Author: Contributor to The Sober Curator

Birthdays are an excellent opportunity for self-reflection, goal setting, and health resets. Kind of like a “personal New Year’s Eve,” it feels like a fresh start. My 35th birthday is right around the corner, so naturally, I have been consumed with the “Who the fuck am I?” questions I am flooded with whenever one of my trips around the sun is ending. My mother also reminded me that I will be closer to 50 than 20 the day after my birthday, so that’s great…thanks mom. As I’ve been pondering just who the fuck I am, I’ve been reflecting a lot…

Rachel is one of those alcoholics who has lost her job but gets dressed and takes the train to the city every day anyway, pretending to go to work so that people don’t think anything is wrong. She’s been doing this for about a year while she runs out of money and tests the patience of everyone in her life. Her circumstances are bad, but the climate in her head has become unbearable, so she lives in a fantasy world, imagining lives for the people she sees out the train window every day. She gives them names and elaborate back…

Sober. I hate that word. It sounds so sad. Before I stopped drinking, I basically replaced the word “sober” with “boring.” I didn’t think anyone was sober because they wanted to be. Sobriety was something you had to become because you had a problem. My stance on this has completely changed based on my experience and education on the topic, but I think most people still feel that way, and that’s okay. I have always been good at balancing my different worlds and harvesting different versions of myself based on my current needs. Stretching and morphing myself into the “Allyson”…

Less than a year ago, a woman and Sober Curator named Kate Vitela contacted me from the vibrant canvas of Sober Instagram. She had an intriguing proposition. She wrote a column in an online magazine highlighting sobriety and the role fashion can play in recovery. She wanted to interview me. *Cue imposter syndrome* We chatted on the phone, and she conjured an article that seemed to effortlessly encapsulate not just my essence but the story that had woven itself through the tapestry of my life- a tale of sobriety and sartorial splendor, an artful choreography of self-care. She contacted me…

During our journey to recover from alcohol use, it is only natural that a lot of stagnated energy will be released as we let go of our addictive behaviors. Citrus essential oils can offer powerful support in the release of stagnated energy from our bodies, and they can encourage a healthier, more vibrant flow of energy throughout.  Let’s explore the potential energetic power of four specific Citrus essential oils. BERGAMOT (Citrus bergamia) All citrus oils are inherently uplifting, but what sets Bergamot apart is that it is also extremely calming.  This can make the use of Bergamot essential oil a…

In the world of recovery and self-improvement, sponsors play an essential role in guiding individuals through the tumultuous journey of change. Traditionally, sponsors provide support, wisdom, and a listening ear. I love my sponsor. He calls me when I am upset. I talk to him at length about my program and how I’m keeping sober while taking long walks on the beach. Sharing dinners with him is often a joy, as he’s willing to try anything I make. And today I have to put him down. My sponsor – one of them anyway – is Spock, my loyal canine companion.…

Sober in St. Louis? Ladies, are you ready to embark on a transformative journey towards empowerment, self-discovery, and a vibrant, alcohol-free lifestyle? I’m thrilled to share a remarkable opportunity with you, especially tailored for the sober and sober-curious women of St. Louis. On September 23rd, prepare to gather with like-minded souls at an event that promises to ignite your inner spark and connect you with a supportive community of women walking the same path. This workshop is a haven for those seeking clarity, strength, and a renewed sense of purpose in their sobriety journey. Whether you’re well on your way…

First Dry January and now Sober October? When did taking a break from alcohol become so trendy? What’s with the trend in sober, curious adventures? In a world that both celebrates and mourns with a clink of a glass, a new movement has taken the stage – the Sober Curious Movement. From Dry January to Sober October, there’s an undeniable shift in the air. But why? Well, because it’s not just about quitting the drinks; it’s about embracing a lifestyle that’s truly liberating. And guess what? It’s happening, and it’s happening now. Let me introduce myself: I’m Sarah Olsen. I’m a…

Hey! What do you get when you cross members of the Phellowship (a group of sober Phish fans) with die-hard Packer fans? You get Section Yellow, the only sanctioned, fan-driven sober resource and ambassadors’ group in the NFL. In this video, I chat with Section Yellow’s founders John Plageman and Thomas Doughman about their experiences in getting the group started, the strength they’ve received from sober fans and their allies, and the hope to expand sober acceptance in an area where drinking is not just part of the culture, it’s often the whole thing. And we talk a bit about…

Willkommen zum Oksoberfest! Lincoln Park Zoo and Chicago AF are thrilled to host the all-new alcohol-free and adults-only version of Germany’s classic celebration, Oktoberfest! Visit tents and sample non-alcoholic beers and craft cocktails. Snack on brats and pretzels with mustard flights. Dance with hundreds of new friends to the fun polka sounds of a live Polka band. Snag a spot at a traditional communal-style Oktoberfest table and relax or explore the zoo’s animal habitats without all the crowds! Come for the mocktails, stay for the community. Want to learn about the history of Oktoberfest? Stop by and see our award-winning community partners, DANK…

Help Us End Ableism. When my son Max was born the geneticist said to me “You know there’s a pill you could have taken for that.” My son Max is an individual who happens to have Down syndrome. People look at him and think they know who he is, believe he has no value in the world, or diminish his chances by not giving him opportunities to show them what he can do. THAT is Ableism. He is now 14 years old and surfing, skateboarding, making art, taking photos with vintage film cameras, loves science and is an epic drummer.…

I found this book on a list of addiction-themed novels, but it is not what I would categorize as “addiction fiction,” since the main character isn’t an addict or alcoholic, and addiction is not a central theme. Chappie (later Bone) smokes a lot of weed, has a birth father and friends who are drug addicts and a stepfather who is an alcoholic, commits tons of crimes, was abused as a child, yet he never develops anything resembling an addiction. I kept waiting for it to happen, and was my primary motivation at times to keep reading, but instead this turned…

A little over two years ago, an email arrived that sparked an exhilaration within me, an individual on the path to sobriety, and a fervent sports enthusiast. The message conveyed that I had secured two tickets to a minor league baseball game, and these were no ordinary tickets—they granted access to the all-you-can-eat-and-drink section. The prospect of indulging in an endless flow of beverages aligned seamlessly with my history, yet this time, it was profoundly different. Die Hard (Sober) Sports Fan Those who know me are aware that I live and die by my support for the Milwaukee Brewers. I…

Ashley Ryan is a podcast host, an award-winning screenwriter, producer, and personality who illuminates the little-understood aspects of philosophy, theology, history, and Western esotericism. Ashley has been a partitioner of the occult for over half her life working with candle magick, Tarot Cards, and Ceremonial Magick. After earning her BA in Philosophy and Theology, she was a professional ghost hunter/tour guide for two years. In 2019, Ashley began her online occult identity as her persona “Pythian Priestess” garnering thousands of followers and international press. Ashley Ryan is sharing her special Magical Mocktails for those looking to explore and expand their consciousness…

Hey there, sports enthusiasts, and sober champions! Welcome to our revamped corner of the internet where we’re shaking things up and blending sports with sobriety. What? Sports? Here? Isn’t this supposed to be a site about #Quit-Lit, sober fashionistas, mocktails, and other stuff that is so not sports? Sports play a vital role in many of our lives, even during sobriety. We don’t hang up our cleats, stop cheering, or turn off the game when we embrace a sober lifestyle. Just like we don’t stop going to concerts, reading, or creating. Instead, we celebrate how sobriety adds a whole new…

Essential oils make an incredible addition to a sober support plan, as they can help you navigate various emotions by providing calming, relaxing, grounding, and uplifting effects. However, with countless essential oils available, it can be challenging to determine which ones suit your needs best. To ease your search, I’m delighted to share my top five favorite essential oils for sober support. I love them because: 1. They are known for their calming, relaxing, grounding, or uplifting properties. 2. They are budget-friendly options. 3. Each oil offers a unique aroma, ranging from woody to floral to citrus. 4. They are…

This is a beautifully written book that is quite different from the usual action-packed “Addiction Fiction” thrillers and crime stories I’ve reviewed so far. It was Leslie Jamison’s debut novel. The narrative is split between the first-person perspectives of Stella and her estranged aunt Tilly, a lifelong alcoholic and former prostitute who lives in isolation in the middle of the Arizona desert. The voices of these two characters combine to paint a picture of the family’s suffering across generations. Relationship and addiction problems run in the family, although they manifest very differently across the narrators and other characters. Stella suffers…

Lawrence Block has written 22 books featuring Matthew Scudder, his ex-cop/unlicensed private detective. Eight Million Ways to Die is the fifth in the series. I started here because I’m an Addiction Fiction nerd and this is the volume in which Scudder admits to being an alcoholic. Eight Million Ways to Die The book was published in 1982. It’s a time capsule that took me back to the New York City I knew as a kid. The subways were badly vandalized and covered in graffiti back then, taxis wouldn’t go north of 125th Street, and drug dealers ran Bryant Park. Pay…

The path to sobriety can be extremely challenging, but it’s also very rewarding. It’s a journey that demands coping mechanisms to deal with overwhelming emotions, and yet, you can find tremendous comfort in your new way of life. Aromatherapy can help you feel more in control of your experience because it offers very specific therapeutic benefits to support you through the ups and downs of the process. How Essential Oils Work Essential oils, the heart, and soul of aromatherapy, are composed of specific chemical compounds that indicate their distinctive benefits. When you inhale an essential oil, its molecules are swiftly “read” by the…

Anyone who reads crime fiction is familiar with the alcoholic ex-cop private investigator character. Randy Chalmers is an ex-cop who gets sober and makes millions as an architect, but when his sponsor dies of an apparent overdose he steps into the role. He goes around town, roughing people up, shaking them down for information and trying to find out what happened and who was at fault. Deep down, Randy knows that it was his own fault – at least partially. Life got good for him in sobriety. He got busy and drifted away from AA and his sponsor. If he…

This is the first book by Michele Miller that I have read, and it was excellent. It starts as a hard-core zombie story set in NYC, with a great cast of characters. There are all of the requisite guts, gore, and brains splattering…. It is not my usual genre, but it is brilliantly done. The recovery aspect of the story is barely mentioned in the first few chapters. It comes on slowly and naturally. Eventually, the cast figures out that alcoholics and addicts are “immune” from the zombie disease (the Walking Dead can’t smell them), so they are ultimately the…

I’m Lindsay, and I live in Knoxville, TN – well, Maryville, pronounced mur-vull, a smaller town between Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I’ve been alcohol-free since June 2021, and I’m just now breaking out into the world of mocktails, NA beers, sober safe spaces, and socializing sober. Thankfully, being sober in Knoxville comes with an amazingly supportive sober community – complete with a sober bar, designated sober safe space coffee shop, and recovery-centric weekly yoga classes. When I started running the @soberinknoxville Instagram page, I didn’t know it would bring me in contact with the kind of…

Juniper Waller is a singer, songwriter, and vocal empowerment coach from Oakland, CA. Her main musical project is her funk-soul band, The Gold Souls. Juniper comes from a long line of singer-songwriters and also has a background in holistic healing, social justice work, and poetry. She has been sober since October of 2018, and much of her journey has been about learning to create in recovery. Juniper is also a vocal empowerment coach and breathwork guide helping people free their voices through guided vocalization and meditation practices. Through her business Voice Body Spirit, Juniper supports people in reclaiming their voices from past…

Day 90. This housewife wants to commemorate her ninety-days of continuous sobriety with a her very first … tattoo. This is our last episode of SEASON 2 BETSY. Featured Music by Jessica Wilde, Francis Lung, Judah Kim, Katie Burke, ⁠Jon Jeremy⁠,⁠ Natalia Zukerman⁠,⁠ Anne Heaton⁠, ⁠Pop Buchanan⁠, Matt the Electrician. Voice Talent by Katie Segal, Otis Gray, Bryan Fitzgerald, Socks Whitmore, Brooke Robichaud, Courtney Halford, Philip Vitela, & Katie Mack Executive Produced & Sound Design by ⁠⁠⁠Katie Mack⁠⁠ ⁠ Written by⁠ ⁠⁠Kimberly Kearns⁠⁠⁠Story Development by ⁠⁠EmJ Hova⁠⁠, Dillon Heape, and⁠ Katie Mack⁠Associate Produced by Brianna Janae & Maggie Stiggers SPECIAL THANKS to Alysse Bryson, The Sober Curator, Intentional Sidekick Training,…

The Creative Sober is a community of sober and sober-curious creatives looking to connect with others who are navigating sobriety, health, and spiritual awareness.

This is an exciting time to be sober or sober-curious, and it’s easier than ever to find delicious alcohol-free fare in beverage superstores, specialty bottle shops, grocery stores, and online. But, if your town is like mine, it’s not so easy to find more than one or two alcohol-free beer brands on the menu at a bar or restaurant. So, what’s an AF fan to do? Here are some ideas… and I encourage you to try them out! 1. Name it to claim it! Many bar and restaurant managers think that because guests don’t specifically ask for alcohol-free options, they…

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of chronic disease and premature mortality. Considering how much harm it does to the human body, smoking cessation is the best way to minimize the risk of illness and early death. The National Cancer Institute’s report on quitting highlights how stopping smoking can significantly reduce the risk of cancer and lung disease— cutting the risk of lung cancer by 30% to 50% after ten years compared to people who continue to smoke. In addition, cutting cigarettes out can improve cardiovascular health and fertility. However, it can be challenging to quit cigarettes due to their…

The Creative Sober is a community of sober and sober-curious creatives looking to connect with others who are navigating sobriety, health, and spiritual awareness. The foundation of the Creative Sober is our

The Creative Sober is a community of sober and sober-curious creatives looking to connect with others who are navigating sobriety, health, and spiritual awareness. The foundation of The Creative Sober is our stories and keeping an open mind toward recovery. Creative expression is a fundamental part of what we put into the world. It takes real courage to share this with others. Duality and Art – Interview with Cate Blanchard, The Sober Painter After stopping drinking in 2019, @thesoberpainter from Manchester, UK, decided to swap a pint glass for a paintbrush and hasn’t stopped since! Naming pieces after the numbered days of their…

Cinco de Mayo may have a bad reputation as a “drinking holiday,” but in the Valley of the Sun, there are many ways to celebrate sans alcohol! Check out this curated list of fun sober activities to do by Contributor Kristin Horstman, Founder of Brighten Your Life Coaching. Sober Cinco De Mayo Events Worth Checking Out! Fetching Dog Fetching Dog is a locally owned, family pet food, toys and supplies store. Owners, Becci and Bryce Scott have been involved in animal rescue work, here in the valley, since the mid 1990s. You can stop by their new Barkery cafe all…