Getting sober is the most difficult thing that many people will ever do. The work that goes into overcoming drug addiction or an alcohol use disorder is all but unfathomable to those who have not been through a similar experience. If you have a friend who is in recovery (or if you are in recovery yourself) you likely know all about the significance of a sobriety date. This is the first day that you or your friend spent sober – every month during the first year of continuous sobriety, you celebrate with what is known as a “chip” – a small reminder of how far you have come.
Lasting Recovery Deserves a Celebration!
If you are not in addiction recovery but your friend is, you might be wondering what you can do to celebrate. Most people celebrate successes by going out for a round of drinks at a local bar or toasting with a glass of nice champagne. Of course, these are not options for individuals who are working hard to stay sober. So what can you do to acknowledge how proud you are and celebrate all of the major improvements your friend has made? Recreate Life Counseling has compiled a small list of ideas. Remember that it is important to check in with your friend and consider his or her personal preferences. While one individual might like a big celebration with lots of friends and family, another might want to keep things low-key and keep his or her recovery semi-private.
Creative Ways to Celebrate Recovery
Below are several ways in which you can celebrate a friend’s sobriety date.
- Make an “anniversary” or “birthday” cake. Something as simple as baking a decorating a cake can have a major impact. Make your loved one’s favorite cake and simply decorate it to say, “Happy One Year Anniversary” or “Happy First Birthday.” This is a fun way to celebrate a milestone and let your loved one know that you are thinking about and proud of them.
- Take your friend out to a nice dinner at his or her favorite restaurant. You do not necessarily need to throw some big, extravagant party. By taking your friend out to his or her favorite restaurant and having a meaningful, sober conversation you are letting them know you are proud of them and making an effort to show them that.
- Show up to his or her homegroup with flowers and balloons. Anniversary meetings are always “open format,” meaning that anyone can attend. Show up and give your friend a token of your appreciation.
- Buy your friend a special commemorative AA chip. Some stores carry AA memorabilia, including anniversary sobriety chips that you can personalize. This is a meaningful gift that will remind your friend that he or she is on the right path.
- Throw a private celebration. If your friend does not want to be the center of attention, throw a private celebration with his or her closest sober friends.
Begin Your Addiction Recovery Journey
At Recreate Life Counseling, we believe that recovery is always something to be honored and celebrated. Many of our staff members have been through the recovery process themselves, and therefore they know just how much hard work and determination goes into every day, week, month, and year. Every time one of our clients reaches a recovery milestone we celebrate, helping them recognize that their actions and positive behaviors are inadvertently helping others.
If you have been suffering at the hands of a substance abuse disorder and you have tried to get clean numerous times only to find yourself unsuccessful, we are available to help. Simply give us a call today and we will get you started on your own personal, fulfilling journey of addiction recovery as quickly as possible. We look forward to hearing from you soon!