I live in Los Angeles, where our recovery community—AA, CA, and NA—holds massive gatherings on the Pacific coast twice a year. Imagine hundreds of people from over 130 different LA neighborhoods coming together on the beach. It’s an incredible scene: people setting up coffee stations, photographers capturing memories for our group pages, and rows of running shoes lined up in the sand, categorized by sobriety milestones—8, 9, 10, or 12 years. Some members even swap or donate their shoes to others in need.
My friends and I aren’t exactly the 'marathon runner' types—between my back pain and a friend’s twisted ankle, we’re usually the ones tasked with keeping the drinks and electrolytes cold and ready at the finish line!
About two and a half hours in, the beach is packed. I usually end up playing 'babysitter' for a single mother in our group, holding her baby while she finishes the run. That little boy is an African American sweetheart—he’s like our community’s own child, and we all adore him.
Once everyone is gathered, about 300 of us sit in a large circle on the sand. A single horn blast signals silence. We hear from successful members—entrepreneurs and artists who are now thriving—sharing words of encouragement. Then comes my favorite part: the 'Birthday' celebration.
We call out everyone based on their sobriety milestones—30 days, 6 months, 1 year, all the way up to 30 years. As each group stands up, the rest of us sing 'Happy Birthday' to them. It’s a beautiful way to honor their 'rebirth' into a new life. It’s a tradition that lasts about an hour, full of joy and applause.
Afterward, we move into smaller groups for fun activities, like tossing a ball around while singing and sharing stories. There’s also a 'Community Board' where members post their skills or businesses. It’s amazing to see how people get support here. I remember one member who was incredible at making donuts; three different local churches saw his post, pre-ordered his donuts, and provided the capital he needed to finally open his own shop!
It’s these moments of connection that really show what our recovery community is all about—helping each other turn a new page, one day at a time.
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