The end of the year can be a particularly tricky time for those of us who don't drink alcohol. It seems like booze is everywhere, money flows through our fingers like water, we are called on to attend more social events than normal and family pressures mount. During this time it's really important that we focus on the small-but-very-powerful things around us that give us strength, lift our hearts, inspire us, make us feel grounded, and help us to relax. I’ve been asking members of the Living Sober community to email me photos of the things that they're going to draw strength from this Silly Season, and these pictures below are the gorgeous images they have sent through. I hope you draw as much joy and inspiration looking at everyone's photos as I have. Enjoy! Mrs D xxx
@amy: "This is a picture of my girls decorating the Christmas tree. My sobriety allows me to be in the moment with them for every blessed moment."
@prudence: "Reckon my pink cowboy boots and the view will do it for me!"
@jocord: "My "sober sleep is the best" sanctuary. No more 3 a.m. dehydrated holiday wake-ups trying to remember who gifted me what!"
@jm: "Here is my ultimate sober coach. He has been absolutely essential in keeping me sober - he shows me how to be happy with the small, great things of life. We're in Mexico for the holidays, and I'll miss this guy a lot. Merry Christmas all!! xo"
@safeandsound: "This beauty is 12 years old and still looks and acts like a kitten! She's not the brightest (she runs into walls chasing toys, has fallen off the bed while half-asleep, thinks shadows are scary demons etc) and is always getting into trouble. But she makes me laugh at least once every day and sleeps with me every night. True love! Her name is Nina aka Cat Stevens."
@timidwarrior: "My silly season inspiration is my boys. I need to stop putting myself in danger so I can be here for my boys and watch them grow up into amazing men x"
@enzedgirl: "All the beautiful things in my garden will keep me sane and grateful this Christmas season xxx"
@jes: "This is my Christmas 'sober cup'. I ditched my wine glasses this year and bought a year round 'sober cup'. This is the holiday version. No booze will ever touch this cup!"
@kimbo: "Luca doesn’t judge, he just loves."
@marmite: "This is my second sober Xmas and I'm excited, I'm loving Xmas crafts and baking with my daughters, there is so much more to Xmas than booze, who knew??!"
@wildchild: "Heading off to Bali for lots of rest, reading and yoga for Christmas so I can hit 2019 in the best possible state of body and mind. Love the confidence being sober gives me! xx"
@sobere: "I'm thankful for the great view from my apartment deck of the Catalina mountains in Tucson, AZ. I like to sit out and have coffee in the mornings, or play guitar to relax and breathe fresh air. Hopefully there will be snow on the mountains this Christmas."
@redredred: "So many delicious alcohol-free drinks and other treats to choose from now. A girl's gotta have supplies!"
@winner: "Merry Xmas everyone!"
@mrs-d: "I just recently had this tattoo done - my first! It stands for strength, love and freedom. I'm going to love looking at it throughout Christmas knowing sobriety has given me wings."
@ravenscraig: "This is My Little Pond. I built it a couple of years ago in a barren section of the back yard. I love to sit out here, listening to the fountain, and the frogs chirping, and watch the lazy little koi carp. It is my peaceful haven in a world of hustle and bustle."
@hammer123: "This is something that my wife started. The I Love Us decoration, it pops up in various locations, bathroom, lunch kit, bed, suitcase etc and just reminds us how much we love each other! It is also a powerful reminder of why I need to stay sober, so that I don’t put our relationship at risk! Merry Christmas from Canada!"
@annie: "Here is a pic of my Himalayan Beautiful lamp. It was a thoughtful gift from my sister. I love the warm vibes it gives me."
@song-bird: "This is Floyd. He's a bit of a nut. I love him dearly and I just bury my head into that furry body when things are going wrong, and his purr calms me down. He's funny! Here he is catching a cool breeze from the fan on a hot summers day :)"
@liberty: "The silly season is when I have time to make things. The meditative purpose and peace of knitting or sewing gets me through."
@islandone: "This is the morning view from my office in my to-be retirement cottage. I became AF as a part of a group of changes that I want to make in myself before I retire. I want to be the best me for those around me at that stage of my life. I’m shooting for a big improvement and hope to achieve the high bar of 'barely tolerable'."
@mari135: "My meditation corner shelf. oxox"
@kitten: "This is nubis - my 30 day sober kitten. He is a challenge, just like getting sober. Happy holiday."
@agirl: "The garden that I finally had the strength, energy and enthusiasm to make when I stopped drinking. Yay the extra time and energy!!! It's a lush reminder of why I stay sober every single day."
BEAUTIFUL !!!!-the pics made me smile,and so gorgeous.This is so uplifting and inspiring,good work everyone!!
Let’s all have a relaxing,peaceful,calm,delightful,sober Xmas.
OMG….I am not at all creative but boy do each and every one of these wonderful snaps fill me with inspiration!!! I’d love to submit one next time but I will have to ask my very creative daughter to help me lol 🙂
So cool to see a bit of your lives, dear LS friends!! Thanks for sharing!! ?
Very cool photos! They are all gorgeous in their own way – but the view from your office really inspired me @islandone, stunning! Oh and the pink cowboy boots too @prudence. 🙂
Good to see ‘nubis’ on the look-out, @kitten, yer poodle not far behind, no doubt:)
Looking at these photos gives me such a peaceful, warm feeling! Thanks everyone for sharing, and thanks @mrs-d for gathering and editing!!! <3
Ooh lovely! Awesome pics! ❤️❤️❤️
Ooh lovely! Here’s to a fab sober Xmas and an extra special new year! ❤️❤️❤️?????????????
These are awesome, so nice to get a peek into your worlds and see you all are real people doing the same thing! Love this!
Lovely to know we are all out there working through a better holiday period! I am beyond excited to be doing it all sober!! Thanks for sharing the photos. All the fur babies are just adorbs and I’m off to trade aid tomorrow for some of that salted toffee chocolate. Say what?! Awesome peeps happy holidays however you choose to celebrate xx
Such awesome photos! @safeandsound Nina is gorgeous ? and @kimbo Luca is adorable! I love your roses @enzedgirl and @islandone that view ??? totally jealous!
@timidwarrior Oh my gosh, those boys!!!! Handsome little devils!!
Thank you x
Ohhh….just took a peek and I LOVE THIS!!
How awesome. Its one am here (at least its a Saturday, not work week lol)so tomorrow or next week.. I will try to share something, as well☺
I love the faces_and legs @prudence (hee hee,)
Inspiring me to get tattoo, @MrsD!
Xoxo. Merry Christmas /Happy Holidays
What great photos! Love them all, especially the kitty cats. Thanks all for sharing them..love love love.
Love it, what a special glimpse into your lives xx
Wow lovely pictures everyone……..
Thank you everyone for giving us these little glimpses into your lives …it’s an honour to be sharing them and an honour to know all of you through this unique online community…unique thanks to the tireless efforts of our wonderful @Mrs-D. Merry Christmas to all of our Sober Warriors and a Happy and Sober 2019 to all ??❤
Beautiful, each and every one. I love looking at these and I know I will look at them more than just a few times 😉 Very special, thanks to each and every one of you for sharing and thanks to you @Mrs-D for your superb effort, as always x
Your Floyd’s a cutie @song-bird 🙂
Mostly @Liberty, mostly 😉 Not last night when he brought a headless rabbit in ??
But, yes, he’s very cute, luckily! I love your knitting, I used to knit so much, don’t know if I could read the print on a pattern now…
I came across one I had followed and I couldn’t read the small print… ?❤