Sober Shepherds

01/24/2025

Dear Recovery Community,

In 2024, I launched SoberShepherds.com, a platform dedicated to the recovery community. It was created for those in recovery, those seeking recovery, and anyone supporting loved ones on this journey. This website is my personal passion project—a space where I share my own writings and extend an open invitation for others to contribute. If you love to write, I’d be honored to feature your work. Recovery is not a solo journey—it’s a collective effort. Together, we can build something truly meaningful and impactful.

For those who don’t know me personally, I’ve worked in social media as a full-time professional since 2008. During that time, I’ve helped countless small businesses thrive online by creating diverse and impactful content across all areas of marketing. From designing campaigns to producing media for virtually every platform imaginable, my focus has always been on driving growth and connection. Now, I’m pouring that same passion and expertise into something deeply personal—Sober Shepherds.

Beyond written content, I’m diving into other creative ventures that bring recovery stories to life. I’m currently producing short documentaries that recreate powerful moments of recovery, transforming the traditional format of sharing stories at the front of a room into cinematic experiences. My first documentary, “Tears of Joy,” is already available on Sober Shepherds and YouTube. It’s a deeply moving story that captures the raw emotion and beauty of recovery in a way that words alone cannot. This is just the beginning, and I am excited to continue creating much more complex films that highlight the courage and transformation within this community.

In addition to documentaries, I’ve started expanding into podcasting. Podcasts provide a powerful platform to connect and ignite meaningful conversations. If you’ve ever dreamed of starting a podcast, I’d love to hear from you. As a seasoned producer, I’m actively seeking dynamic personalities to collaborate on recovery-focused podcasts. These episodes will be published on YouTube and Sober Shepherds, spreading stories and insights to audiences far and wide.

If you’re passionate about recovery, love to write, want to explore podcasting, or are interested in contributing to these documentary projects—whether as a subject or a producer—I encourage you to reach out. I’m looking for individuals who are deeply committed to authenticity and storytelling, with a shared passion for making a difference. Together, we can create content that not only inspires but also helps people on their recovery journeys. Every story we tell has the potential to touch lives, spark hope, and guide someone toward healing.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Your encouragement inspires me every single day, and my greatest hope is that my work can offer the same inspiration in return. Together, we have the power to make a difference—to illuminate the beauty and strength that thrives within the recovery community.

Gratefully,

David Weitz
Owner, Sober Shepherds, LLC
www.SoberShepherds.com
[email protected]

01/24/2025

THE GIFT OF DESPERATION ©

Whoever would dare to define the gift of recovery as just a mere coincidence surely has never lived our misery. As once explained to me, the opportunity to recover simply appears when the sufferer is ready to admit complete defeat. When that brief moment of clarity arrives we formulate a passageway to a new unknown. The population of the world around us stems from a single digit to a room filled with strangers who speak a new vocabulary. Although our heads are shattered with deception, what seems foreign to such sore ears somehow transforms our desperation into a position of consideration. By pure magnetism, we return again to try and capture the phenomenon of what it is we have been seeking our entire lives. Unsure, we continue to revisit these rooms filled with unfamiliar faces while optimism becomes a factor for the first time in our existence.

The elimination of isolation is essentially what ignites the fuse to demolish what has been the obstruction over a lifetime of any spiritual light. This transformation that occurs in a terrified newcomer is in fact what we speak of when others around us witness such a miracle. As the seed of willingness germinates in a beginner, they soon become a new life form that requires unconditional compassion from those with much stronger roots. Hope becomes the driving force between what has always been and what could possibly be. Understanding and kindness are offered unconditionally to those who continue to fall. Eventually, the handicap of never having been able to walk through one day sober soon stands on two firm feet. It is truly unexplainable to those who have never stood in our shoes – and so we continue to keep coming back if only for the mere fact that we have finally found hearts that match our own.

Anyone that receives a daily pardon in the course of submitting their will can attest to some of the most horrid stories ever heard by sober ears. If the desperate are willing to go to any and all lengths to beat the odds that are already against them, there should be no contest when an insane newcomer begs you to help save their life. Still, I have known the names of many anonymous individuals who never saw another day’s dawn.

How many of us find such liberty on a daily basis only to return to the ruins we swore off forever. It’s the insidiousness of this incurable disease that baffles even the minds of those who acquire doctorates to study us. It’s sinister to lurk outside our programs writing books about a cure to try and stray us or the greedy in Hollywood that spends millions of dollars entertaining the majority who are not us. How quickly the world forgets about the thousands each day that perish from this life only wishing they could have found us.

Every morning a recovering addict opens their eyes they are conditioned from the very beginning to give thanks to a power greater than themselves for another chance at life. We learn through self-awareness and working with others who also share this common bond to never take for granted the twenty-four-hour reprieve from a nightmare that at one time we could not awaken from. Through a new understanding, we become attuned to the fact that at any given time this priceless gift that we have acquired can vanish like a mystery in the course of one bad decision. Therefore, we carefully assess how we react to each situation that confronts us and use honesty and faith to be our guiding force to a new foundation for how we live our lives.

01/23/2025

SOBERMAN ©

I’ve always kept an open mind when hearing what others have to say about living a life of sobriety. If I don’t particularly care for someone as an individual, my experience has been that I often learn more from those I can’t stand than from my closest friends. However, there’s always one in the group who strays from the herd to knit their “recovery cape,” determined to save us all from ourselves. Without any guidance from a sponsor, these self-proclaimed saviors decide early in their new lives that it is their divine duty to lead us all to freedom. They talk faster than a speeding bullet and think they’re more powerful than a locomotive. As they dart to the kitchen to claim credit for making the coffee, they return, Big Book in hand, as Soberman!

Always early to a meeting to scope out the room, Soberman spares no time in beginning his new career of saving the inferior. Similar to the game “Life,” Soberman races around the game board, putting as many bent pegs into his car as humanly possible. He knows no equal to his grandiose personality, with arms so long they rise higher than cathedral ceilings. With one deep breath, he vibrates any meeting he graces with his incredible strength, crushing every eardrum in a single room. Then, after the meeting is over, he’s up, up, and away—soaring high above the local ghettos and bars, looking for more victims to add to his already enormous collection of the lost.

Yet, as with any hero’s tale, there comes a battle that inevitably brings Soberman to his knees. For anyone who isn’t him, this is a joyful occasion. Many who don the cape of Soberman eventually find themselves exposed, caught red-handed with a laundry list of shortcomings, and silenced by the perfect dose of Kryptonite. Public humility often becomes the medicine that saves their life. If they’re lucky enough to beat the odds and find the courage to remove their cape, they might even stand a chance of living above ground. Should a moment of clarity strike their defected character—the very defect that made them Soberman in the first place—they might transform into a true hero. One who uses courage, honor, and dignity to face the battles in the rooms of our international fellowship, no longer striving to be perfect but striving simply to be real.

🕊️ www.sobershepherds.com

01/22/2025

TAKING YOUR TIME ©

I’ve heard it mentioned throughout my journey in sobriety that those who say time means nothing usually don’t have any. Time it seems becomes our first major accomplishment after losing so many years of it. The great starter and terrible finisher begins their life over again by achieving the impossible mission of staying sober from time up until bedtime. Then, they are reborn on a new calendar date that all started at a particular moment in time.

In recovery, time comes in all shapes, colors, materials and is even made into jewelry. Some of us even wear our time hanging from our clothes, or tattooed to our bodies. Others wear it on their sleeve, or take advantage of someone new who has no meaning of it yet. Time is celebrated and time is treasured for those who fear of ever losing it. Time becomes a responsibility, a reputation, an education and a meaning far beyond a clock we observe on a wall. Time becomes the teacher that leads by example for those with more time, to instruct the ones with less time, how to make the best use of their time.

In this process we are taught from day one that time takes time. Along the journey with just one bad decision time can be taken as quickly as it is discovered. Time can heal all wounds as well as take us to our graves. Our recovery date this time might not be the last time. We learn from those who take a hit for the team that time realistically only lasts twenty-four hours at a time. Time in, is only time earned, by returning the next time, one day a time.

🕊️ www.sobershepherds.com

01/22/2025

SELF CENTERED ©

If you think attending a meeting once a week in a church basement is tough, try recovering in a clubhouse where your program gets tested daily. When I first arrived, I couldn’t tell if I was seen as “new” because of the literal definition or because of my outlandish behavior. By the time I earned my third coin, half the room was cheering me on to say whatever was on my mind, while the other half probably wished I’d find a clubhouse on the other side of the planet. “Principles Before Personalities” wasn’t just a tradition I saw on the wall or heard in meetings—it became a mantra I repeated to myself like a madman.

Picture this: walking into the same room with the same personalities—not just on Mondays, but Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and let’s not even talk about the weekends. At that point, all I was missing was a halfway decent bed. I might as well have brought my toothbrush and moved in!

Anyone who’s been through this knows exactly what I mean. And those who’ve made it this far in recovery eventually reach a point where they realize it’s time to venture outside the clubhouse. That’s when the real bravery kicks in. You plan the occasion like it’s a date—not with someone else, but with yourself. Romantic, right? You clean yourself up, maybe dress a little sharper than usual, and show up early to a new meeting. The meeting begins, and soon enough, it hits you: you miss your usual clubhouse crew—even the ones you don’t like. Heck, you miss not liking them!

After that surreal experience, you go home, sleep it off, and the next day find yourself back in your regular seat, comforted by the realization that, no matter where else you might go, there’s no place like home.

One day, I’ll gather the courage to evolve beyond my little habitat. But for now, I can honestly say that the good I gain from where I recover far outweighs the challenges posed by the personalities around me. It’s where I take pride in welcoming newcomers—those seeking a safe haven, a home that’s always open, where you can keep showing up until you’ve exhausted yourself into wellness.

In truth, I consider myself lucky. Most people don’t have the luxury of a place like this, the very place I’ve worked so hard to complain about. Maybe it’s just the self-centered part of me—the same part that brought me to my knees in the first place. Then again, at least I’ve got a center where I can be myself.

🕊️ www.sobershepherds.com

01/21/2025

THE MIRACLE OF HUMILITY ©

After years of being defined the black sheep, we are offered a gift many fear they don’t deserve. The turbulence of our once horrible existence inverts into a pink cloud we float on a while through the persistence of firm determination to stay sober. The roughest times with substances always on our minds soon become a memory of our jaded past. A new way to cope with life becomes foreign territory. Fear still lives on the edge of our existence as we are formally introduced to life on life’s terms for the first time as adults. We accept the good news once the obsession has been lifted; that we will survive the beating that almost took our life. However, what isn’t apparent is how long we have been absent from reality.

For a period of time, we try to impress our new peers with our ability to seem friendly even though we still despise the world and everyone in it. People pleasing can turn from a seemingly good deed into resentment almost instantly. So soon into reaching for tags of accolades we may find ourselves in debt, quickly thinking maybe we can shop our way into positive decision making. Newcomers shack up with others blinded by low self-worth only to find out that water seeks its own level. The custom-tailored idea we have penciled out for ourselves is an impossible recovery to those who want this à la carte. Many cease to realize that if we can survive staying sober long enough without relapsing we reach the bottom of a new mountain and begin to climb our way out of hell. Every other attempt at healing other than what is suggested is just a lure to try and divert us.

We want this new way of life so badly that we think maybe elbow grease will carry us to where we witness others in their recovery. Some of us get the idea that with enough service and hard work we might receive an Oscar for best effort. We spend so many years as the pincushion to the world around as permanently damaged, when we do arrive and awaken to this opportunity, all we want is to get it perfect.

Humility is the key that opens the door to accepting ourselves as we are and not for the illusion we play to the rooms to how it is we’d like to be seen. Those who think their past is unique are convinced that others who share the same space stand in judgment as they plan to run from public ex*****on. However, it’s the very same people who reach for our chins to level our eyes we later define as real friends. They dust us off and share their experience with common miscalculations everyone experiences as newcomers.

Our new existence can only be taught to us by others who set the example. It is only through personal strife that we produce the very mortar needed to build a foundation powerful enough to withstand human error shared with others so publicly. The strength required to accept all that’s packaged with life’s disappointments redefines our thought process as we develop blind faith and continue to stay sober despite all current circumstances. As we build our new selves, we begin working with others proudly living the good advice fed to us few will ever find the courage to swallow. We pray daily to keep an open mind. Willingness becomes the inner strength needed to use these permanent tools for everlasting change. Within such priceless principles, we slowly evolve into a spiritual example for those who follow after us. Then, we freely give away this knowledge to someone who once stood in our shoes and pray that they too can survive the miracle of humility.

🕊️ www.sobershepherds.com

01/15/2025

THE SOCIETY OF THE SECOND CHANCE ©

Life has a way of casting some of us as wanderers, as if we’re born to lose our way. We stumble through storm after storm, clutching at anything to keep us afloat, never sure if we’ll ever find solid ground again. But those of us who survive, those who keep climbing despite the falls come to realize something profound: we don’t just survive; we transform. We belong to something greater. We belong to the society of the second chance.

We are the ones who’ve been burned by life’s fire and risen from its ashes. The ones who’ve carried the weight of our failures on our backs like boulders, trudging uphill again and again. There were times we couldn’t see the summit, times we doubted if the climb was worth it, and yet we climbed. Not because we had the strength, but because staying at the bottom felt like a death sentence. Every step felt impossible, but somehow, even in our darkest moments, we found the will to try again.

The hardest part of being in this society isn’t the climb or the storms—it’s the loneliness. It’s the haunting thought that maybe you’re the only one who’s fallen this far, the only one who’s made mistakes so devastating they echo in your sleep. It feels like being the last tree standing in a forest that’s been cut down. You’re exposed, vulnerable, with every scar visible for the world to see.

But here’s the truth: you are not the only one. There is a whole forest of us, waiting to remind you that you’re not alone. We’ve all stood in the ashes of our lives, wondering if we’d ever grow again. And together, we’ve found a way to rise. Together, we’ve learned that the scars we carry are not signs of weakness. They are maps that tell the story of how we survived.

For me, risking it again isn’t an option anymore. I’ve climbed this mountain so many times, fallen back down so hard, that now, at nearly 54 years old, I’ve learned to protect what I’ve fought so hard to build. The cost of another fall is too great, and the climb back up takes a toll only those of us in this society can truly understand. I’ve learned to hold on, not out of fear, but out of respect for the journey that’s brought me here. Respect for the battle scars that have become a part of me.

You see, this society doesn’t belong to those who’ve never struggled. It belongs to those of us who’ve shattered into pieces and had to put ourselves back together again. We are the blacksmiths of our own souls, forged in the fires of failure, hammering away at the broken parts until something stronger emerges. We know what it’s like to be utterly undone, and we know what it takes to rebuild.

So if you’re part of this society, know this: your scars don’t make you weak. They make you wise. Every fall, every stumble, every agonizing climb has shaped you into someone who knows what it means to fight, to endure, to rebuild.

And when the world tells you that your mistakes define you, stand tall, stand proud. You are not broken. You are proof that no matter how far we fall, we can rise again. You are living evidence that strength comes not from an untested life but from one that’s been tested and endured. We are the ones who’ve survived the wreckage, climbed the mountains, and faced the storms. We rise stronger every time because seconds chances are a blessing and we belong to the society that embraces us to endure it.

🕊️ www.sobershepherds.com

Life has a way of casting some of us as wanderers, as if we’re born to lose our way. We stumble through storm after storm, clutching at anything to keep us afloat, never sure if we’ll ever find solid ground again. But those of us who survive, those who keep climbing despite the falls come to rea...

01/08/2025

There’s a moment in every shepherd’s life when they look back at the broken sheep they once were, lost and wandering, and realize the miracle of being found. Recovery is that miracle—a journey of leaving the wilderness and finding a new pasture. But the truth is, some of us don’t know how to tell that story.

Maybe you’ve lived through hell and back, and the idea of putting it all into words feels impossible. Maybe you think your story isn’t worth telling. Or maybe you’re just afraid that if you tried to write it, you couldn’t capture the depth of your journey. Let me tell you this: your story matters. And I will help you tell it.

At Sober Shepherds, I’m not just here to hear your story—I’m here to shepherd it. Think of me as the guide who walks with you, gathering the broken pieces of your life and weaving them into something beautiful. You don’t have to be a writer. You don’t have to sit at a keyboard, staring at a blank screen, unsure of where to start. I’ve created a process—a simple, heartfelt questionnaire—that helps you share your journey with me in a way that feels natural.

I’ll take it from there. What you get in return is something profound: your story, written with passion, clarity, and the raw truth that only someone who has walked the path of recovery can understand. It’s your journey, your voice—but through my pen, it becomes a masterpiece that reflects the beauty of where you’ve been and the courage of where you’re going.

Recovery is about connection. It’s about the shepherd finding the lost sheep and bringing it back to the fold. But it’s also about the sheep learning to lead others to safety. When you share your story, you become a shepherd yourself. Your story has the power to inspire someone who feels hopeless right now. Someone scrolling through their feed, wondering if they’ll ever find their way, could see your words and think, If they can do it, maybe I can too.

And it’s not just for others—it’s for you. Seeing your journey written out is like standing on a mountaintop, looking back at the valleys you’ve crossed. It gives you a perspective you never thought possible, a deep understanding of just how far you’ve come.

If you’re still wondering if I can write your story in a way that captures its heart and soul, explore the work I’ve already shared. At Sober Shepherds, you’ll find interviews with inspiring celebrities who have opened up about their recovery journeys, as well as deeply personal articles I’ve written about my own experiences in sobriety. Browse through the many pieces I’ve poured my heart into, and see for yourself how powerful words can be in telling the story of recovery.

At Sober Shepherds, I don’t just write stories—I bring them to life. Your journey, your struggles, your victories—they deserve to be heard. Too many voices in recovery are silenced by fear or doubt, but not yours. Not anymore. This is your chance to show the strength you’ve built, the battles you’ve fought, and the transformation you’ve earned. Click the link below. Fill out the questionnaire. Let me craft a story that captures the truth of your recovery—a story that not only honors where you’ve been but inspires others to believe in what’s possible.

🕊️ https://sobershepherds.com/storysubmissions

Sober Shepherds is a compassionate community focused on Shepherding individuals from addiction to recovery. Discover valuable resources, shared experiences, and recovery advice to help you or your loved ones overcome obstacles and achieve lasting sobriety.

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Send a message to learn more

06/05/2024

Hosting his very first podcast, Vincent Mendola sits down with his guest, Ralph, who explains in explicit detail the hard journey of getting sober and what life is like today in recovery, thanks to the twelve steps, good friends, and God as he understands Him.

www.SoberShepherds.com

06/04/2024

Meet Amy Widestrom, PhD—feminist, busy mom, loyal wife, and most importantly, recovering alcoholic who is very clear about her beliefs and what keeps her grounded in sobriety.

In her very first podcast interview, Amy sheds a few layers on what it was like, what happened and how she manages her life today in the new world she shares with her husband, two daughters and the love from her AA family.

www.SoberShepherds.com