From Zoom to Room

From Zoom to Room:  The Importance of In-Person Connection in Sobriety

Long-time LifeRing convenor Geoff L. brings his local online meeting back home to Livermore!  LifeRing Secular Recovery in-person meetings are open to those seeking substance use recovery support in a positive, nonjudgmental setting with like-minded people.

LifeRing Livermore  —  How Was Your Week?
Unitarian Universalist Church  | 1893 N. Vasco Road | Livermore, CA  94551
Mondays at 6:00pm —  Contact Geoff L. | geoff@lifering.org for more information

Geoff shares his motivation for taking this meeting back to the streets.

About Me

Hi, my name is Geoff Lane, and I'm a psychologist who lives in Livermore, California. Over 10 years ago, I discovered LifeRing when I was getting serious about sobriety. Prior to this, my only experience with sobriety support groups was through 12-step, which I found to be not very helpful. When I found out about LifeRing, I was excited to join a national network of secular self-help that was based on personal empowerment, looking forward, and eschewing shame-based, religious dogma.

The last three years have taught me the value of human connection —
I think it's critically important that people have access to the option of in-person LifeRing meetings.

My Motivation for Being a LifeRing Convenor

My motivation for being a LifeRing convenor has always been pretty simple – it’s been a linchpin of my recovery, particularly in my early days. I always found it important to engage in some sort of regular 'recovery activity.' Convening a weekly meeting is what has worked for me, in part because it's very hard for me to 'skip out' on a commitment I have to others!

Transitioning Back to In-Person Meetings

During the initial Coronavirus lockdowns, I converted my in-person meeting to Zoom like everyone else. Zoom meetings are very helpful to many, but I’ve now realized that these meetings are not a replacement for the personal connection you make when you are running an in-person meeting for your local community.

So I’ve rebooted my face-to-face meeting that I started almost a decade ago now in Livermore and plan on keeping up that format for as long as is practically possible. The last three years have taught me the value of human connection — I think it's critically important that people have access to the option of in-person LifeRing meetings.  I think something super valuable was lost when we were mandated to move everything online.

For the COVID-Cautious, Or Other-Virus-Anxious ....

Again, this is an in-person meeting where the focus is on face-to-face connection so as to be inclusive to everyone who requires this for their own personal sobriety. Therefore, I plan on utilizing creative options like holding meetings outdoors or looking into other venues to remain compliant with relevant health codes or local policies, such as with mandated community masking or social distancing, should these ever make a serious return in the future.

And again, for those continuing to be cautious in their own lives, I highly recommend LifeRing's many online meetings. Looking forward to seeing my local Tri-Valley Area LifeRingers!

Join Geoff in-person
LifeRing Livermore —  How Was Your Week?
Unitarian Universalist Church | 1893 N. Vasco Road | Livermore, CA  94551
Mondays at 6:00pm

Please help people like Geoff support those with substance use challenges with your one-time or sustaining donations. Thank you!