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Welcome to Sobriety Freedom

Welcome to Sobriety Freedom

Hello World of Recovery.  I’m Ronnie Earl. I’m an alcoholic. This website is meant to celebrate the freedom found in sobriety and to explore tools for recovery from alcoholism. I have found new freedom and new happiness, as was promised. When I was a kid, I watched the the children’s television show Electric Company. If memory serves me well, there was a skit about a detective who was supposed to be like Kojak. He talked about Who, What, Where, When, and Why (and…

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Buddhism and Recovery

Buddhism and Recovery

Hello all!  If you are interested in a 12 Step approach that incorporates Buddhism, look no further than Kevin Griffin to start your journey. https://www.kevingriffin.net/ Kevin incorporates fundamentals of both 12 Steps and Buddhism into his path of recovery. I personally appreciate his appreciation for the 12 Steps and the fact that he finds both paths compatible. If you are not interested in a 12 Step approach to Buddhist recovery, I’d suggest Recovery Dharma. https://recoverydharma.org/ Regardless of your path, I’d…

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Step 12: Pass It On

Step 12: Pass It On

A Twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. I will share my experiences with each step as a resource for newcomers to the program. It is HIGHLY ADVISABLE that you work through the steps with a sponsor! Step Twelve reads: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.  A man…

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One Bite At A Time - Part 5

2 Years: How I Did It

One Bite At A Time - Part 5

2 Years: How I Did It

On May 9th, I will be celebrating my 2nd anniversary of sobriety. How did I do it? Resolve & Purpose When I first became sober two years ago, I was unsure how I was going to accomplish abstinence. I did not need medical intervention, but I was struggling with controlling alcohol. Rehab and extended treatment were going to be a last resort. I decided to give this “AA thing” a shot and to supplement that with individual counseling. One thing…

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Step 11: Conscious Contact

Step 11: Conscious Contact

A Twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. I will share my experiences with each step as a resource for newcomers to the program. It is HIGHLY ADVISABLE that you work through the steps with a sponsor! Step Eleven reads: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry…

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Step 10: Daily Inventory

Step 10: Daily Inventory

A Twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. I will share my experiences with each step as a resource for newcomers to the program. It is HIGHLY ADVISABLE that you work through the steps with a sponsor! Step Ten reads: Continue to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. At this point in working the Twelve Steps, it starts to feel like they have transformed…

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Low Sodium & Vegetarian Manifesto

Low Sodium & Vegetarian Manifesto

Low Sodium AND Vegetarian? I’ve been a vegetarian for over 20 years. Last year, out of necessity, I started cooking low sodium vegetarian meals. It was a shock at first, having worked as a professional culinarian. I must say that it’s not so bad. I have to read nutrition labels, and I now know which foods and products tend to have the most salt. If, for whatever reason, you need to start cooking with less or no added salt, I…

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Step 9: Making Amends

Step 9: Making Amends

A Twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. I will share my experiences with each step as a resource for newcomers to the program. It is HIGHLY ADVISABLE that you work through the steps with a sponsor! Step Nine reads: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. A Giant Step I decided to get sober in early May…

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One Bite At A Time - Part Four

My Story (Speaker Meeting Style)

One Bite At A Time - Part Four

My Story (Speaker Meeting Style)

In my 12-step home group, we have a speaker meeting every Wednesday. I was asked to share my story for the first time in May of 2017. Regrettably, I focused primarily about my drinking days. I didn’t really talk much about sobriety and wellness. Today, I will try to recount my story and include more about the 12 Steps and my recovery. One popular baseline format for sharing your story at a speaker meeting is the following: What it was like…

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Step 8: The List

Step 8: The List

A Twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. I will share my experiences with each step as a resource for newcomers to the program. It is HIGHLY ADVISABLE that you work through the steps with a sponsor! Step Eight reads: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. The List of All Persons We Had Harmed Why…

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Step 7: Humility and Good Intentions

Step 7: Humility and Good Intentions

A 12-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. I will share my experiences with each step as a resource for newcomers to the program. It is HIGHLY ADVISABLE that you work through the steps with a sponsor! Step 7 reads: Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings. Higher Power Revisited In Step Two we acknowledge there is a power greater than our individual self. This higher power might…

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Step 6: Ready and Willing

Step 6: Ready and Willing

A 12-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. I will share my experiences with each step as a resource for newcomers to the program. It is HIGHLY ADVISABLE that you work through the steps with a sponsor! Step 6 reads: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. My Defects of Character As I have worked the 12 steps, it has become abundantly clear…

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Step 5: Sharing Our Life Story

Step 5: Sharing Our Life Story

A 12-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. I will share my experiences with each step as a resource for newcomers to the program. It is HIGHLY ADVISABLE that you work through the steps with a sponsor! Step 5 reads: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. The fourth step, creating our inventory, follows directly into the fifth step. Simply…

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