we all celebrated my spritzers.
I stopped walking down the alcohol isle at the store. Next I would let myself take that isle, but I would focus at the end of the isle where the dairy section was and tune out the alcohol to my sides.
It turns out that what I added to my life to fill the spaces enriched my life. On the weekends, I started flea market flipping and after work I started running, later in sobriety it was hot yoga.
Today in stroke recovery I fill spaces too with things I enjoy. I'm never sitting idle unless it is purposeful resting. Changing routines is not subtracting from your life, its adding and enriching.
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Thank you for listening! Visit me at recoverydailypodcast.com or email me at rachel@recoverydailypodcast.com. Let’s continue this journey together.
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