radioguy

my roommate is coming up on his 1 yr. sobriety date (tuesday) and i want to get the dude something, but i don't have a clue. i could always go with concert tickets, or cds, or something along those lines, but i'm wondering if there is a certain "something" that is given on this date. maybe something connected to sobriety in some way. does anybody know about this or have any suggestions? thanks, i appreciate the help.

maleficent

1st wedding anniversary is paper, I don't see why first anniversary of sobriety couldn't also be something paper, which could mean concert tickets, or even just a card to say that you remember and want to celebrate what he's achieved.

I think it's very cool that you are aware of his anniversary and want to do something special for him.. He's lucky to have a good friend like you.

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Elphaba

I believe AA gives a coin for anniversary dates. They are small, seemingly unimportant things that hold a great deal of personal value for the receiver. Perhaps you could find some token to be engraved with his name and date?

How very thoughtful of you, and even a small gift acknowledging the achievement will have great worth to your friend.

Marvelous Marv

Or a framed certificate of some kind, celebrating the event.

Something that further milestones can be added to.

My conommendations on the support you give your friend.

ratbastid

You know what, anniversaries of this kind are very personal things. You should probably check with him to see if he wants it celebrated in any particular way.

I know that for me, on the one-year anniversary of my quitting smoking, the best gift I got was lurkette telling me how proud she was of me. I didn't need a big certificate to hang on my wall--besides AA will give him all the symbolic token items he'll need.

Just let the guy know how much you admire and appreciate him, how much his strength inspires you, whatever is there for you to say to him. That's really all he needs, if you ask him.

TM875

Bottle of Everclear and a straw?






Yes, I'm a sadistic bastard

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"I've made only one mistake in my life. But I made it over and over and over. That was saying 'yes' when I meant 'no'. Forgive me."

la petite moi

I agree with ratbastid on this one- it's more of a personal achievement. I think a pat on the back and a couple minutes of saying you're proud of him as a friend is quite enough.

sadistikdreams

Buy him a drink.

Just kidding. Give him a pat on the back, ask him if you can do anything special.

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"Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone.
The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials."
-Lin Yutang

hearts, by d.a.

Zeraph

A nice bottle of scotch...kidding kidding. EDIT: Aww someone beat me to it.

Might be a little over the top, but you could order him a custom trophy.

But if you plan on doing it every year, some small trinket that he can collect so that he has a visual form to see how much time he's been sober. Coins or maybe even stamps, would need to know more about the person. Or just a card telling him how great you think it is could suffice.

wolf

My Mom is in AA and NA, I would just get a card, there isn't any gift necessary. Really, just the thought that you care about your friend and support his sobriety will mean more to him than you could ever imagine. This is a real achievement, those of you who don't deal with addiction will never know how difficult it can be. Tell him congratuatulations and keep comin' from me.

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Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as Gods. Cats have never forgotten this.

Bill O'Rights

I would echo the words of pride and encouragment. It'll mean far more to him than you will ever know.

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"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony

"Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus

It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

Zephyr66

I agree, don't bother with a gift. If he really wants one, it means that he's greedy, not that hes proud of himself... or at least that's how I see it.

pan6467

As one who has been in recovery for 6 years and helps people to recover, the 2 best presents you can give anyone are:

1) Reaffirm your support and letting them know how proud you are of them for bettering their lives and a recognition of how hard it has been for them

2) if they are AA get them a 12 traditions book: a daily prayer book or if they like to write a journal.

Those I have found are the most appreciated and best presents. Especially #1.

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I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

radioguy

thanks ya'll....i appreciate the kind words and the advice. i think i'll run by the local AA chapter and see if they will give me a one year coin that i can give to him. he stopped going to AA after his initial 90 in 90 thing. he didn't believe in the higher power thing helping him stop drinking, they didnt like that. pan keep up the good work, same to your mother wolf, and rat as well.

Astrocloud

How about just spending some time with your friend doing things that he likes to do.

xepherys

I agree with most of the above votes of a pat on the back and a few words of praise. There are very few people that are good enough friends (especially among guys) to not only remember an event like this, but to actually say something. And for that, I give you you'r won pat on the back and few words of praise... good for you for being a true friend!

ShaniFaye

I'd just like to say...back in 1990 when I celebrated my one year clean of cocaine, my parents and friends threw me a party...it was actually a surprise and it went in my book as one of the nicest things anyone has ever done....I didnt consider it a private thing at all. buy him some steaks and cook out with him!!!

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I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!

radioguy

i ended up getting him a pair of tickets to the anger management tour with 50 cent and eminem. hopefully, he'll get someone else to go. i can't stand the music and don't really want to spend my day there, but i will if needed. ya'll were right about him being happy that someone just remembered about the day. he seemed very thankful for that and was ecstatic when i gave him the tickets. thanks for ya'lls advice.

Zeraph

Glad to hear it worked out well.