“I was a late bloomer. But anyone who blooms at all, ever, is very lucky. ”
- Sharon Olds
My Journey From Shame to Sobriety
This is an excerpt from a post that I wrote for the wonderful Holl & Lane magazine in May 2017. “My journey to sobriety has been twisted, stubborn, and miraculous.…
3 Ways I Focus on Solutions, Not Problems
The kids won’t go to sleep. The neighbor’s dog won’t stop barking. The HOA fees are due and I’m broke. The IRS won’t leave me alone. My child is sick.…
It’s Ok To Get Tired of Recovery – I Hope
It gets kind of old talking about recovery sometimes. I should be cured, you know? Why do I have to think about sobriety and recovery and one day at a…
When You Miss The Anticipation of The Drink
When you quit drinking, the world doesn’t quit drinking with you. That’s the first hard lesson that I learned over 2 years ago, and it’s a lesson that I still…
Tackling My Addiction to Social Media
“Taking a break” from social media isn’t nearly as intense as it is from drugs or alcohol, but it’s still not easy for me. A lot has been written about…
I Stopped Being Grateful
The kitchen is dark except for the counter lights under the cabinets. My favorite sign is leaning against the wall on the counter, “This Kitchen Is For Dancing”. We’ve danced…
Sometimes I Cry For No Reason. It’s Weird.
A picture might say a thousand words, but this picture doesn’t tell the whole story. You’d never know from this picture that just 20 minutes ago, I was sobbing into…
What Does It Mean To “Never Question The Decision”?
Not one drink. No matter what. I’m a stubborn woman at times. Shocking, right? Well, it’s a blessing and a curse. When it comes to sobriety, it has been a…
Dear Self: Read This When You Want a Drink
This is a letter to myself that I wrote in March 2016 (around 10 months sober), to keep and read when I needed it. I’ve read it more than a…
3 Actions To Help Overcome Anxiety
Anxiety is a funny thing. Sometimes it looks like anger, overthinking, people pleasing, or codependency. Fear can be a good thing, though. Don’t drive 100 mph, you could die. Don’t…
My Pros & Cons for Taking Medication in Sobriety
When I quit drinking, I stopped all other substances of any kind, prescribed or otherwise. For a while. At 10 months sober, I got an impacted wisdom tooth as my…
We Will Not Regret The Past – Really
“We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.” Even as my eyes struggled to open, waves of regret would start crashing against my entire…
Why Not Just One Drink?
It’s 5:42 am, and I’m writing this because I’m too tired to think and this seemed easier than trying to write my book. Honesty is the best policy, guys. I…
When Comparison to Yourself is the Thief of Joy
There’s a thought that always runs through my head, every day, all the time: “You can do this better.” Continuous improvement is important to me, and probably to you too.…