I am so glad you got as much out of Thaissa's essay as I did. Her writing constantly amazes me.
This is such an important story to share because those folks who are just putting their feet on a new path don't want sugarcoating, they want mentors who will stand in the fire with them and show them how hard, and sometimes ugly, it can be to embrace sobriety and demonstrate living proof that it's possible to get through. Living a sober lifestyle is the most beautiful thing but it didn't start out that way!
Thank you, Donna. Truth telling feels critical when it comes to sobriety. We can’t fully recover if we continue to hide from the honest moments that will no doubt find us.
I appreciate all the ways you are a mentor to folks in sobriety 💕
Such freedom here... being present exactly where we are, facing the direction we wish to go, listening to that inner voice. Thank you for your beautiful words and reminder, Allison. Lots of love. ❤️
Thanks, Dana. Facing the direction we wish to go - yes! Even if we don’t travel very far very fast- being forward facing and honoring our knowing - that’s the gift. That’s the awakening.
First of all, congrats on your 5th sober 4th! I can't even imagine how difficult your 1st sober 4th was, and I'm sending you a virtual hug just thinking about it. Your story brought to mind my 1st sober event (after only 2 months sober), my sister's surprise 50th birthday party, that I planned, in my newly finished basememt with a beautiful custom bar that my husband designed. Holy cow, that was TOUGH! But that's a story for another day. I want to focus on the 4th. I must say... I'm with your dad on the summer being over after the 4th:) It's a running joke with my teacher friends. It just seems like the summer flies after the 4th, and school is right around the corner. We start on August 13th this year! Ugh. However, I'm REALLY trying to live by your mantra, "be where your feet are." You're right, there are many things to look forward to every single day, and I want to enjoy all of them until August 13th (and beyond, of course). This is becoming a long comment, but I want to say one more thing about the 4th. I always looked forward to fireworks, but many times I was passed out before that time of the night & missed those wonderful experiences with my son. This year (my 3rd sober 4th) felt like a "redo." Even though my son is 22 years old now, we watched fireworks together at a local park. It was truly magical:)
Crystal, I ❤️ this! What a beautiful re-do. I’m sure it meant just as much to your son as it did you. I just got back from a 4 day trip with just my 18 year old son and me and I could tell - he was hungry for that one on one time with his mom. They still need us when they’re grown 💗
We are setting off our own kind of fireworks now. Ones that are memorable and don’t leave a smoky fog of shame in the air.
Hugs to you!
Aug 13th is early! I wish you many moments of summer bliss between now and then.
"There is a collective uneasiness with resting in the right now." This was such a powerful piece, Allison. So many things to quote, yet this one really hit home for me.
“My 14-year-old son locked eyes with me. And I knew. I knew that his eyes were able to measure the distance between his father and me.”
Wow, Allison. Thank you for this brave writing that I deeply respect and relate to.
It’s truth-tellers like you who speak of empty recliners, broken puzzles, and years without fireworks who encourage me to keep going on this unknown path. Because I trust and believe you the most. No mud, no lotus. No rain storm, no Frosty.
Even on that super difficult first Fourth of July in early sobriety, I see you in your courage—not running from something awful but rather running toward something good.
And as a reawakened sober mom, it’s those deeply honest moments of locking eyes with my children that remind me to never fall back asleep.
Wishing you a lovely holiday—with some fireworks, sure. But more importantly, with some moments that are quiet enough to hear that familiar and fiercely missed cackle. Thank you for honoring it all with your message today. ❤️
Jenny! This comment. Heart is bursting, eyes are filling. I so appreciate you. Thank you for all of this witnessing. Walking beside me. Knowing what that first Fourth of July felt like.
“No mud, no lotus. No rain storm, no Frosty. “ Yes. Yes, awareness is what keeps us fully awake. 🙏🏼
The cackle was with us yesterday. His favorite day ❤️
I hope you had a great 4th with your sweet family. Heart bursting open in rhythm with the fireworks.
Four times—how moving, how humbling. To know my words lived with you, not merely passed through, is something I can hardly name. Thank you for carrying them, for letting them breathe again in your reflection. I feel less alone in what I tried to say, Allison.
I am so glad you got as much out of Thaissa's essay as I did. Her writing constantly amazes me.
This is such an important story to share because those folks who are just putting their feet on a new path don't want sugarcoating, they want mentors who will stand in the fire with them and show them how hard, and sometimes ugly, it can be to embrace sobriety and demonstrate living proof that it's possible to get through. Living a sober lifestyle is the most beautiful thing but it didn't start out that way!
Thank you, Donna. Truth telling feels critical when it comes to sobriety. We can’t fully recover if we continue to hide from the honest moments that will no doubt find us.
I appreciate all the ways you are a mentor to folks in sobriety 💕
Such freedom here... being present exactly where we are, facing the direction we wish to go, listening to that inner voice. Thank you for your beautiful words and reminder, Allison. Lots of love. ❤️
Thanks, Dana. Facing the direction we wish to go - yes! Even if we don’t travel very far very fast- being forward facing and honoring our knowing - that’s the gift. That’s the awakening.
I am so grateful to be awake with you, my friend.
First of all, congrats on your 5th sober 4th! I can't even imagine how difficult your 1st sober 4th was, and I'm sending you a virtual hug just thinking about it. Your story brought to mind my 1st sober event (after only 2 months sober), my sister's surprise 50th birthday party, that I planned, in my newly finished basememt with a beautiful custom bar that my husband designed. Holy cow, that was TOUGH! But that's a story for another day. I want to focus on the 4th. I must say... I'm with your dad on the summer being over after the 4th:) It's a running joke with my teacher friends. It just seems like the summer flies after the 4th, and school is right around the corner. We start on August 13th this year! Ugh. However, I'm REALLY trying to live by your mantra, "be where your feet are." You're right, there are many things to look forward to every single day, and I want to enjoy all of them until August 13th (and beyond, of course). This is becoming a long comment, but I want to say one more thing about the 4th. I always looked forward to fireworks, but many times I was passed out before that time of the night & missed those wonderful experiences with my son. This year (my 3rd sober 4th) felt like a "redo." Even though my son is 22 years old now, we watched fireworks together at a local park. It was truly magical:)
Crystal, I ❤️ this! What a beautiful re-do. I’m sure it meant just as much to your son as it did you. I just got back from a 4 day trip with just my 18 year old son and me and I could tell - he was hungry for that one on one time with his mom. They still need us when they’re grown 💗
We are setting off our own kind of fireworks now. Ones that are memorable and don’t leave a smoky fog of shame in the air.
Hugs to you!
Aug 13th is early! I wish you many moments of summer bliss between now and then.
And congrats on your 3rd sober 4th! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
"There is a collective uneasiness with resting in the right now." This was such a powerful piece, Allison. So many things to quote, yet this one really hit home for me.
Thank you, Jocelyn.
It does feel extra hard to rest in the right now. So many invitations to distract and distance ourselves away from the day delivered to us.
It’s a practice I have to continually tend to.
Thanks for reading and reflecting. 🙏🏼
dangggggggggggggg. wow.
Elena. Thank you. 🙏🏼 💕
“My 14-year-old son locked eyes with me. And I knew. I knew that his eyes were able to measure the distance between his father and me.”
Wow, Allison. Thank you for this brave writing that I deeply respect and relate to.
It’s truth-tellers like you who speak of empty recliners, broken puzzles, and years without fireworks who encourage me to keep going on this unknown path. Because I trust and believe you the most. No mud, no lotus. No rain storm, no Frosty.
Even on that super difficult first Fourth of July in early sobriety, I see you in your courage—not running from something awful but rather running toward something good.
And as a reawakened sober mom, it’s those deeply honest moments of locking eyes with my children that remind me to never fall back asleep.
Wishing you a lovely holiday—with some fireworks, sure. But more importantly, with some moments that are quiet enough to hear that familiar and fiercely missed cackle. Thank you for honoring it all with your message today. ❤️
Jenny! This comment. Heart is bursting, eyes are filling. I so appreciate you. Thank you for all of this witnessing. Walking beside me. Knowing what that first Fourth of July felt like.
“No mud, no lotus. No rain storm, no Frosty. “ Yes. Yes, awareness is what keeps us fully awake. 🙏🏼
The cackle was with us yesterday. His favorite day ❤️
I hope you had a great 4th with your sweet family. Heart bursting open in rhythm with the fireworks.
Beautiful, my friend. 💛I love being clear eyed with you.
Clear eyes, hearts wide open. So glad to know you, Kaitlyn. 💕
Four times—how moving, how humbling. To know my words lived with you, not merely passed through, is something I can hardly name. Thank you for carrying them, for letting them breathe again in your reflection. I feel less alone in what I tried to say, Allison.
Your words landed so deep with me, Thaissa. A reminder to me of how writing ourselves back to ourselves also creates pathways for our readers, too.
So much more than just a passing through. Thank you 🙏🏼
Yes- they truly are. Thank you my friend. 😎