I really enjoyed your piece, Kristen - your story empowered you in a beautiful way and making it public can empower others. Thanks for sharing and congrats on your sobriety!
What a perfect article to end this day spent in the Substack rabbit hole! I've been openly in recovery for 18 years, working in the field for 17, and you bring up so many valid and significant points about the recovery journey. To those who say you're breaking the rules, I say to hell with the rules. Everyone has to find their way through this very hard process. Who besides you and your inner circle gets to comment on how YOU or I stay clean?
I got sober at 37 living in the Wine Country of Northern California. Huge swaths of school parent friends, family, coworkers started treating me like I was an escaped felon. Fortunately, there was a thriving sober community that took me under its wing. The hardest loss was my cousin who took it personally that I got sober. He died of a heart attack at age 37 within my first year sober and we never reconciled. Sober since 1/3/91.
I didn't know that you had so recently gone public when we 'met'! You are strong and confident but realistic about what it takes and I love that.
I 'still' listen to podcasts and regularly hang out with recovery people, not because I am afraid of relapse, but because I feel more like me when I contemplate all that we are recovering from (of course we know it is so much more than alcohol). It keeps me engaged with the struggle that is life.
“You never have to feel this way again, you really don’t. Take my hand and I’ll show you the way.” Such a beautiful share, Kristen. ❤️
Thank you, Dana! And, always, for all you do in this community!
I really enjoyed your piece, Kristen - your story empowered you in a beautiful way and making it public can empower others. Thanks for sharing and congrats on your sobriety!
Thank you 🙌🏻
What a perfect article to end this day spent in the Substack rabbit hole! I've been openly in recovery for 18 years, working in the field for 17, and you bring up so many valid and significant points about the recovery journey. To those who say you're breaking the rules, I say to hell with the rules. Everyone has to find their way through this very hard process. Who besides you and your inner circle gets to comment on how YOU or I stay clean?
Anyway, thanks for sharing this. Subscribed!
Thank you and welcome to the ‘Stack! There is such a thriving community here. Congrats on your 18 years 🥰
I want to share my sobriety with the world for all the right reasons.
I got sober at 37 living in the Wine Country of Northern California. Huge swaths of school parent friends, family, coworkers started treating me like I was an escaped felon. Fortunately, there was a thriving sober community that took me under its wing. The hardest loss was my cousin who took it personally that I got sober. He died of a heart attack at age 37 within my first year sober and we never reconciled. Sober since 1/3/91.
Kristen! This is beautiful 😍
I didn't know that you had so recently gone public when we 'met'! You are strong and confident but realistic about what it takes and I love that.
I 'still' listen to podcasts and regularly hang out with recovery people, not because I am afraid of relapse, but because I feel more like me when I contemplate all that we are recovering from (of course we know it is so much more than alcohol). It keeps me engaged with the struggle that is life.
Nice job! 🤗
Love the image of sobriety as a muscle and maintaining the muscle. Great essay!
“But, as I have written before, then I gathered myself up, remembered who the fuck I am…” always grateful for who the fuck you are! Great piece! 😘
Thanks baby 😘 thanks for appreciating who the fuck I am…I know it’s not always super pleasant for you 🤣