Twenty-nine-year-old Gemmika Champion has been sober for the past eight years, which, for some, could present challenges in the dating game. However, she embraces it, writes Julia Naftulin for the Business Insider.

It did not take long for Champion to adjust to her new normal. 

Today, she sees first dates as perfect opportunities for fun and exploration, even moreso while sober.

Champion got sober after entering a treatment program at 21, and the effect has allowed her to weed out incompatible matches quickly.

“Getting sober, I built a better foundation for my understanding of who I am and what I want,” said Champion.

For the most part, Champion doesn’t miss how she felt when she drank. However, she still sometimes craves that feeling of unpredictability that is associated with a night of bar hopping.

So to fulfill this need, she chooses dates that mimic this feeling, such as salsa dancing classes and comedy shows, as well as open mic nights around Philadelphia. These situations bring with them a bit of welcomed chaos without the need for alcohol.

Another good choice for a first date for Champion is morning coffee, which is usually continued by taking a walk around the neighborhood. 

Sobriety has helped open up her dating possibilities.

Read more about Gemmika Champion’s sobriety in the Business Insider.

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