We know that when you think about sources of wisdom, you probably do not think about sitcoms. Sure, good situation comedies often find ways to touch on important themes (often in installments dubbed “a very special episode”), but most of the time, viewers are just there for the laughs.
And if sitcoms themselves do not seem like founts of wisdom, it might seem even less likely that there would be lessons to be learned from sitcom theme songs. But some of the classics of the genre do, in fact, provide pearls of wisdom—and that wisdom can be applied to the recovery journey.
Ready to sing along? Let’s look at some famous theme songs and how they might be relevant to your ongoing recovery from a substance use disorder.
The Importance of Friendship in Recovery
There are not too many sitcoms as iconic as Cheers and Friends. And while we admit that Cheers, a show set in a bar, might seem like an odd choice for seeking out recovery advice, the theme songs to both of these classic shows remind us how important friendship really is.
Let’s start with Cheers. Here’s the chorus from the theme song:
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name
We would suggest that this memorable chorus highlights just what is on offer at 12-Step or other recovery meetings. Sure, in some of those meetings, you might only reveal your first name, but it is a community nonetheless—one in which you receive and provide mutual support based on your shared experiences.
The chorus from the Friends theme song offers up a similar message:
I’ll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I’ll be there for you
(Like I’ve been there before)
I’ll be there for you
(‘Cause you’re there for me too)
Your support network is one of the most important pillars of your recovery efforts. True friends who stand by you no matter what can help see you through difficult moments and keep loneliness at bay. You and recovery benefit from having close friends—and from being a good friend, too.
You Can’t Get Ahead of Yourself in Recovery
One Day at a Time has graced television screens twice over the years—once from the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s and a reimagined version from 2017 to 2020. The theme song—though performed in different styles—featured the same lyrics for both versions. Those lyrics reinforced the idea that we are all getting through life…well…one day at a time:
This is it.
This is life, the one you get
So go and have a ball.
This is it.
Straight ahead and rest assured
You can’t be sure at all.So while you’re here enjoy the view
Keep on doing what you do
Hold on tight. We’ll muddle through
One day at a time.So up on your feet.
Somewhere there’s music playing.
Don’t you worry none
We’ll just take it like it comes.One day at a time!
We mentioned 12-Step programs above, and this theme song reminds us of some advice from Living Sober, the Alcoholics Anonymous guidebook:
Although we realize that alcoholism is a permanent, irreversible condition, our experience has taught us to make no long-term promises about staying sober. We have found it more realistic—and more successful—to say, ‘I am not taking a drink just for today.’ Even if we drank yesterday, we could plan not to drink today. We may drink tomorrow—who knows whether we’ll even be alive then?—but for these 24 hours, we decide not to drink. No matter what the temptation or provocation, we determine to go to any extremes necessary to avoid a drink today.
The One Day at a Time theme song makes this same point in a much catchier way. It is an important one to keep in mind as you work to maintain your recovery.
Facts Are Persistent in Recovery
The young women attending Eastland School and their housemother were the main characters of the 1980s classic sitcom The Facts of Life. The theme song is undeniably an earworm—but it also is relevant to recovery.
You take the good
You take the bad
You take them both and there you have the facts of life
The facts of lifeThere’s a time you got to go
And show you’re growin’
Now you know about the facts of life
The facts of lifeWhen the world never seems
To be living up to your dreams
Then suddenly you’re finding out
The facts of life are all about you
The fact is that the recovery journey is going to have ups and downs, and a person working to leave drugs or alcohol in the past is going to have to successfully deal with both. That process involves growth—and a willingness to work your way through tough times.
We Are Here to Help
At The Farley Center—located in Williamsburg, Virginia—we provide personalized treatment for individuals struggling with a substance use disorder. If you’re ready to make a change, we’re here to help.
