I used to be a cat person (gosh, that's a tough sentence to type). In my defense, I was young and didn't know any better. All I knew was that I saw kittens, they were cute, and I wanted them. I'm not saying I hate cats by any means --...

This was originally published at http://www.orlandorecovery.com/.

For some, holidays can be a stressful time. For others, they can be a time of celebration. Either way, for people in recovery, staying sober during the holidays may present a challenge.

As with everything in life, there are certain coping mechanisms and...

The first couple weeks of sobriety were the scariest of my life. I've always hated uncertainty, imperfection and change, and suddenly all three were staring me straight in the face, unwilling to go away. Today, this is a good thing because I can now tolerate uncertainty, imperfection and change like...

The majority of what I write has to do with the blessings that sobriety has brought to me, and most of the time that is truly how I feel about being sober. However, I wouldn't be an alcoholic if I didn't occasionally wish I could just throw caution to the...

I've never been a diehard Gilmore Girls fan, but my mom really enjoyed the show. On more than one occasion has told me that because of my passion for words and overall demeanor I remind her of Rory. I've watched she show often enough to confirm that her give-no-shits personality...

Six years ago, under my mother's pressure to find an after-school job, I begrudgingly accepted a position at a local daycare. I didn't want to work with kids, but I wanted to work in food service even less -- and those seemed to be my only options. Working with kids...

This was originally published at thefix.com.

One of the first things I did while in treatment was post on Facebook and tell all of my acquaintances what was happening and why I was no longer drinking. I did so mostly because I was sick of hiding, sick of being ashamed...

This was originally published at TheFix.com

A lot of people will say that one of the hardest things about sobriety is learning how to have free time. The time that would typically be spent using and getting high is suddenly an intimidating emptiness. For many people, free time is dangerous...

It's been about three months since I donned that hard-earned cap and gown, managed not to trip on stage while shaking hands with my school's president and accepted my diploma. (I did forget to switch my tassel as I walked offstage, but hey, minor details.)

Although only 90 days have...

www.elitedaily.com에 먼저 게재된 글입니다.

짝사랑이든, 금지된 사랑이든, 열정적인 사랑이든, 사랑을 다루는 미디어들에는 하나의 공통점이 있다. 바로 극적인 드라마다. 하지만 현실에서는 극적인 관계를 맺는 것은 별로 즐겁지 않다. 극적인 관계는 정말 나쁘다. 로맨틱하지도 매혹적이지도 않다.

나는 여러 해 동안 일종의 ‘드라마’가 있어야 그 연애가 정당화될 수 있다고 믿었다. 이제 안정적인 연애에...

A mídia define muitas coisas no mundo atual, incluindo os relacionamentos.

Pode ser o amor não correspondido, o amor proibido ou o amor apaixonado, mas as ideias da mídia sobre o amor sempre têm um elemento em comum: a dramaticidade.

Afinal, é o drama que move a mídia.
Mas,...

Dieser Beitrag erschien ursprünglich auf www.elitedaily.com

Die Medien diktieren heutzutage so viel -- unter anderem die Art und Weise, wie Beziehungen sein sollen.

Egal, ob es darum geht unerwiderte, verbotene oder leidenschaftliche Liebe darzustellen. Wenn es nach den Medien geht, haben sie alle eins gemein: Drama.

I media oggi dettano legge su tutto, incluse le relazioni. Che parlino di amore non corrisposto, di amori proibiti o di passioni bollenti, tutte queste idee d'amore veicolate dai media hanno qualcosa in comune: il dramma.

D'altra parte, è proprio il dramma a far girare il mondo dei media.

Ma...

This was originally published at www.elitedaily.com

Media dictates so much in today's world -- including relationships.

Whether portraying unrequited love, forbidden love or passionate love, the media's ideas of love all have something in common: drama.

After all, drama drives the media.

But, guess what? When you're...

When I first ventured into sobriety two years ago, a family friend, who is also sober, said to me: "You'll be amazed how full your life can be." At the time, I didn't believe that. My life was full when I was drinking -- at least I thought it was....

After four years, hundreds of minutes played, a plethora of injuries and too many tackles to count, my collegiate rugby career has officially come to an end.

You'd think this would be a little bit of a relief, as my body has taken a toll, but it's not. Every time...

This was originally published at www.thefix.com

Two years ago, I would not have thought sober people were appealing. At all. Whatsoever.

Crazy, yes. Impressive, yes. But attractive... not so much.

After all, there was nothing attractive about someone who couldn't get shwasted with me. What fun was that?...

This was originally published on The Fix.

Everything always makes more sense in retrospect. I know that as much as the next person. Even so, I cringe thinking about how much trouble and heartache I could have saved myself when I got sober if I had known then,...

I never thought I'd be typing this sentence. It's traumatic, really. Here goes.

Imetmyboyfriendonline.

Yes, I met my boyfriend online.

On one of the sketchier dating sites, in fact. Ahhh, Tinder, the notoriously designated "hook-up" app.

For some reason unbeknownst to me (in my new-relationship state of bliss), there is...

This post was originally published on thefix.com

I'm 22, I've never consumed a legal drink and I never plan to, for better and worse.

Being in recovery at any age elicits both challenges and rewards, but being young and at a pivotal, sometimes confusing point in life even without worrying...