Sober Santa: A Christmas Story for Women Choosing Peace

There’s a reason the holidays can feel louder than the rest of the year.

More lights. More gatherings. More expectations. More “should.”
And for a woman in recovery—or a woman simply trying to protect her peace—that louder busier season can stir up things you didn’t plan for.

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That’s why we created Sober Santa.

Not as a gimmick. Not as a “look how great we’re doing” message.
But as a small, Christmassy gift that says: you can celebrate without losing yourself.

Why a poem?

Poems do something simple and powerful: they slow us down.

In recovery, slowing down is not a luxury—it’s a skill. When we rush, we react. When we pause, we get a choice. And during the holidays, that choice matters more than ever.

Sober Santa is written like a familiar story because familiarity is comforting. It borrows the rhythm of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” on purpose—because many of us grew up with that cadence. It’s a soft place to land.

But we changed the details.

The line that started it all

“His cheeks weren’t so rosy, his nose not so red…”

That one line carries so much without needing to explain it.

We didn’t want to “broadcast” sobriety or turn recovery into a performance. We wanted a story that felt private, tender, and quietly proud—something a woman could listen to and think:

Someone gets it.

Rosy cheeks and a red nose aren’t just Santa details. For many women, they’re a familiar picture of holiday drinking culture—the stuff that gets normalized, joked about, expected… and sometimes dangerous.

So in our story, Santa’s glow is different. It’s not a buzz. It’s clarity.

“But kindness and clarity sparkled instead.”

That’s what we want more of for you this season: not perfection—clarity. Not pressure—kindness.

A “Christmas story” that feels safe

So many holiday messages unintentionally pressure women in recovery:

• “Don’t mess up.”
• “Be strong.”
• “Just get through it.”
• “You can’t drink—so find something else.”

Even when it’s well-meaning, it can land like shame.

We didn’t want shame anywhere near this.

In the poem, the home is calm. There’s no chaos. The cocoa is hot. A candle glows. A prayer is whispered. It’s simple. It’s grounded. It’s what your nervous system is craving.

Because recovery isn’t only about avoiding a drink—it’s about building a life that feels steady enough to live inside.

The “naughty list” line—on purpose

“Good for you, my dear, off the naughty list you are.”

We kept that line playful because recovery is serious—but it doesn’t have to be heavy all the time.

Women in recovery carry enough weight already: guilt, regret, relationships, losses, and pressure to “prove” they’re okay.

Sometimes you need a smile. A wink. A gentle moment of pride.
Not because everything is perfect—but because you’re still here, and you’re still trying.

And that matters.

Why we made it into audio

We didn’t want this to be something you “should” read. We wanted it to be something you can receive.

Audio is different. You can listen while:

• you’re driving to a gathering,
• you’re wrapping gifts,
• you’re sitting alone in a quiet house,
• you’re trying to calm your body after a tough conversation.

And that’s when support matters most—not when you’re already doing fine, but when you’re human and tender and tired.

So we recorded it as a spoken-word piece with Christmas music underneath—because sometimes you don’t need advice. You need atmosphere. You need a pause. You need a little warmth.

What we hope you feel when you hear it

Not pressure.

Not a lecture.

Just this:

“May your heart know peace, and your spirit shine bright.”

That closing line is our prayer for you—not only for Christmas night, but for the whole season.

Peace doesn’t mean nothing hurts. It means you have a place to stand.
And brightness doesn’t mean you’re “on.” It means your light isn’t gone.

A quiet gift from Today’s Sober Women

If you’re reading this and the holidays feel complicated, you are not alone.

At Today’s Sober Women, we believe recovery support should feel like:

• steady connection,
• emotional safety,
• small next steps,
• real comfort,
• and reminders that you can have joy without losing yourself.

Sober Santa is one small way we’re trying to offer that.

Press play. Listen once. Or listen ten times.
Let it be your calm moment in the middle of the season.

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And from all of us at TSW—Merry Christmas. ❤️