sober support for everyone
So far 2021 has been a mixed bag. The Mac’s household has experienced some frustrations (Lockdown Life and Renovation Project) and some positives (Pancakes and Snow).
Here’s what we have been up to.
Continue reading “Kicking off 2021 – Day 1791”
I have created a 12 day Christmas Countdown filled with yummy recipes, sober inspiration and self care suggestions to keep your sobriety on track this festive season.
You can see my Christmas Countdown on Instagram @sober_thinking but I wanted to share them all here too.
I may have called this article the Christmas Survival Kit, since we are only 3 weeks away from Christmas. However, the knowledge, strategies and advice I give here will help you conquer any celebration, holiday or family gathering.
Continue reading “Christmas Survival Kit”
Journaling was one of the tools I used regularly when I was getting sober. It helped me get out of my own head so I could focus more clearly on what I needed or wanted. Which, as it turned out, was never actually alcohol.
I don’t drink alcohol anymore and quite frankly never give it much thought nowadays yet I still keep up my journaling. This is because, like a lot of the tools in my sober toolbox, journaling still benefits me in all areas of my life.
So with this in mind, I wanted to share with you my recent trip to the Lake District, what’s going on in my life and UK Lockdown 2.0.
Continue reading “Lakes, Life and Lockdown – Day 1678”
I have just got back from a mini cruise to Amsterdam with the family. It was a last minute decision but I am so pleased we went.
Lockdown is easing slightly in the UK. We are allowed to visit restaurants and cinema’s and we are allowed to visit with one other households, as long as we socially distance.
Continue reading “Amsterdam – Day 1588”
Today it’s sunny and the kids are on their half term break from (home) school. Not that they want to go out and enjoy the weather. They are quite content on their computers, playing video games and socialising with their friends online.
I have to resist the urge to kick them outside. Something my parents would have insisted I did, on a day like this. I can almost hear my mother yelling “get outside and call on your friends.” However, with social distancing in place it is impossible for my kids to go out and meet up with friends; most friends don’t live that close anyway.
Continue reading “Kids of Today – Day 1516”
Its Victory in Europe (VE) Day today. It marks the end of the fighting in Europe during WW2. Being the 75th anniversary of VE day it is a National Holiday here in the United Kingdom.
Unfortunately, lots of celebrations have been limited or cancelled because we are still in Lockdown, due to the Coronavirus. There will be no street parties, parades or public gatherings this year.
However, that won’t stop people celebrating…
Continue reading “VE Day – Day 1498”
Over this Lockdown Easter Weekend it has felt hard not seeing my parents and my sisters and their families.
Normally, I would have planned a visit to my sisters over the Easter Holidays to catch up and swap Easter Eggs with the children. My parents would have been invited to our house on Easter Sunday for lunch. There would have been drives out for family walks or even a weekend away somewhere.
However, during lockdown none of this can happen. I don’t want to dwell on what I cannot do though. That is too easy and does not actually help me. When I find things which are out of my control, I try to focus on what is in my control.
Continue reading “Easter Weekend in Lockdown – Day 1473”Christmas. I love the idea of Christmas. Heart-warming movies, picking out our tree, meeting up with friends and family, big turkey dinner, I could go on. However, by half way through the holidays I always feel low. I call it the Christmas Lull.
It’s not that I don’t like all the things I’ve listed, I do. I just always get bored and scratchy around this time during the holidays. I always feel like I need to be ‘doing’ something. This is probably due to the sheer amount of lazing around I have done since Christmas day; the fact I cannot take the decorations down yet and I’m getting increasingly worried about the amount of Christmas chocolate my children are eating.
Continue reading “My Christmas Lull and Pressures of New Year’s Eve – Day 1367”
1st December 2019 and thus starts the Christmas countdown.
I’m happy and not worrying too much about the Christmas festivities. In all honesty, I haven’t got a lot planned so far. The youngest is excited to have her advent calendar up and I’ve allowed her to start decorating her bedroom with old tinsel and a small tree. Our main Christmas decorations will wait until next weekend, I think. I like to spread the jobs out and enjoy the run up to Christmas, not be overburdened.
I’m feeling happy this weekend because I’ve managed to do 2 things:
Continue reading “Talking Helps and Christmas Countdown – Day 1339”