Visible progress and changed views

from "you can't dream big enough" to "this is the tip of the iceberg" to "you need to raise the bar"

I was 2 weeks sober and a woman told me that I couldn't dream big enough for what my life could be and that's why I had to life one day at a time and stay in the moment

I was 4 months sober, still in a half-way house, feeling great - riding what we call a 'pink cloud' of sorts because I wasn't coming to an alley, I wasn't waking up in the back of biker bar in a different state, so much of my life had changed in 4 short months

I was having breakfast with a friend who was farther along and I know I was grinning from ear to ear and she said "Carolyn, I know it's hard to believe but this really is just the tip of iceberg" and I thought well I'm good with what I've got right here, right now

fast forward 18 years, I'm 18 years sober incredibly grateful (and content) that I'm not coming to in an alley or waking up in the back of a biker bar -- and I share that in meetings

a woman followed me out after a meeting one day and she said "honey, at 18 years sober, you need to the raise your bar just a bit ... there is SO much more to life than just 'not coming to in an alley"

we starting doing work together

over a few years I quit smoking, started running, started exploring and listening to podcasts to expand my awareness and I started to feel more alive in this 2nd chance life of mine

fast forward another 10 years and here I am doing work I never could have dreamed of because it wasn't a part of my awareness and I never would have believed that I would be this visible as a woman in recovery from alcohol and drugs

but my why is too important to not show up

I know for a fact that we can and do recover, that no matter what we've done in our past that it's not the end of the story and that our past doesn't need to dictate our future and I also know for a fact that we are not alone

It’s time for advances in modern technology and communication platforms to be used to tell the stories about recovering from addiction - we need to change this narrative so that those struggling know there’s a way out.

To share the stories of the MILLIONS of people like me ... who now live like this -- free from our addictions (one day at a time with help), healing relationships, rebuilding our lives and integrating into our communities

It challenges me on a daily basis to stay focused, let go of what I don't need anymore and ask for help from those who have been here before me

Grateful.