I recall saying in early recovery, “If I can’t have fun in sobriety, then there is no point in doing it.” Since my alcoholic world revolved around drinking, I of course couldn’t imagine such things as dancing, playing cards, singing, barbeques, driving, breathing, well you get the picture, without alcohol. Now, in retrospect I have no idea how I ever found the time to sit on a barstool.

I was blessed to be a part of a very active Valley Hope Alumni Association that met in McCook, Nebraska on a monthly basis. Even though we lived in a rural area about an hour from there, we would make the trip for good food, fellowship and fun. The first sober New Years Eve party that I attended was at Norton Valley Hope, where I watched the current staff perform skits and we brought in the New Year with music, dance, fun and laughter. Despite my early reservations, I found that it wasn’t so difficult to have a great time sober and that I was also able to remember what I did and with whom.

How amazing it is to look back at the way alcoholism limited my life then and how the freedom of recovery has expanded my life now. To make a short list of the fun I’ve had in sobriety over the years it would include, staying up all night just to watch the sunrise, drink “cowboy” coffee made over an open campfire until the wee hours, under the blanket of a starlit night, play card games that nobody else has ever heard of, dance like no one is watching, karaoke (LOUD), ride a horse at a gallop so fast it made my eyes water, travel to places unknown, ride for hours on the back of a motorcycle behind my soul mate, life has been good. To anyone that thinks life is going to be dull, boring and glum without drink or drug, I would say, “fasten your seat belt, because you are in for one heck of a ride”.