10 Best Things About Your Second Year of Sobriety

That first year of recovery is definitely a bumpy road that is filled with a lot of new discoveries. After that first year, there are some plus sides to being in your second year of sobriety. I’ve thought of the 10 best things about your second year of sobriety.

10 Best Things About Your Second Year of Sobriety:

1. You’ve found the meetings you like and don’t like.

This was something that was so important for me, being able to find the meetings I like and don’t like. It took me that first year of recovery to realize which meetings were good for me and which weren’t. Once I was in my second year, I was able to attend the meetings I truly enjoyed.

2. You have a solid support system.

You have a good and solid support system of people who are strong in their recovery. It takes a little while before you find those people that you really connect with and are serious about their recovery to surround yourself with, but once you do – it’s a beautiful friendship!

3. You’re starting to feel more comfortable in your own skin.

This was one of the biggest rewards of my second year of being sober. Starting to feel comfortable in my own skin was all I ever wanted. Yes, I still suffer from some social anxiety but I feel so much better being myself than I ever did in my active addiction!

4. You’re living on your own and finished your halfway house commitment.

Once you’ve finished that halfway house commitment, it is so great to be living in your own place! You have independence, freedom and responsibilities and its great! When my two friends and I got an apartment it was one of the best feelings.

5. You are feeling more confident with your life.

Confidence is a great feeling, and with more time in sobriety – the more confidence I ended up getting. Being able to walk around with my head held high and feeling good about myself was an amazing part of the second year of my sobriety.

6. You have a job and pay your bills today, and it feels good.

Who would have thought that having a steady job and being able to pay your bills would feel this good, I certainly didn’t think it would – but it does! It makes me feel like I am finally a functioning member of society and can work like a normal person and pay my bills on time.

7. You’ve made amends and repaired a lot of relationships.

If you’ve been through your steps, making amends is a huge gift that is a result of working a program of recovery. Not just making amends but living amends. Being able to live my life in a positive way every day is a great amends to make to my loved ones. Thankfully, I’ve had the pleasure of restoring some of my relationships through sobriety, too.

8. You’re closer with your family than you were before.

This may not be the case for everyone, but for me I got so much closer with my family after getting sober. That second year I was able to show up for them and be the daughter, sister, granddaughter and family member I never was. It’s good to know that today they can count on me to be there.

9. You get to take sponsees through steps and watch the light turn on for them.

I would have to say this is probably one of the best things I get to do today. Taking sponsees through the steps and watching them grow and the light turn on in their eyes as they start to get it is truly a miracle and beautiful to watch. It is so nice to be able to give back what was so freely given to me!

10. You have this inner peace that nothing and no one can take from you.

If my car was to be stolen, my apartment was to be taken away, all of my belongings just vanished – I would still have an inner peace that nothing or no one can take from me. I’ve found a solution to the spiritual malady that I used to suffer from and that’s a connection with a higher power and working a program of recovery. It isn’t based on anything materialistic and all of the promises of the program actually came true! If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll free 1-800-951-6135.