Summary


In this episode, Carl and Chelsea discuss the concept of change and its significance in recovery. They explore the idea that change is constant and happening all around us, from the seasons to the passage of time. They emphasize the importance of mindfulness and appreciating the beauty in change. Additionally, they discuss the power of change in recovery and the need to let go of attachments to things and identities. Overall, the conversation highlights the transformative nature of change and its role in personal growth and sobriety. In this conversation, Carl and Chelsea discuss the challenges and benefits of change and letting go. They share personal experiences of losing possessions and how it shaped their perspectives on material possessions. They also explore the difficulty of changing behaviors and the importance of changing environments and relationships in recovery. The conversation highlights the continuous process of change and the need to stay adaptable. They discuss the impact of change on relationships and the importance of setting boundaries. The conversation concludes with advice on embracing change and the power of choosing how to respond to life's challenges.


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Sober Pod is a podcast dedicated to the idea that one addict or alcoholic helping another to get and stay sober is an essential ingredient to building a foundation in a life of sobriety. Visit soberpod.com for show extras and exclusive memberships! Buy the 366 Fucking Days Sober Book Now! https://a.co/d/3EpSCOr

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

May 20 - Buy the book!


Experience, strength, and hope. This is the format we follow when we share with others. This basic format allows us to talk about where we’ve been and how we got here, the process of working a program (transformation), and finally, the encouragement that the listener can do the same. It’s not easy to pour your heart out to strangers, hoping they will someday acquire what you have found. Yet, we do this week after week, and some of us get discouraged at the precession of the “passing parade” of alcoholics and addicts. But after developing compassion and empathy for the addict or alcoholic, the irony is that there is plenty of opportunity to feel compassion and empathy in the rooms of recovery. It can be downright depressing. But on that rare occasion, someone walks in, sits down, opens their ears, closes their mouth, hears the message of experience, strength, and hope, and then stays a while. And they heal. And they do recover. 
Reflections
Have you ever thought about your story of experience, strength, and hope? What is it?
Daily Challenge
Write it out. Put your story down on paper so you can better communicate it to others. 



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366 Book - May 20

May 19 - Buy the book!


Man! You know those moments when nothing goes your way? You struggle to make ends meet, skimp, save, and feel like you’re doing all the right things, and when you least expect it or need it, something else breaks? The car breaks down. The washing machine just stops working. The water heater doesn’t heat. You lose a can of soup. Etcera! Last year was one of the worst years I have had in a long time. It seemed, at every turn, it rained and then poured. I would overcome one thing, and another would pop up to take its place. There is a video (see link below) where this “Irish Uncle loses his soup” and throws a cringy-man-fit you must see to believe. At one point, he shouts, “The madness of life!” And in that scream, I can see all of the anger and frustration that I have ever had; how I have felt throughout the years, at any given time, when things just aren’t going my way. Today, instead of throwing a fit, I can only laugh at the absurdity of my childish desire to make a can of soup “APPEAR!” It’s just soup, for fuck's sake. 
Reflections
When was the last time you threw an adult fit? How did it feel afterward? 
Daily Challenge
Watch: https://youtu.be/Duh-jWfOcvg “Irish Uncle loses his soup.”



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366 Book - May 19

Support the podcast and buy the book!⁠
In this episode of SoberPod, Carl reads from his book and discusses the topic of anger and losing control. He shares personal experiences of throwing adult fits and reflects on the consequences of such behavior. Carl also introduces a five-step process from Stoicism to manage anger and respond wisely. He emphasizes the importance of self-monitoring, cognitive distancing, postponement, modeling virtue, and functional analysis. The episode concludes with a call to support Chelsea and a reminder to stay active and sober. 

 Throwing adult fits and losing control can have negative consequences and damage relationships.

 Stoicism offers a five-step process to manage anger: self-monitoring, cognitive distancing, postponement, modeling virtue, and functional analysis.

  Practicing these steps can help individuals respond wisely and avoid destructive behavior.

  Supporting others in their recovery journey is important and can make a difference.

  Staying active and sober is crucial for maintaining sobriety



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Wreck the Shop!

May 18 - Buy the book


Sitting across the room, I could see Edmund was fiddling with his Styrofoam cup and carving a pattern on the sides with his fingernail. Edmund was not like me. He was a much older man, a minority. And I am as non-minority as they come. As we all did, he listened to the opening speaker, and after they were done, they announced, “And Edmund is our main speaker.” I really thought we were nothing alike when I looked at Edmund, but after he began to speak, almost every word that came out of his mouth for the next forty-five minutes was my exact story. All you would have to do is change the names and locations, and it was as though Edmund and I were switched at birth. They say, “look for the similarities and not the differences,” when getting into “the rooms,” but in this case, how could I do anything else? It was literally my story being spoken. 
Reflections
Have you ever heard a stranger tell your story? Are we really that unique?
Daily Challenge
Find ways to share your story. You never know the impact you might have on someone. 



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366 Book - May 18

May 17


We were “driven by a hundred forms of fear.” This is what the “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous says. I couldn’t agree more. How often have you been fearful of not getting something you want or of losing something you have? Out of that sentence, we still have ninety-eight more forms of fear to deal with. WTF! That’s a lot of fear. So many situations, relationships, pain, injury, finances, security, sexual relations, etc. It’s a lot of shit! Too much shit to account for on this page. So, what does one do with all this fear? Well, the Big Book suggests taking an inventory and attempting to see where these natural instincts got misdirected/warped and became our mental liabilities. The thought that we are driven by fear (and mostly in our own heads) can be a shock to some of us, but once it’s put down on paper, the idea becomes all too clear. 


Reflections
Have you attempted anything like this in your life? Is now the time? If you have done it already, what was your takeaway?
Daily Challenge
Look into the 12 Steps and see if they might help you. For example, search: “12 Steps of A.A.” If you have done them already, review your Fourth Step again. Is there anything you left out?

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