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Addiction Recovery
The Addiction Recovery Podcast is the ultimate destination for individuals battling addiction or supporting loved ones in their journey towards recovery. With a focus on providing informative, educational, and persuasive content, our podcast aims to engage and guide listeners towards healing and transformation.
Addiction Recovery
64: Why Anniversaries Matter in Recovery
Why does a 21-year sobriety chip matter—but the next 24 hours matter most?
In this episode, we talk about milestones, humility, and the daily actions that keep recovery alive. Stephen explains how anniversaries serve as a reset—an honest inventory against complacency—because no matter how many years you have, the most important day is still today.
We unpack the meaning of recovery chips and how small tokens carry big hope. You’ll also hear simple ways loved ones can show support, like attending a meeting or writing a note.
If you’re feeling alone, we get practical: find a home group, take a commitment, and lean into endless online AA and NA meetings to rebuild community quickly.
At the core is a framework that works—faith in a higher power, a sponsor who knows the steps, a meeting a day, living the 12 steps in real time, and service that pulls us out of our heads.
If you’re struggling or searching for your path, we want to hear from you. Listen, share with someone who needs it, then subscribe and leave a review to help others find recovery.
Helpful Links:
Learn more about Restore Detox Centers
Filling the Void book by Steven T. Ginsburg
Overcoming the Fear and Lies of Addiction e-book
How to Love and Set Boundaries Without Enabling Addiction e-book
Call Us for Addiction Recovery: 1-800-982-5530
DISCLAIMER:
Welcome to the Addiction Recovery podcast, brought to you by Restore Detox Centers. We are dedicated to providing valuable and insightful information on addiction recovery. However, it is essential to understand that the content shared in this podcast is intended for educational purposes only. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information presented, we cannot guarantee its completeness or suitability for individual circumstances. The topics discussed in this podcast are based on general knowledge and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice or treatment.
It is important to note that the views and opinions expressed by the podcast hosts, guests, or contributors are their own and may not necessarily reflect the views of Restore Detox Centers. We strongly advise listeners to consult with qualified professionals, such as addiction counselors, therapists, or medical practitioners, before making any decisions or taking any actions based on the information provided in this podcast. Please be aware that listening to this podcast does not establish a client-provider relationship with Restore Detox Centers.
Service is the most imperative part of sobriety, Steve. It gets us out of ourselves. We've got to have a relationship with a power grid ofin ourselves. And then we've got to continue to commit random acts of selfless service for others and put others first.
Steve Coughran:This is the Addiction Recovery Podcast with Steven T. Ginsburg, founder of Restore Detox Centers in Sunny, California. Enjoy your experience. Steven, just recently you celebrated an anniversary on November 12th. Tell me a little bit about this.
Steven Ginsburg:Yeah, thanks, Steve. Good to be back on with you, brother. I appreciate it. And I think it's a really relevant topic. Uh anniversaries are remarkable and wonderful, and they are also a cautionary moment where you can just regroup and assess and take inventory and make sure that there's no complacency and no laurels to rest on. On uh on November 12th, which was Wednesday, I had the blessing and privilege of taking 21 years clean and sober.
unknown:Wow.
Steven Ginsburg:At Christ's grace and mercy. Yeah, it's just I'm really grateful. And I love taking 21 years. And Nicole, you know, always gives me my anniversary chip at my home group. That's my wife, Nicole. And you know, this is the 20th year that she has given me my token, which is pretty awesome to have her in that space in my life. But the more imperative and important thing to me than 21 years, the more important day that matters to me is when I had 21 years in one day. Because this program and my recovery, they are a day at a time. And right now, as you and I speak, this is the most important and imperative day. And I really did. That's why I wanted to talk on this. Not so people be like, oh, he's 21 years clean and sober. I mean, praise God, that's through the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous and and Christ's grace and mercy. But it's about that daily reprieve. And you and I have talked about this before, but I don't think there's enough times or ways that we can talk about this. It's about that remission that is earned on a daily basis, you know, through what? Through action, through consistent footwork and through that approach. And, you know, when I turned 20 last year, I decided I would do a 90 and 90. I assigned myself to 90 meetings in 90 days. And I'm really glad I did. It was a great way to start my 20th year. And when 21 came around, I'm like, I'm gonna do a 90 and 90 again. But I also want to share about this for a moment and then turn it back over to you. Along the way through that year, through my 20th year, I started to realize that one of the things I stand on with recovery is I just believe a meeting a day just works for me and it should work for others. I'm not trying to tell others what they should do. I'm not saying things don't come up. I'm not saying there's not days where we travel. I'm not saying there's not medical issues. I'm saying there was never a day where I didn't drink a drug. So why would there be a day where I didn't participate in my remission and my reprieve and and hit a meeting? And I really believe there's a there's an old school slogan, meeting makers make it. And I really believe a meeting a day is realistic. And the last thing I want to say, and I'm I really I'm gonna give this back to you, brother, but I'm passionate about the topic. In this day and age, how can anyone really truly say there's a day where they can't make a meeting? Right now, Steve, let's see, it's 11:30. There's about 500 plus online Zoom meetings starting for Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous right now. And at 12, there will be 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 more. There is a meeting every half hour, an hour on the hour that you can just jump into. You can just jump onto anytime. So, how can you not make a meeting? Because I'm so busy. Well, you're too busy for Instagram, you're too busy for TikTok, you're too busy to what to like go to the gym, too busy for Xbox. Uh, we're not too busy for a meeting.
Steve Coughran:So, okay, let's back up here because I I think this is incredible. There's so many questions that I have because I've never been to that. No, no, it's great. I with your anniversary, like how big of a deal is that? And let's speak to because I I want to approach this from somebody who's on the other side who may not be in recovery. Help them to understand how big of a deal an anniversary is, and what are some things they can do to really support this person and celebrate this anniversary with them?
Steven Ginsburg:So I will tell you for me and for people in recovery, it's a really big deal. And it's part of the big deal that recovering a day at a time is, and it's something to strive for and towards, and and it helps us stay focused on the fact that it's a daily reprieve and it's a daily recovery and it's a daily approach. So listen, there were like 70 people at my home group, they weren't all there for me, but a majority of those people were there helping me celebrate. And my wife was with me, and my sponsor was there, and all three men that I sponsor were there, and Oliver Store was there. I mean, like the only person missing was you, but you had a very good reason to not be there, brother. You were out of the country, right? Praise God, but maybe next year. But it was beautiful and like, you know, and there are a lot of tears of joy, and it's a time to reflect, and it's a time, time to reboot. And having my wife, who is everything to me, give me my chip and and you know, explain that she has only known me as a sober husband, and my children have only ever had me as a sober father. You are you you see the fruit that your labor bears in those moments, and it's worth it. And you start to realize that the people who are who are having those anniversaries, who are celebrating those moments, yeah, you know, we all are participating in the day. And so some people be like, time doesn't mean anything. I'm like, okay, go get some and let's discuss that. Yeah, because I didn't wake up 21 years sober. You know, I had a relapse after 12 years, and I woke, I woke up back on my day one again. And I, Steve, I've taken it a day at a time, but I have done the same things day in and day out, and they've continued to contribute to my remission and my reprieve, and they've continued to contribute to my ongoing recovery.
Steve Coughran:So, I mean, so it's a big deal. What do you do with these chips? Like, what is a chip exactly?
Steven Ginsburg:Oh, yeah. Oh my gosh, I'm gonna send you a picture of the one Nicole gave me this year. It's really beautiful. And my Bible study this morning, they passed it around because I had another guy in the study asking, like, what's a chip? Like, what's it look like? You know, it's a token and it's got a Roman numeral on it. And the Roman numeral prescribes itself to your sobriety year. And then sometimes there's a serenity prayer on back, sometimes there's a different prayer from the fellowship on the back, sometimes there's a saying on the back. Uh, and sometimes they'll be in a little case, or sometimes it'll be freestanding, but it's they're really beautiful. And I actually have a display in my little home gym where I have a majority of my chips. Uh, some of them I have given to other people who are taking a chip because I think it's real special.
Steve Coughran:So your wife, your wife gets, or somebody somebody buys like where do you get a chip from? So they're customize it or what?
Steven Ginsburg:You I mean, first of all, they're of course, like everything else in the a big deal . And secondly, maybe like we can even post a picture of like my chip or whatever for the blog or whatever after we do this, and I'll send it to you, brother. And and you're on you, you you see me on social media. Like, I I I posted to you know, to instill hope. I always post a message of gratitude and thanks. And it showed Nicole giving me my chip and the people I was with. And you know, you can certainly buy these online. There's a beautiful store in Carlsbad Village, and the lady who owns it is sober and and does a meeting on Friday nights in her house. Uh, her name's Janine, she has the music store in Carlsbad, and I mean they have like really beautiful chips. Okay, and so Nicole goes there and it's sweet. Like, believe me, they're happier to see Nicole in AA than they are to see me. They love my anniversary because they get to see my wife.
Steve Coughran:Well, and I think this is really an important topic, and it's kind of different from what we've done before. I mean, number one, it's huge to celebrate this milestone um in your life, but also like it's so important for other people who have loved ones who are in recovery to really like make this a big deal and like celebrate them and support them. And so, like, I know you have a wonderful wife, right? Wonderful wife, wonderful kids and families for you. What are some things that people do in your circle, Steven, to make you feel loved and supported as you continue on this journey day by day?
Steven Ginsburg:Yeah, I'm gonna get emotional. So if you guys hear a gap, it's because I'm getting choked up, but that's like super healthy. You know, it's more special than a birthday because it's the day of your rebirth, you know, and I should have been dead.
Steve Coughran:I mean, I remember in your book, you know, when you're Talking about in your book. Let me die or let me live.
Steven Ginsburg:Let me die or let me show up for you and you go out and eat, and numerous people will give you different chips. And they had a cake for me at restore. I mean, it is you just feel people are able to express love and appreciation towards you and towards your path because we're all in this together and we're all holding each other up and we're all sharing our experience, strength, and hope. And that's what perpetuates sobriety. Service is the most imperative part of sobriety, Steve. It gets us out of ourselves. We've got to have a relationship with a power greater than ourselves, and then we've got to continue to commit random acts of selfless service for others and put others first. And in the fellowship during individuals' anniversaries. One of the gals who's an alumni from Restore, who works with us at Restore, her sponsor, who I cannot see straight about, took 35 years yesterday. And we drove about an hour to Ramona. Sean, one of my sponsees, drove about an hour to Ramona and celebrated her 35th year. And I got her a couple of chips and I bought her a card and it meant the world to her. And so you you lean in and pay homage to this trudge, to this walk with purpose that people show through actions and words matching. And we have this ongoing community of people who are sober and who are holding one another up. No, and I mean that's amazing.
Steve Coughran:What if somebody though, they what if they don't have a support group?
Steven Ginsburg:I mean, I know they have they need to get one immediately.
Steve Coughran:Like, what do you do if you just if you don't feel like you have a strong support group coming out of recovery? Because I imagine a lot of people lose friends, they probably burn a lot of bridges with the friends they had and family and everything else. Like, what what advice would you give to somebody who may be struggling and feeling super alone?
Steven Ginsburg:This is why I wanted to talk on this topic. So thank you for being who you are because it's all coming up and coming out, isn't it? You know, the only thing we change in sobriety is what? Everything, you know, people, places, and playmates, playgrounds. We change our environment. We rebuild and we regroup and we find and we foster community. And if you are hearing this and you are new to recovery, or if you're hearing this and you are in recovery, but you don't have a home group, find a home group. Find a meeting that you love where people are sharing what you want and designate that your home group and take a commitment there, engage and lean in and ask guys for their numbers and gals for their numbers and call them and meet them for coffee before come a little early to the meeting, stay a little later after the meeting and start to build. I mean, pretty much almost everyone in our life, in my life, in some way, shape, or form, they're involved in recovery in the program. And the people who aren't are very much in the know that I have a life through Christ of recovery. Make it the center of your world because it needs to be, because nothing can ever come before it.
Steve Coughran:Yeah, no, I absolutely agree. Yeah, yeah, I mean, it's it's beautiful, Steven. What looking back on the 21 years, I know we always talk about just like doing the footwork, working the program, like just taking action every single day. Is there anything else that like looking back and reflecting on this where you're like, I am glad that I did this or stayed strong in this area or whatever it may be to help you get to this important milestone?
Steven Ginsburg:Yes. And it's this is gonna be all too familiar to you. I am grateful, but a day at a time, you know, the big book talks to me about starting how I'm gonna start my day and starting my day a certain way. And you know, prayer and meditation is the way I start my day. And I I choose to read a Bible verse and read the daily reflection and the everything AA app. I do that daily. And then I choose to hit my knees and say the third step prayer and ask, please ask God would get me through today, please, clean and sober. And then I go through my day, and when I make it through my day at night, I hit my knees again and I say thank you for getting me through the day clean and sober. And I have that individual with working knowledge of the steps in my life, that trusted advisor, I have a sponsor. I go to a meeting a day, meeting makers make it. I diffuse my built-in forgetter at a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous or whatever meeting you go to, Coda, NA, uh, Smart Recovery, Celebrate Recovery, a meeting a day. And then I've worked the 12 steps, and the 12 steps work in my life, and they've perpetuated the spiritual awakening I've had a result because of the work and the steps. I've had that spiritual awakening and that psychic change, and that manifestation of craving is gone from my life because of the work I've done with that sponsor on the 12 steps. And then the last facet is I am of service, and those five things in my life, you know, conception of a power bringing in myself, a sponsor, meetings, 12 steps, and service have a day at a time given me 21 years, or whereas you and I sit here today, brother, because this is truly a daily program, you know, 21 years and six days, 7,676 days, a day at a time, a day at a time, a prayer at a time, a meeting at a time, a step at a time. And I've always had a sponsor. I've always had a sponsor, you know, a doctor who treats himself as a fool for a patient. And so this is the formula. It it works, it is proven to work. It has been working since the 1930s, it is working globally, it is working for millions of people. So give yourself a chance because without it, it's death and institutions.
Steve Coughran:Yeah, I absolutely agree. I mean, absolutely amazing, Steven. Uh, and and what a journey, and so many more years to go. And we always talk about this on the podcast where it's like, yeah, 21 years, that's great. Good start. This is not a time to just take a step back and say, okay, I made it 21 years. I think I'm good. I think I'm out of it.
Steven Ginsburg:I'm going, man. I did that once before I gave up 12 years. I am not laying back. I am more intent, more intentional, more focused, more fired up about my recovery than I've ever been. My primary purpose is to help the man or woman who's still suffering. That is my focus. And and and Steve, if someone's out there and they can't find their way or they just don't know what to do, or that it's they're into that this isn't for me mode. Please, if you're out there, will you please contact us? Will you please contact me? I want to hear your voice. I want to share my truth with you. And I care, and I don't care who you are or where you're from, I want to hear from you because I want to help. Don't miss this. There's miracles waiting to happen for all of us. We can't leave before the miracle, and we've got to be a part of together.
Steve Coughran:Yeah, 100%. And you could always reach us at hello at restore detoxcenters.com. We read every email and we would love to hear from you, like Stephen said. Don't be shy, reach out. Also on our website, restore detoxcenters.com. You can always find a lot of great content and resources. Steven was alluding to the blog. We do a blog after every one of these episodes. If you want the text form to read over and share, Stephen, this is this has been incredible. And I'm so grateful, so grateful that I've been along with you on this journey. I mean, congratulations.
Steven Ginsburg:Brother, thank you. I love you, your family. Um, this means everything to me. And what the work we're doing here is important and and it's reaching people. And we are just sharing the experience, strength, and hope that there is for the man or woman who's still suffering. Thank you for your part. Everyone, be safe, be sober, know that we are for you. We love you. And uh again, we want to hear from you. And Steve, thank you so much. I appreciate you, brother. I love you.
