Santino, a 36-year-old from Taunton, Massachusetts, shares his journey to sobriety in this episode of Recovery Elevator. He reflects on his last drink on May 24, 2022, and the clarity he has gained since then. Host Paul Churchill kicks things off with a thought-provoking question: 'Who am I?' This question, often buried under layers of alcohol-induced fog, becomes a central theme as Santino discusses his transformation.

Santino opens up about the challenges he faced growing up around alcohol and how it became a coping mechanism for life's difficulties. His story takes a raw turn as he describes hitting rock bottom and the physical and emotional toll it took on him. But there's a silver lining—Santino's decision to quit drinking wasn't just about saying 'no' to alcohol; it was about saying 'yes' to a better life.

The episode also touches on the broader aspects of sobriety, such as dealing with past mistakes and rebuilding relationships. Santino's journey is not just a tale of personal triumph but also a testament to the power of community and support. Whether you're struggling with alcohol or know someone who is, Santino's story offers hope and practical advice for navigating the path to recovery. Tune in to hear more about his journey and find inspiration for your own.

Sobriety isn't just about abstaining from alcohol; it's about embracing a new way of life.

Santino shares his inspiring journey to sobriety, highlighting the challenges and triumphs along the way. A must-listen for anyone on the path to recovery.

Santino's Journey: Embracing Sobriety for a Better Life

Episode 491 – Sobriety is Not….   Today we have Santino. He is 36 years old, lives in Taunton, MA, and took his last drink on May 24th, 2022.   Sponsors for this episode:   Visit <a href= "https://www.betterhelp.com/elevator" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Better Help </a>today to get 10% off your first month   <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/cafere/">Café RE</a> – promo code OPPORTUNITY waives set up fee.   [02:55] Thoughts from Paul:   A question we all eventually ask ourselves during our lifetime is – who am I? Eckhart Tolle (the author of The Power of Now and A New Earth) says that through the process of finding out who we are not, we also find out who we are.   One of our Café RE hosts, Tonya, shared a great list of what sobriety is not which Paul shares and elaborates on:   1)    Sobriety is not the same for everyone. 2)    Sobriety is not going back to how things were. 3)    Sobriety does not rid you of your past. 4)    Sobriety is not the end of your life if you enter recovery or treatment. 5)    Sobriety is not the end of socializing. 6)    Sobriety is not something you can do halfheartedly. 7)    Sobriety is not just a temporary thing.   Rumi says “don’t be held captive. Your life has no border or shoreline”. Don’t be held captive by a mind created definition of what sobriety is because in reality, it can be whatever you want it to be. It can be infinitely boundless.   [10:42] Paul introduces Santino:   This is Santino’s third appearance on the podcast, and he is celebrating 2 years alcohol free at the time of this recording.   Santino grew up in the Midwest but currently lives in eastern MA. He is currently working on writing his memoir and he and his wife are expecting their second child.   Curiosity in his early teens led Santino to try alcohol. He joined the military after high school where drinking is generally part of the culture. Santino considers his drinking rather benign until his late twenties. It was then that he began to use alcohol for coping through uncertainty in his life. Once he started finding himself focusing more and more on his next drink, he began gaslighting and manipulating to protect his drinking. Santino acknowledges that he was becoming like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.   Several months before he quit drinking, Santino had a bad withdrawal experience. At the time he was depressed and cared little about himself. He recognized that this may be what a rock bottom feels like and didn’t want to go through this again. He was able to quit for three months in early 2022, but a birthday celebration in March found him falling right into the old habits.   A turning point for Santino was after watching coverage of a school shooting while at the bar. Thinking about becoming a better example for the children of the future, he stopped drinking that day. He calls this clocking out of purgatory. An ultimatum from his wife after discovering hidden debt sealed the deal for Santino.   Comparing the first year of sobriety to the second year, Santino feels there is pure form of clarity that he has. He no longer feels the need to hide anymore. He is exploring who he is and what he can offer to the universe.   Santino says he has been attending individual and marriage therapy which has been helpful to him. He works on fostering his relationships, attends AA meetings, practices positive self-talk, and works on connecting with his emotions and his inner self daily.   Santino’s favorite recovery quote: “the world record for the longest time without a drink is 24 hours.”   One thing Santino has learned in sobriety: that he has always had something to offer the world – his true, authentic self.   Santino’s favorite sober moment: having the emotional capacity to deal with life as he knows it as well as deal with conflicts he would otherwise run away from.   Santino’s parting piece of guidance: give yourself the grace that alcohol will never give you.   Recovery Elevator Go big, because eventually we all go home. I love you guys.   <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/recoveryelevator/?hl=en"> RE on Instagram</a> <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/merch/">RE merch</a> <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuWac9dxkn3J93xJOka3L2g"> Recovery Elevator YouTube</a> <a href= "https://appsto.re/us/z8w_5.i">Sobriety Tracker iTunes </a>

RE 491: Sobriety is Not...

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It isn't a NO to alcohol, but a YES to a better life!  Best selling author Paul Churchill, along with Kristopher Oyen interview people who have stepped away from alcohol in their own lives. Each week this podcast does a deep dive into an exploration of what a booze free life might look like from various perspectives and opinions. 

If you are sick and tired of alcohol making you sick and tired, we invite you to listen to Recovery Elevator. Check out what an alcohol free life can look like as others share their own stories of sobriety. If you are sober curious, newly sober, supporting a loved one or living your best life already in recovery, then you are in the right place.

This podcast addresses what to do if you’re addicted to alcohol, or if you think you’re an alcoholic. Other topics include, does moderate drinking work, does addiction serve a purpose, what happens to the brain when we quit drinking, should you track sobriety time, is A.A. right for you, spirituality, and more. 

Similar to other recovery podcasts like This Naked Mind, the Shair Podcast, and the Recovered Podcast, Paul and Kris discuss a topic and then interview someone who has ditched the booze.

Recovery Elevator

Santino, a 36-year-old from Taunton, Massachusetts, shares his journey to sobriety in this episode of Recovery Elevator. He reflects on his last drink on May 24, 2022, and the clarity he has gained since then. Host Paul Churchill kicks things off with a thought-provoking question: 'Who am I?' This question, often buried under layers of alcohol-induced fog, becomes a central theme as Santino discusses his transformation.Santino opens up about the challenges he faced growing up around alcohol and how it became a coping mechanism for life's difficulties. His story takes a raw turn as he describes hitting rock bottom and the physical and emotional toll it took on him. But there's a silver lining—Santino's decision to quit drinking wasn't just about saying 'no' to alcohol; it was about saying 'yes' to a better life.The episode also touches on the broader aspects of sobriety, such as dealing with past mistakes and rebuilding relationships. Santino's journey is not just a tale of personal triumph but also a testament to the power of community and support. Whether you're struggling with alcohol or know someone who is, Santino's story offers hope and practical advice for navigating the path to recovery. Tune in to hear more about his journey and find inspiration for your own.Sobriety isn't just about abstaining from alcohol; it's about embracing a new way of life.

Paul Churchill

Paul Churchill

RE 491: Sobriety is Not...

RE 491: Sobriety is Not...

RE 491: Sobriety is Not...

Monday 15th July 2024

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Recovery Elevator

Santino's Journey: Embracing Sobriety for a Better Life

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