By: Lisa B., Transformations Alumni Coordinator
“Sober living,” “halfway house,” or whatever you choose to call it, the mention of one can spark some judgment or anxiety. We’ve all heard the not-so-great things about them—the misconceptions or the few bad eggs that have tarnished the rest. What we don’t often hear is how incredibly life-changing they can be. They are a crucial part of thousands of recovering individual journeys and can be essential to saving one’s life.
I will never forget agreeing to go to a sober living home. I had some preconceived ideas myself. I pictured a dirty home filled with not-so-nice residents. A place where I would surely not fit in or be safe. Despite being an addict, I had a “better than” attitude and thought there was no way that I would fit in with “those people,” but one of the best decisions I have ever made for my recovery was to give it a shot. My old way of living was not working. Going back to my old environment had historically proven to be incredibly challenging. I needed a fresh start, accountability, and support, all the things an excellent sober home can provide.
You see, I was shocked when I took a tour. The place was clean. There were rules and resources in place to help me succeed and to ensure my safety, and the women were far from the dangerous criminals I had imagined.
I came into recovery at the age of 23. I thought I had it all figured out. After all, I was an adult. But this was far from the truth. I needed help starting a new life for myself, and doing it alongside people who had been there before me and people who were on the same path as I currently was life-changing.
The friends I made and the experience I had are some of my fondest memories to date. I had more fun during that time than ever while using. Not only did we take our recovery seriously in that house and do the required things needed to get better, but we also learned to live again (or for many of us, for the first time) without substances. We learned how to have fun. How to belly laugh without needing anything except a cup of tea and some roommates sitting on the balcony on a warm South Florida evening.
My sober living experience was a positive one because I chose a reputable, safe, accredited house, but also because I wanted to be there, and I chose to stick with the winners. When coming into recovery, temptation is all around us. If we stick with the people doing the right thing, we succeed. I look back, and so many of the women that I got sober within that house are still sober today because that is precisely what we did. Today, we have our careers, families, and homes, but I still know I can call them if I need anything or even reminisce about those balcony nights so long ago.
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