SobrieTea Party – Page 3 of 9 – NYC Sobriety & Recovery Blog by Tawny Lara

Workit Health: A Modern Approach to Recovery

Post author By Tawny
Post date December 7, 2017
2 Comments on Workit Health: A Modern Approach to Recovery

*This blog post was sponsored by Workit Health. All of these opinions are my own. Please note that I am not a licensed medical professional nor addiction specialist. If you’re interested in trying Workit Health, you can use the discount code workitrocks for 25% off.*

The recovery world has evolved quite a bit over the last few years. Society has accepted that if someone has a drinking problem they must admit to being an alcoholic and begin working the 12 Steps in an AA meeting. Or check into rehab. That school of thought wasn’t inviting to someone like me: a young party girl with a social binge drinking problem. I went to one AA meeting. It wasn’t for me. I was lucky enough to find sobriety through yoga, writing, therapy, and supportive loved ones. If I had found Workit Health when I was in early sobriety, it would have made my transition into sober life quite a bit easier.

Tags aa, abstinence, addiction, alcohol, alcoholism, drugs, mental health, new york, New York City, progressive, recovery, rehab, rehabilitation, sober, sobriety, sponsored post, therapy

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Sober Dating Revelations

I’m dating for the first time in awhile. Actually, for the first time ever. When I was drinking, my idea of dating was getting wasted at parties, hooking up with someone, then when the hook ups happened more then once…I had a boyfriend. Sometimes the relationship was real. Sometimes it was delusional, existing solely in my head.

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When “Trying on Sobriety” is Offensive

Post author By Tawny
Post date October 21, 2017
3 Comments on When “Trying on Sobriety” is Offensive

((This blog post was written for people that I call Sober Tourists: People that typically don’t identify as addicts or substance abusers, but are curious about being sober. They try it for awhile until they get bored. Then they claim that they can relate to the struggles of people in recovery because they celebrated Dry January or completed Whole 30.))

Strangers frequently reach out to me asking for suggestions on how to get through 30ish days without drinking. I don’t think they realize that my sobriety doesn’t have an end point. It’s fine that someone who probably doesn’t have issues with substance abuse, is “trying on sobriety” for a little while, but why are you asking me, someone who does struggle with substance abuse, for advice? I can’t be your cheerleader for 30 days just so you can celebrate day 31 by posting photos of mimosas on Instagram.

Tags aa, alcohol abuse, alcoholism, bill w, recovery, sober, sobriety, substance abuse, tourism, tourist, voluntourism

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Why I’m Not an Alcoholic

Hi. I’m Tawny. And I’m not an alcoholic. I’m not powerless over alcohol. I don’t have an incurable disease. I don’t subscribe to any of society’s blanket labels for people who choose to live a sober lifestyle. So if I’m not those things…what am I? Well, like I said. I’m Tawny. I’m powerFULL. I’m a writer who loves music and tattoos and boys and political discussions that ruffle feathers. I used to abuse substances to avoid dealing with reality. I was a party girl who danced on bars, driving (and living) recklessly. I didn’t think much about anything; I just did everything. At age 29, I realized that I wasn’t living up to my full potential. Alcohol was wasting my time and money. So, I’m Tawny…and I’m sober.

Tags aa, alcohol abuse, alcoholism, altsober, bill w, hip sobriety, nyc, personal growth, recovery, rehab, rehabilitation, sober, sober life, sober living, sober senorita, sobriety, substance abuse, the program, this naked mind

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Stay Inside Your Comfort Zone

Post author By Tawny
Post date October 5, 2017
4 Comments on Stay Inside Your Comfort Zone

Comfort zones…the enemy of most people in the self-help world. The way some people talk about comfort zones, you’d think they were akin to the plague. I’m going to do something bold here. I’m going to talk about the beautiful importance of staying inside your comfort zone. Yes, you read that correctly.

Tags aa, bill w, brene brown, comfort zone, gabby bernstain, guru, New York City, nyc, Personal Development, personal growth, recovery, self help, sober, sober life, sober living, sobriety, tony robbins, yoga

Binge Drinking New York City Personal Development Spirituality Texas

When Sobriety Sucks

Sobriety can suck. Like, really suck. To me, a life of sobriety has meant a lifestyle of being awake. All. The. Time. It’s fucking exhausting. I’m tired. Meditation and yoga help to an extent. Quality time with friends and family can be relaxing. Work outs release endorphins. But those solutions are all temporary. When I’m alone on the train ride home, alone in my bed, or alone with my thoughts, anxious feelings that I chose to momentarily ignore manage to get all of my attention. I’m beginning to think that life may be a series of temporary events to get me through to the next one.

Tags 12 steps, aa, anxiety, bill w, depression, gabby bernstein, na, non alcoholic beer, recovery, self loathing, sober, sober life, sober living, sobriety, spirit junkie

New York City Sober Things to do

SobrieTea Party x Pure Leaf Tea House

Post author By Tawny
Post date July 31, 2017
2 Comments on SobrieTea Party x Pure Leaf Tea House

I brought my blog to life by hosting a SobrieTea Party PARTY at Pure Leaf Tea House. This unique Sunday Funday gave sober folks and sober allies an alcohol-free alternative to “Boozy Brunch” or “Bottomless Mimosas”. So what does a group of New Yorkers partying sober look like? Check out this slideshow.

Tags boozy brunch, bottomless mimosas, party sober, pure leaf, pure leaf tea, recovery, sober, sober life, sobriety, soho, soho manhattan, soho new york, soho nyc, spirt junkie, sunday funday, tea, tea porn, things to do in nyc

New York City Sober Things to do Uncategorized

Sober in the City: KITH Treats Cereal Bar in NoHo

Post author By Tawny
Post date July 14, 2017
No Comments on Sober in the City: KITH Treats Cereal Bar in NoHo

New York City may be one of the craziest cities in the world, but it’s also full of sober-friendly activities. This week I got to check out a cereal bar meets sneaker store meets fashion hub meets Nike museum. Yes, in NYC, all of these things can exist under one roof. At the Kith x Nike collaboration in NoHo (Broadway & Bleecker), you can check out some vintage sneakers, buy custom Nikes or high-end fashion pieces, and…eat cereal! Several different types of cereal are served in three different ways: bowl, milkshake, or ice cream. There’s also an assortment of milk options.

New York City Sober Things to do

NYC’s Latest Sober-Friendly Hot Spot: Pure Leaf Tea House

Post author By Tawny
Post date June 30, 2017
1 Comment on NYC’s Latest Sober-Friendly Hot Spot: Pure Leaf Tea House

One of the many things I love about being sober in New York City is getting to experience fun new places like Pure Leaf TeaHouse in SoHo (on the corner of Greene & Spring). This trendy spot offers tasty tea drinks, a serene ambiance, and unique tea blends exclusive to its location.

New York City Personal Development Uncategorized

Notes to Self

Over the last few months, I’ve compiled a list of “notes to self” in my phone while sitting on the subway. I wrote these reminders for my own sanity. They help me calm down when I feel a spiral of self-loathing coming on. This list isn’t always pretty, but it’s grounded in a reality that I’ve learned to accept. Call them mantras. Call them affirmations. Call them maybe.