The Tribe That Stays

08.26.25

Yesterday’s Daily Reflections reading talks about the difference between bondage and bonding. When I was drinking, I thought alcohol would help me connect with people, but more often than not it left me stuck in isolation. In recovery, I’ve been given something I never found in a drink—real bonds with people who understand, support, and walk this road with me.

I hear a lot of people in recovery talk about needing to set boundaries or even remove people from their lives because those relationships aren’t safe for their sobriety. I’ve had people like that in the past, but I’m so damn grateful that my closest family and friends have always loved me and supported me, even before recovery. Maybe it’s because I’m older, maybe it’s my resting bitch face, or maybe my tribe just naturally weeded itself out over time—I don’t know the exact reason, and honestly, it doesn’t matter.

What matters is that even when I’m not great at keeping in touch—when days, weeks, months, or even years go by without talking—the bond with my people remains strong. Just knowing they are there and that I have their support helps me keep going, especially on the days when sobriety feels heavy.