Celebrating while maintaining sobriety

Looking for help on how to “celebrate” without food/alcohol - typical items you would consume on holidays. When your family and friends are planning everything around things you’re trying to be sober from.

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hi! where are you based? in UK i get Three Spirit botanical non-alcoholic drinks and botanical wines, really amazing. ginger ale and ginger beer is my thing when I’m out with others. if i know something is coming up then I’ll order from Three Spirit , and buy mixers for them like fizzy water and ginger or lime cordial. :sunflower:
Also, i like Trip and Goodrays (CBD drinks)…

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Would there be a fun sober activity you could do with family that would feel like a celebration? Maybe something youve always wanted to try? I have planned fun things for myself by going on trip advisor, airbnb or groupon in my area and looking at “things to do” or “experiences.” I live in a big city so there are helicopter tours, scuba diving, art classes, rage and escape rooms, ax throwing, haunted tours, spa packages, pug yoga… the list goes on. But even when I was in a small town in Oregon I ended up doing a farm tour/cow milking class that was so fun. Even something simple and free/cheap like a hike or picnic in a park can be a celebration if you make it one :light_blue_heart:
Grrat job planning ahead to maintain sobriety in a tough time

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This is something I still have difficulty with, but going for walks/hikes and checking out new stores or going to get coffee. There’s a lot to do out there that doesn’t involve drinking. Pray for ideas and guidance, and I’m sure they will come to you.

I think you’ll fall into a routine and end up really enjoying that more than going out and doing stuff, that’s what i found out about me.

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Thank you - for good advice. Trying to avoid family that wants to participate and being strong enough to be around things and not join in! I do love hiking and coffee breaks etc. I think I just need to shift my mind set but you’re absolutely right about praying for guidance.

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Seems like you just need to work on getting your mind right, and I don’t mean that negatively at all. Let them ‘celebrate’ and you can be right there with them, drinking Diet Coke or whatnot. Yet without the anger and sadness and blackouts. And when they’re sleeping in with a hangover, you’ll be up living life.

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This is good advice

most AA/NA groups do a lot of fellowship days for holidays and special occasions maybe consider going to meetings and joining a home group so you can have more of a social life

that’s the best advice so far I think

our homegroups here do stuff like every week very often

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most of the AA groups in my area have days out walking ,bowling, and curry nights , and here in Scotland they have new year dances and gives me chance to put on my kilt , I have friends in the rooms for over three decades now we meet for lunch now and again and team up and travel to a meeting out side our area meet new friends wish you well

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