CarolD

It took me about 2 months of AA recovery before I felt back
in balance physically and mentally...

I stayed daily committed to God and AA.

The first hobby I re started was flying private planes.
I'd quit in favor of flying a bar stool..

A few months later...my finances dipped...so that was a rare treat.

Next I did begin volunteer work at a free medical clinic nearby.
When I had no insurance...they welcomed me as a patient.
Part of my recovery is about giving back to the community..

Then I enrolled in classes that interested me...my brain needed a
brush up course after it was de saturated


I can't think of a single thing that has not improved with my recovery..

To our newly sober members....
please find something that benefits your new life....
.Recovery Really Rocks...

SoberCAH

Exercise (running, weight-lifiing, barefoot waterskiing, and riding bikes).

I listen to (and collect) a lot of music.

I also like to shoot guns.

And plenty of reading - I collect (okay, I hoard) books.

It sure beats hanging around smokey taverns getting a bar tan from the neon lights and listening to the same songs over and over on the jukebox.

MycoolFitz

Staying awake works plus I'm walking 5 miles a day and starting running again and I do stand up comedy in the mirror

spryte

Yes, I have found this, but I try not to focus on the excelling part of it. As long as I enjoy doing it, it doesn't matter how good I am at it.

Zebra1275

I've re-discovered tennis and become pretty darn good at it. I'm playing 3 - 4 times a week. That kind of physical activity would have been impossible before.

onlythetruth

Yes definitely. I became better at my job (meaning I could DO it, which I couldn't before I quit!) and was much stronger physically.

Honestly I have never seen a downside to abstinence. It is all good.

Happier

Great Thread!

I've golfed for years but now am finally getting pretty good at it. Got my first hole in one a few weeks ago and it may sound silly but I am glad it came when I was sober! (didn't buy drinks for everyone though)

Like a few others I am finally running again. Never could do that without getting hurt when I was heavier and drinking. Also still cycling and hope to add swimming for some small triathlons next spring. Haven't been able to do one for about 12 years. Have a half ironman here next September and even wondering if that may be possible by then. It almost seems like the possibilities are endless as long as I stay sober : )

freshstart57

I've resumed some old passions like choral singing, artisan bread making and gardening, and added a new one - t'ai chi.

MycoolFitz

I do decorating my place. Not manly but I enjoy it. I didn't have a place for a long time. and I love cooking even if only for one. A Mr Julia Child

ADS20012012

I just posted about this the other day, but being a huge sports fan, I now remember all the "things, "plays," "winning touchdown" etc from watching sports. Just the clarity of it all is what seemed to excel for me.

silly

I too have hobbies that require steady hands. I'm working on getting back into those hobbies these days as money and time permits. Do I excel? I don't know. I'd say yes because it makes me so excited! That's pretty excellent ;-)

Username1

I've been dabbling in guitar, and lifting weights (guitar for years, weights more recently) On day 32 and working out is becoming more intense, and I've been picking up the guitar again about to buy an acoustic. I think it just comes with the territory of learning how to live, and deal with the new time you have and forming a new life you get more hobbies and craft them as you go..

incitingsilence

My writing got better, maybe way more better than I would like to admit. I almost picked back up because I couldn’t even think let alone write anything concise when I stopped drinking. It is much harder without that shut down of my head the alcohol brought and it takes so much effort and patience but it is surely worth it.

The words are what saved me, and continue to be the best part of my recovery.

RobC420

I'm learning to play the bass guitar.
I was sketching for a couple months.
I tried cross stitch, but stunk at it.
I just completed my first latch hook rug.

...all in sobriety. Never would've done these things if I was still drinking.

MycoolFitz

Oh and harmonica

silly

Where would I buy supplies for a latch hook rug? I remember learning that as a teen and think it would be fun! Are there patterns or would I cut my own yarn (is that what I use?) into the right size length and improvise?

Misguided

I'm learning to be more loving and selfless. I've been blessed in MANY ways since I've gotten sober and I getting better at sharing those blessings. I was a very selfish alcoholic, only concerned about having money or a credit card to feed my addiction.

RobC420

There are kits that come with the grid, the pre-cut yarn, and a color coded pattern. All you need is the latch hook tool. This is what I did. Specifically I did the Caron Classics Macaw.

You can also buy just a latch hook tool, grid, and then buy the yarn you want and cut it yourself and improvise.

I have only done the kit but while doing it, it occured to me that I could latch hook basically any pixelated image. Each pixel would be a specific color and then I just follow the pattern from the pixelated picture on to the latch hook grid. I think this is what I would do next so I could pick my favorite bands logo or something instead of just choosing from the kits that are offered.

I bought all my supplies at Michaels and Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby is better than Michaels IMO tho.

newman23

This is all very awesome and uplifting to hear! For quite a while, my alcoholic mind couldn't even fathom what one could do without alcohol(and that sober fun is possible). I guess the alcoholic mind state would rather you block that out anyway so you can remain dedicated to the addiction. There is definitely a big world out there with a lot of things to try and do. I actually got a few ideas from some posts on here that I wouldn't have thought of trying :-)

wes1

I believe you'll find yourself creating music with the keyboard that you never thought possible. I improved my running endurance, solving problems at work, and my ability to teach kids how to play sports.