We’re socialized to soothe ourselves with alcohol. Had a bad day? Have a drink. Fight with your partner? Have a drink? Kids driving you crazy? You need a little wine time with the girls. We say these things without even […]
If I say recovery, you most likely picture a group of former drinkers and addicts, huddled in a circle in a church basement, clutching Styrofoam cups of coffee and stale donuts. Someone calls the meeting to order and out comes […]
Discomfort is a given as you move into sobriety. So many coaches and alcohol-free advocates focus on all the positive aspects, which is great, because there are many (better sleep, clearer skin, less inflammation, mood stability.) I just don’t want […]
IT’S OFFICIAL: ALCOHOL ISN’T COOL ANYMORE Imagine my surprise when this headline reached my inbox. It’s not often I find myself on the cutting edge of a trend. I like to think of myself being so far behind that I’m […]
I wish I had come up with those words, but I’m paraphrasing Audre Lorde. The full quote is, “caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it’s self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Her words ring so true. In […]
When I talk about how I use a sketchbook to help women explore their relationship with alcohol, there are often a few confused looks. The sketchbook became everything for me at the start of my sobriety journey, and four years […]
Last week I was in the middle of my yoga practice when the teacher told us to get into tree pose. Fine. No problem. Tree pose is one of my favorites. But then she started tell us to view our […]
I think about this often, that when I decided to get sober it was a choice that I made. I didn’t have to get sober; I chose to get sober. Not everyone has that choice. I mean I was lucky […]
You know when you’re on a roller-coaster, and you’re hanging on so tight because you’re scared and excited, and can’t wait for the ride to be over? That’s kind of what white-knuckling it through your sobriety is like. You find […]
The first time I tried to quit drinking I didn’t know how to ask for help. I had a brief conversation with my husband, and the neighbor across the hall, who both told me that I most definitely did not […]
