I am real happy to see a post about sober living. I'm 20 and wish I could go back to when I was 15 and so innocent. I would go out and drink on the weekends like a lot of typical highschool kids. My friends at the time smoked pot and i tried it with them and saw no point in it and thought it was a complete was of money. This post made me reevaluate my life and goals. I use to scrapbook a lot sober and had pictures of everytime I went out with friends or family. I miss that. I have lost my "better looking high school days" or at least I feel that way. I use to enjoy spending times with friends doing nothing and having fun. After abusing drugs, that's all I find fun... and still feel that way unfortunately. My boyfriend misses when I'd be clean for a bit and come home from work sober and happy & telling all these funny stories from the dental office. When I was sober for awhile I enjoyed walking through the trails & feeling the fresh breeze. It made me feel alive. Since Chicago has had some messed up weather lately, I hope I can continue doing this because the natural endorphin's released from walking the trails made me feel amazing. Another benefit of being sober is being able to comprehend and understand everything that is really going on. Especially me with work. I have a serious job but while using I didn't care, and being sober I perform better, and ended up getting a raise within 7 months of my first "serious" job, which could technically be a career to some. It motivates me to continue my schooling to become a dental hygienist and move up the ladder instead of being a dental assistant.