This morning I officially went from days to weeks!!! I’m 1 week 2 hours sober this morning! Woke up thinking about how I want to celebrate and then realized I don’t know how to celebrate anything without alcohol because any celebration I’ve had in the last 10 years alcohol was the biggest part of any celebration. How do yall celebrate these milestones without drinking? Lol
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This is such a great question; and congratulations!
The brain’s plasticity is great because it means we can retrain it. Give it something else to associate with celebrations and feeling good about an accomplishment. Easier said than done, right?
It takes time.
Listen to your inner voice, your truest voice. What is it that it needs? If it’s the connection you feel with others while you celebrate, find those things that connect you with them regardless. If they’re drinking, drink a favorite NA beverage like lemonade or soda. If it’s the physical high, then celebrate by jogging around the block. There are so many fun and sober ways to celebrate achievements. You just have to retrain your brain. It’s like getting to know yourself!
It’s like dating yourself…but without alcohol. 
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Awww, great topic!
There are several threads on it, I just don’t remember their tags 
How do I celebrate?
Like the superlazy partygirl I always was, a woman of pleasure 
I indulge in a fancy meal, mostly homecooked, grab a hot chocolate, a good book, a bubble bath, nice music on and there I go into the tub!
Sometimes I buy myself something nice, colour of the season nailpolish & lipstick recently. I like to listen to classic music so sometimesI go to a concert. Most times I just do what I love to do and enjoy the day, nose to the sun (or solarium), comfy cloths just for me to feel special, a happy weird dance, calling a friend (i don’t go out much) and spoiling myself 
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Thank you so much! That is a really good analogy because I feel like I’m having to date myself through this because I’m having to slowly learn who I am without alcohol and it’s weird.
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These are all great! Maybe I will try to get in for a pedicure and go out to dinner this evening. Thank you for the ideas!!
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you are GREAT without alcohol! you can do everything and remember it! bonus: no oversharing or embarrassing memories (at least not due to alcohol. I can do both without as well 
)
why not dedicate a few hours to an old hobby to celebrate? maybe it’s still fun! I rediscovered knitting a few years ago.
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pedicure 
dinner out: stay away from settings you used to drink alcohol in early sobriety.
whatever you do: have fun & enjoy yourself
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Absolutely! Applebees, Mexican, and Macados is a big no! I’m thinking Chinese because they don’t even serve alcohol, not an option so no urges!
The old hobby thing I agree with for sure, I’ve picked crocheting back up and am about halfway done with a king size blanket!
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For me personally, I bought a new book, or earrings, or sweet treat every month I was sober for the first year. I gigured I was saving more than than by not buying booze, and it gave me something to look forward to.
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It is a weird feeling!
I kept doing clumsy and dumb shit when I quit smoking. Like, I forgot how to drive! I would put random shit in the fridge. I’d put on one sock but not the other. Putting my coffee cup upside down in the Keurig. I felt like I was going crazy! I kept thinking: do I seriously not know how to function?
I had lived so much of my life around smoking, I forgot how to live. Everything was tied to it.
So, it was weird having to relearn basic things.
Now, it’s second nature. Now, the thought of always going outside for a cigarette is annoying because it would disrupt my new routines.
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Don’t really celebrate personally, I did my first time getting sober. Specially when I hit my year and some milestones and then relapsed after my year. So now I kinda just see the milestones and be grateful, maybe eat some of my favorite fruit or candy. Mayb buy a small cologne. It’s definitely worth being extremely excited about, so celebrate in your own way. Doing the stuff you love or are learning to love. Congratulations on two weeks
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Well spoken!!!
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Congrats! 1 week! 
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When I reached a very important milestone, I treated myself with a new perfume. Congrats on your first week 
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Love it! If you like, show us your blanket on the knitting and crocheting thread 
a restaurant whithout alcohol served is great. we don’t have that where I live. thanks for the reminder of chinese food, haven’t had it in ages. definitely on my goto list this year now 
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Thank you so much!
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Whatever you do…do not celebrate with drinking. Sounds like insanity but i did it at 30days and was bummed and spiraled further.
I bought a paint by numbers, a hair treatment, save a big reward for 30 days!
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Honestly this is exactly the way I felt this morning. I woke up and was like “7 days wow, I’m so proud of myself! I should have a drink to celebrate!” Then stopped and thought about it and was like yea probably shouldn’t celebrate not drinking with drinking.
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Hi im new.
Im 30 days sober on Tuesday im going out for steaks and mocktails.
First easter sober in 20 years its not easy tbf
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Welcome to the TS family! Glad you found us. Stay connected with us, we can get through eastern sober together.
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