Sober Fun at Winter Music Conference in Miami
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If you've read some of my older posts, you know that I still enjoy a good party and great house music once in awhile. When I got sober, I promised myself that I wouldn't miss out on life and that includes fun festivals, shows, or parties that might include drinking. During my first months of sobriety, these types of events weren't that enjoyable because I was still mourning the loss of alcohol and drugs. I was still learning how to have fun sober and how to feel comfortable sans mind-altering substances. I continued to attend events throughout my early sobriety and now almost two years sober, it's becoming much easier to be sober everywhere.
This past weekend I attended Miami's Winter Music Conference, a big event held every year in March that hosts world famous DJ's and pool parties all week long. It coincides with Ultra Music Festival, which is more well known. House music has been a love of mine ever since I first visited Cancun. The beats touch my soul and so for me, it's easy to attend a show and not drink or do drugs. I still feel high on the music! It just proves to me, that if the music is good enough, mind-altering substances are not needed.
I recently connected with another new friend in my area and sober girl, through my blog, named Carly. She has been sober for 6.5 years and writes her own blog about finding faith and recovery here. She sent me a message on the Sober Señorita Facebook page and we had lunch a week later. We have so many things in common and it's exciting to meet a sober person who shares my same interests. She attended Winter Music Conference as well, and it felt great to share camaraderie and sober times connecting with the music and dancing to the beats. I truly think she was put in my path for a reason and I'm really glad we connected.
Just because I'm sober doesn't mean I have to miss out on good music, Dj's, and parties that have a purpose. Partying sober is possible once you are secure in your recovery and know that you want to live your life this way. My sister asked me an interesting question when we were at a pool party on Saturday. She asked if it bothered me to see these two girls who were very drunk and most likely on drugs, talking about how they had been up all night. I sat back and thought about how differently it affected me back then and now. In early sobriety I would have been judging them and ultimately I would have been jealous about the fun they were having. This time I just felt compassion for those girls and I know that they are doing the best they can in that moment in their lives. I also know what a killer emotional and physical hangover they'll have once the party stops. I don't envy that.
I believe that I actually had more fun at Winter Music Conference now than I would have when I was drinking and doing drugs. When I was in my active addiction, my worst fear was what happened when the party stopped because I knew what came after that. I would have to feel my feelings, deal with reality, and physical illness from hangovers. I'm so thankful I no longer have those feelings of hopelessness and helplessness anymore. Now, I can go enjoy myself, get a full night's sleep, and wake up completely clearheaded knowing my life will be drama-free tomorrow. The comfort and relief sobriety has given me is truly priceless. I don't see myself ever wanting to give that up. Partying sober is not only good enough for me, it's what I prefer. I'm here to tell you, it's 100% possible to have fun when you're sober.
Carly and i out at winter music conference miami
my sister and i