Best Sober Quotes to Sum Up Life in Recovery
In need of a little inspiration? Check out some of our favorite sober quotes – words of wisdom that help get us through the tough days and remind us we’re not alone.
It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.
-Confucius
Making the commitment to stay sober is one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself and to your loved ones. When you decide each day to walk a bit further down the road of recovery you are deciding that your health and well-being matter. You are deciding that YOU matter, and that you deserve a life free from the shackles of addiction. But just because choosing sobriety is one of the best decisions you can make for yourself, that doesn’t mean the path is always going to be easy.
If you’re brave enough to start, you’re strong enough to finish.
-Gary Ryan Blair
If, at times, you’re feeling overwhelmed with the process, it can help to remember that you are not alone. In fact, a recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 27.5 million (one in ten) US adults have grappled with substance abuse in their lifetime, with 20.5 million (nearly 75% ) of those individuals reporting they are currently in recovery. Some of these people are on day one of sobriety, some of them have been sober for decades, some of them are exactly where you are at today. What these numbers show, is that more people beat addiction than succumb to it, and what these numbers mean is there is a lot of hard-won wisdom out there from people who understand exactly what you are going through.
The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.
-Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Long-term recovery is a journey that requires prolonged effort, even in the face of failure. Research indicates that it can take up to eight years or more, sometimes with multiple relapses before the average person arrives at a place of lasting sobriety. And while this may seem like a disappointing statistic, the reality is quite the opposite. What this means is that, even though it may take a while, the odds of achieving lasting sobriety are in your favor. The numbers indicate that the vast majority of people with substance abuse issues do gain control of their addictions, and the secret is to never surrender – to keep going even after a setback and to be willing to get back up after a fall.
If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.
-Frank A. Clark
When we talk about sobriety, we speak in terms of walking on a path and embarking on a journey, because choosing a life free from addiction is a matter of moving through the lifetime of small choices and big decisions that result either in recovery or relapse. Each day – sometimes each minute – presents the opportunity to say yes to a clean, healthy life. There will be good days. There will be hard days. It is a lifelong commitment on a road that is, itself, the destination.
Turn your wounds into wisdom.
-Oprah Winfrey
Here at Mare’s House, our residents are required to participate in a 12-step program. We are advocates of the 12-steps because they have helped millions of people maintain their sobriety, including many of our own staff members. One of the most empowering steps in this program is step 12 – service to others – turning your wounds into wisdom. Sharing your story, being of assistance to others, inspiring other addicts to make a move toward sobriety – these are the ways we can bring meaning to the darkness that we’ve emerged from, and give hope to others still struggling with getting clean.
