Sober Living Q&A with Lucas S.

Lucas S. gets personal about his journey to, and through, recovery.

Q: What excites you the most now when you get up in the morning?

A: Making a delicious cup of coffee to start off the day is always pretty exciting.

Q: What is your motto? And what about this motto appeals to you?

A: I’m not sure if I really have a motto. “Everything is going to be okay” is something I tell myself and the people I sponsor a lot. Today, I know that as long as I don’t pick up a drink or drug everything will truly be okay.

Q: What has been the best part of recovery for you? Why?

A: One of the best parts of recovery for me has been growing into myself. This is something I’m still very much working on, but getting sober has given me the chance to grow up and really figure out who I am, what I like, and what I want in life.

Q: What would you say is the biggest success – professional or personal – you’ve had since leaving Mountainside?

A: My biggest success post-Mountainside is hard to pick. Honestly, being given the gift of continuous sobriety for as long as I have is truly amazing to me. I couldn’t get through one day before, and now that obsession is totally lifted – it’s incredible! I’ve had some pretty great professional successes and have found things that I truly love and want to continue a career in. I’m also in the first serious and healthy relationship I have ever been in which is pretty great.

Q: What has been your biggest hurdle in recovery and how did you learn to overcome it?

A: My biggest hurdle was probably connecting with people. I was used to isolating myself, so meeting people and putting my hand out was hard at first. I learned to overcome that by just doing it. Things are never quite as hard or uncomfortable as I can make myself think they are.

Q: What was the turning point that led you to get help?

A: I honestly can’t say what the turning point was that led me to accept help. When I came to treatment this last time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be sober. Everyone was pushing me to go to the Phase 4 house, but I didn’t want to go. Finally, I just said “Okay, I’ll go.” As soon as I said that, I had this weird feeling that everything was going to be okay.

Q: If you could, what would you tell your younger self?

A: I would tell my younger self that everything is going to be okay.

Q: What would you like people who are afraid to receive treatment to know?

A: There is nothing to be afraid of. Once you get out of your own way and stop fighting, it all gets easier. And really, what do you have to lose? Give it a shot, no one’s forcing you to stay.

Q: What suggestions do you have for the newcomer?

A: Stick with the winners, get out of your way, take suggestions! It’s okay to have no clue what to do! That’s actually a great place to be. Find an awesome sponsor and do whatever they suggest. And go to aftercare!

Q: What is the best advice you have been given?

A: I’ve been given a lot of great advice. One is: act your way into right thinking. My first sponsor told me to give the program an honest try for a year and if I wanted to get high after, go ahead. After a year, the thought of using didn’t even cross my mind.

Q: What is the one item you can’t do without?

A: I can’t do without a camera.

Q: Would you rather be an inventor or a leader? Why?

A: I’d rather be an inventor. I don’t think I want to be in charge.

Q: Who — dead or living — is on the guest list for your ideal dinner party?

A: David Bowie.

Q: What’s the one thing people would be pleasantly surprised to know about you?

A: I love to cook.

Q: What are you currently reading or what song have you enjoyed recently?

A: I’m currently reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. It seems like a nice manual for living in a clutter-free home, which will in turn make my life clutter-free and clear.