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The final days of 2020 are at our doorstep, with Christmas and New Year’s Eve quickly approaching. If you are like most people, you are probably looking forward to 2020 coming to a close. This has been an exceedingly challenging year for men and women in recovery for several reasons. However, those who managed to keep their recovery intact are stronger. 

 

Staying clean and sober during a pandemic is no small feat; you should be proud of your accomplishment. That being said, there are still two challenging days ahead for men and women in recovery. Maneuvering through holidays in recovery can be difficult, but it’s possible provided you continue to put your program in front of everything else. 

 

As you probably know, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends avoiding travel and attending holiday gatherings. It’s best to bring in the upcoming holidays only with people you live with to avoid putting your health at risk. The CDC has many guidelines for celebrating the winter holidays safely. 

 

Staying On Track In Recovery

 

recovery

Avoiding close contact with other people means that you may have to observe the upcoming holiday alone. We understand that it’s a saddening prospect, but the pandemic is still in full force; more people contract the virus every day. We ask that you take the CDC’s recommendations seriously in order to safeguard your health and well-being. 

 

Fortunately, you are not alone; many of your peers in recovery will also be spending the holidays in isolation. What’s more, you can attend 12 Step meetings online if your homegroup isn’t hosting groups in-person. While virtual meetings are not ideal, they are the best way to protect your progress and keep your recovery intact. 

 

Please be sure to stay in regular contact with your friends in the program. Checking-in with your peers is of the utmost importance. If you are having trouble this Friday, be sure to call for help. Your friends in the program will come to your aid if you need help. 

 

Do not ignore how you are feeling; isolation can lead to loneliness. When you are feeling lonely, you’re more likely to entertain thoughts of drinking or using. Ideas can turn into actions if you are not careful. Despite everything that is happening, it’s beneficial to try to keep a positive attitude. The more positive you are, the better able you will be to resist the temptation to drink or use this Christmas. 

 

“Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.” —Mahatma Gandhi 

 

It will help if you keep your finger on the pulse of your recovery. Never hesitate to ask another member of the fellowship for assistance. You can get through Christmas without problems, provided you are willing to reach out for guidance from your sponsor or other peers in the program. 

 

Safe and Sober Christmas

 

At Hope By The Sea, we would like to wish you a safe and sober Christmas. If you are struggling with drugs and alcohol, please contact us to learn more about our programs and services. We can help you make 2020 the year that you get clean and sober. We can help you break the cycle of addiction and learn how to live a fulfilling life in recovery.