By becoming sober, you are taking the first step in improving your life and becoming a better person. As you go through recovery, you may find yourself longing for a partner or romantic interest. However, before you leap into a relationship, there are a few things you need to know. Here are a few of the things you should and should not do if you are looking to date while you are newly sober. Continue reading
When in recovery, many former alcohol addicts like to concentrate on coffee. Coffee provides a lot of what alcohol does: a social ritual that you can engage in with friends. While physical addiction is hard, the psychological and habitual addiction can be harder. Here are a few great coffee chains that you can try on your journey through sobriety. Note we said best coffee chains but that is debatable. Continue reading
You look in the mirror and what do you see? If your eyes go directly to a protruding belly or thighs that look a bit larger than you think they should, then you might be beginning to wonder “Am I FAT” Considering the barrage of images we get of too-skinny actresses and models every day on the screen, it is no wonder we are all obsessed with our weight. Continue reading
By Paulo Murillo WEHO TIMES
My 12 Step Store had much to celebrate this past Wednesday, September 22, during National Recovery Month. The recovery book and gift store located at 8730 Santa Monica Boulevard, in the heart of West Hollywood, partnered with the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to celebrate 15 years of servicing the recovering community with an alcohol-free party and business mixer. Continue reading
There are plenty of challenges to be had with addiction to a “traditional” drug, but what happens when you or a loved one tangle with something deadly? The danger that is lingering on a daily basis due to drugs is super-sized when you consider these most dangerous of street drugs. Here are tips on how to recognize them and their side effects so you can steer clear. Continue reading
It’s easy to look at a celebrity and think that their life is perfect — they have no challenges nor have money problems — and that they could never understand what you are going through. The reality is that you can never step inside someone else’s mind to see what they are thinking or feeling deep inside. Instead, you are judging by what’s on the outside and that can make you feel worse than ever about your difficulties. Here are 4 famous individuals you may not have known about who are taking slow steps toward lifelong health and wellness, just like you. Continue reading
My 12 Step Store during LA Pride (Photo Courtesy R.J. Holguin)
You might think a store dedicated to sobriety would be out of place in the heart of West Hollywood’s party scene, but My 12 Step Store been there for years.
It’s a one-stop shop that fills an important need by selling all the essentials required for any meetings of the various 12-step programs – books, chips and medallions designating sobriety milestones – as well as racy clothing, jewelry, unique gifts and inspirational recovery cards. Continue reading
There is no “one type” of alcoholic. In fact, the stereotype of an alcoholic is very unlikely to be true. Studies have shown that wealthy and successful professionals may be the most likely to drink. Addiction can run in very specific circles and understanding these environments and these pressures is important. Continue reading
The short days, frigid weather and a lot of time spent cooped up indoors can lead people to feel down during winter. A lot of people experience the winter blues, but some may experience an extra, more intense drop in their mood. Continue reading
Everyday Life“Here’s the thing, I enjoy all the things that I thought would be boring in sobriety. I thought nightlife was the most fun thing that I could do. I’d go out and drink until three o’clock in the morning and then get up and do it again. I thought that would be my death. But going to the Broad or the Getty Museum with a group of friends is a lot more fun. Finding healthy sober options like the Descanso Gardens in Pasadena and going to concerts–I think the joy that people find in everyday life is always there. You just have to be patient and tune into it. Make your own fun. I do a lot of outdoor stuff. I make a conscious effort to get out into the world because I spent so much time sleeping and recovering from a hangover. People forget that we can do things like jumping out of airplanes, go horseback riding, scuba diving, hiking, skying, surfing—whatever it is that gets you connected to this beautiful world that we used to hibernate from, so that was my take when I got sober. I didn’t want to hibernate anymore.”
—Thomas Clenney, sober since July 4, 2010.
Things Juicy“What I do to keep things juicy is I don’t stick to the basic norms. I switch it up. I get exotic with my lifestyle. I work in nightlife and it’s so taboo to work in nightlife and to be sober, but I do it because I enjoy it. I’m an exotic dancer and host parties in the Hollywood and WeHo area. I enjoy the yin and the yang of it. During the day I take care of myself and hold myself responsible for my sobriety. I go to meetings, I work with newcomers and I’m also a part of the fellowship, but then at nighttime, I have fun with the whole vibe of gritty, dirty, hairy and sweaty fun. It’s not triggering for me, because I always see people who are sober at the parties. It’s one-hundred percent fun… I didn’t get sober and start going to night life right away. I took a year to figure out what was comfortable for me and what was not. After a while, I just found a really comfortable place where I could make it happen.
—Tokeyo Peterson, sober since December 22, 2016.
Who Click With Me“I stay busy. I look for new things to do that are interesting like pop-up shops. I went to a blacklight slide event over the weekend in Bakersfield—that was kind of cool. One day out of the week we get a group together and go to the movies. Most of the guys are sober, sometimes they’re not. I think it’s all about keeping things fresh and doing new things like going kayaking in Redondo Beach, going to cupcake shops, visiting museums… I surround myself with people who I click with, we have a good time, we check in on each other. Sometimes I don’t want to see the movies they want to see but I go anyway, because it makes them happy and that makes me happy.
—Curtis Hutchinson, sober since December 25, 2007.
From The fight – The Share by Paulo Murillo
