It’s Sober October! Whether this is your first one or your fifteenth, there are certain things that simply hit differently this time of year. Grab your bingo card and see how October you’ve become.
How many can you check off before November?
SOBER OCTOBER BINGO
Bought an unnecessary decorative gourd
You went in for toothpaste. Somehow there is a velvet pumpkin in your house now.
Watched Practical Magic
Bonus square if you briefly considered moving to a Victorian house with your best friend and becoming the neighborhood witches.
Lit a candle before noon
It was gloomy outside. You had no choice.
Made soup
Congratulations on your cauldron.
Went somewhere specifically to look at leaves
They are leaves. We know this. We are going anyway.
FREE SPACE: “I can’t believe it’s already dark.”
Bought a seasonal beverage based entirely on the name
Maple Harvest Moon Chai? Sure. Whatever. Give it to me.
Wore a sweater when it was objectively too warm for a sweater
The calendar said October. Your body said August. You chose denial.
Entered Trader Joe’s during pumpkin season
Godspeed.
Made plans and then became extremely excited when they were canceled
It’s dark at 6:30. We live here now.
Started a new hobby
Knitting? Baking bread? Watercolors? Identifying mushrooms? Excellent. See you in three weeks when you own $147 worth of supplies.
Ate the Halloween candy you bought for Halloween
It is October 12.
You have time to buy more.
Put on a comfort show you’ve already seen six times
Nobody needs surprises right now.
Sent someone a picture of a tree
LOOK AT THIS ONE.
They looked.
It was, admittedly, a very good tree.
Bought mums
Forgot to water mums.
Held funeral for mums.
Made something involving cinnamon
You are now legally required to announce that the house smells amazing.
Went to bed absurdly early and loved every minute of it
No notes.
HOW DID YOU DO?
0–5 squares: Are you sure you know it’s October?
6–10: Respectable autumn participation.
11–15: You have strong opinions about cider doughnuts.
16+: Please step away from the decorative gourds.
Actually, don’t. It’s October!
THIRSTY FOR WONDER: at The Sober Curator, led by Anne Marie Cribben—a passionate recovery coach and spiritual companion based in Washington, DC—offers 1:1 coaching, spiritual guidance, and recovery support rooted in compassion and empowerment. As the creator of The Wellspring: A Celtic Recovery Journey, Anne Marie blends the Celtic calendar with sobriety, connecting participants to ancient wisdom and the rhythms of nature.
A fierce advocate for sobriety as liberation and self-love, she challenges the targeted marketing of alcohol to women and champions authentic, joyful living. Her work goes beyond addiction recovery, fostering a life of vibrancy, purpose, and connection.
The Sober Curator Game Room: You got sober. You got your brain back. You got your Friday nights back. Now what do you do with them?
You play.
Welcome to The Game Room, The Sober Curator’s home for everything games, puzzles, and sober entertainment. This is where crosswords meet board games, word searches meet Mahjong nights, and one very sparkly Monopoly parody proves that recovery is the ultimate power move.
Grab some friends. Pull up a chair. Grab a mocktail. Let’s play.
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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.
