Sobriety vs Recovery

[Sweeney]

Just been wondering what other people's take is on this perspective.

From my experience being sober doesn't mean that I am recovering, I can have sobriety without recovery but not recovery without sobriety. And to say that today I do not work on staying sober I work hard on my recovery from alcoholism which means I stay sober as a byproduct of practicing a program in my daily life.

[avaneesh912]

Yes I agree, if I continue to watch for my character defects and keep growing spiritually, the power we get connected by that solves all the problems. The book talk about a program for living not for being sober. I hear in meetings, where people say, "I stand a chance, if i don't drink today", i can't relate to that.

[Roberth]

Interesting post, my recovery started with sobriety but that doesn’t mean no one else can’t have recovery without sobriety. I am happy with what I found in AA and for me whether others can or can't just doesn’t matter to me. I found my easier softer way

[Mike O]

From my experience being sober doesn't mean that I am recovering, I can have sobriety without recovery but not recovery without sobriety. And to say that today I do not work on staying sober I work hard on my recovery from alcoholism which means I stay sober as a byproduct of practicing a program in my daily life.

My take on it is that it's probably true, but unnecessarily complicated.
Keeping it simple is vital for me.

[chefchip]

Wow. This post made me think -- about me instead of everyone else, where my focus has been all day! And, no, that focus on everyone else hasn't been in a good way. I've been passing judgment all day.

For me, sobriety was an event. I know the day and the hour when it started. It also marked the beginning of my journey into recovery. Today I say I am recovered, but I only mean that in the simplest of ways. I AM recovered from my obsession to drink. As for the rest of the attributes I would like to have, they are a process. I am recovering, I am working, I am growing. Unless I attain enlightenment or am taken bodily to the heavens, I will be in recovery for the rest of my life, as well as any other existences I might experience.

I'm curious, Sweeney. Why do you ask?
Chip

[Layne]

For me sobriety comes from not not taking a drink. Recovery comes from working the twelve steps.

[Old Rocker]

Sober is a legal state of not being intoxicated.

Recovery is the steps in action. Recovered is the new life, one day at a time, running on a Higher Power.

[Squawking Hawk]

Thanks to the OP for the topic and to all who have shared on this topic of sobriety v recovery. You have helped me pause to reflect on the importance of working the 12 steps.

Hawk