I drunkenly birthed this blog 53 months ago today, as I drained my second bottle of red wine for the night. It was the last time I drank alcohol. A lot has changed since then.
Hang around recovery circles long enough and you’ll hear these words: if nothing changes, nothing changes. They’re words to live by and the undeniable truth they proclaim is something I hold dear and trust deeply. Yet, for months I’ve been refusing to believe these words when it comes to one thing: my role in the recovery space. You see, I’ve been telling myself I can somehow find a way to carve out my niche as a coach AND continue working in my public relations consulting business AND try to resuscitate a blog that’s been screaming for love and attention and running out of air for a while.
The thing is, I can’t. And, the pressure I’ve been putting on myself to find a way to do everything has created a sense of overwhelm and failure that’s done nothing but paralyze me where I so desperately want to remain in motion. Big motion.
However, “can’t” isn’t a word that takes up much space in my vocabulary. I am an “I can” kind of gal. So, instead of focusing on what I can’t do, I’m embracing what I can do. And that’s change. I can change. And create a way to achieve my goals.
What that change looks like is a shift in my focus. I’ve been writing less and less on this blog. It’s not that I’m running out of things to say. Rather, what I want to write about is different now and I don’t feel it’s a perfect fit for the platform I created to tell my story, the place where I began recovering out loud, even when I was afraid and ashamed and using a name that wasn’t mine to tell a story that was entirely mine and 100 percent true.
The work I’m doing today is different. It’s chock full of experience and wisdom. It’s insightful and positive. It’s free from anger and grudges and spite.
I have invested time and money to earn the proper credentials to help all the women who’ve read the blog or seen me on television or heard me on the radio and reached out asking for help. In a space where every day we see more and more people labeling themselves as coaches without completing professional training and obtaining certification, I am fiercely committed to authenticity, transparency, and credibility. What I share now belongs on a website that represents who I am today.
My story is far from over. There’s so much to tell; there are so many more words to write. Someday …
For now, the blog will remain where it is. And, for Recovery Month in September, I’ll be publishing some new “Conversations in Recovery” interviews.
Thank you for being here. I am honored you’ve chosen to spend time with me.