Arlina Allen, Host of the One Day at a Time Podcast and Founder of the Sober Life School brings you the ultimate resource guide that is perfect for the first 100 days in recovery. Sober Curator Pro Tip: Even if you’ve been sober longer, you are still going to love this list!

About Arlina Allen

There was a time when I thought I was just a fun party girl. To say I was proud of the fact that I could drink men twice my size under the table was an understatement. For a long time, I had A LOT of fun. There were lots of wild nights, lots of men, lots of crazy stories…

My tagline: If it was in a bottle, a bag, or blue jeans, I was doin’ it! My story really begins on April 23, 1994, my first clean and sober day, when I finally admitted that I had to stop using everything, including weed.

I had already stopped drinking alcohol. It had been five months, but I just couldn’t stop smoking weed. I finally admitted I was powerless over that, too. It was hard enough to let go of the drinking, but after repeated humiliations, lost friendships, and more lost relationships than I can count, I began to question my drinking. I finally asked the question:

Am I an alcoholic?

This one simple yet painful question led me to another, then another, and another. Soon, I was on a journey of self-discovery that would transform not only my identity but also the entire trajectory of my life. It took me two years of experimenting, research, about 1,000 self-help books, and lots and lots of pain and frustration, but the undeniable answer was

Yes, I was an alcoholic and an addict.

Like I started out saying, that wasn’t the end of the story; it was just the beginning. Since that day, I have found a new freedom and a new happiness. The woman I am today is unrecognizable from the young scared girl who was so lost and hopeless. I have been together with the love of my life since 1994. We have two amazing boys who have never seen me loaded. I have a wealth of friends and have had a successful career in High Tech Sales for the biggest companies in Silicon Valley.

What I am most grateful for is that I have discovered a hidden talent, a gift, for helping other women out of suffering and into peaceful, joyful, abundant lives. I have learned that there are no real secrets, just simple actions based on ancient teachings, proven strategies, spiritual principles, studies in neuroscience, and the stories of millions of people who have overcome similar life-threatening conditions. All that is required is willingness, a guide, and the right action steps.

If you are ready to let go of what’s holding you back and step into your confident future self, I’d love to help.

Schedule a call with ARlina allen

SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD! at The Sober Curator is a celebration of authentic voices in recovery—echoing Madonna’s call to “Express yourself!” Here, readers and contributors take the spotlight, sharing transformative sobriety journeys, creative talents, and new avenues of self-expression discovered along the way. Through videos, poems, art, essays, opinion pieces, and music, we break the silence that often surrounds addiction, replacing it with connection, hope, and inspiration.

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Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in the Speak Out! Speak Loud! Section are solely the opinions of the contributing author of each individual published article and do not reflect the views of The Sober Curator, their respective affiliates, or the companies with which The Sober Curator is affiliated.

The Speak Out! Speak Loud! posts are based upon information the contributing author considers reliable. Still, neither The Sober Curator nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such.

Resources Are Available

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.