This newsletter is so beautiful. I know it's about recovery, but it's about so much more. I teach writing, and one of the core aspects I explore with writers is the "aboutness" of their work. The shares here are a study in the complexity of aboutness. Thank you.
"My real worry is that this sobriety is just a high itself, a FEEL GOOD MANIA that I'll inevitably crash from. Is this what happens when you fix your life up? Is my brain just so happy to be free and unburdened of toxins and neurological trash that it's blasting off like a rocket ship? What do I even do with all this joy? Genuine question: Is this just how people live?"
Not a crash. You will stop gaining altitude eventually. You might even lose a couple of hundred feet in altitude as you settle it when you realize that, no, this isn't how people live, but it's your new normal and baseline for how you want to feel. The shine wears off of everything, eventually, but that's what is supposed to keep us going: finding the next new (healthy) thing that gets the endorphins popping again.
"Whatever you think about the most is your God." Wow, did this hit me today. Even with 21 years of recovery, it is SO sneakily easy for my "God" to morph into the person, place, thing, attention etc. that I think will fix me, that I think will make the buzz of anxiety subside. And the answer is so simple and yet, I still have to remind myself constantly to go back to ye olde acceptance. Also, I fricking love Julia Wertz.
Relate and don’t compare. I’ve got 18 years but all that means is that I can occasionally think a drink looks good and I can often think meetings are boring. Not a single one of these entries today was boring. They all remind me that alcohol is indeed cunning, baffling, and powerful, much more powerful than I am. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to every single person who shared.
The Kids These Days are also really into Diet Coke. My 24-year-old loves it; Forever 21 had a sparkly Diet Coke crop top this summer, and youngins on TikTok are hawking Diet Coke sweatshirts that are actually pretty cute.
This newsletter is so beautiful. I know it's about recovery, but it's about so much more. I teach writing, and one of the core aspects I explore with writers is the "aboutness" of their work. The shares here are a study in the complexity of aboutness. Thank you.
That's incredibly kind, Jeannine. Thanks a million.
No, thank you. Your work is incredible.
Such beautiful updates shared here. Great writing clearly attracts more great writing.
"My real worry is that this sobriety is just a high itself, a FEEL GOOD MANIA that I'll inevitably crash from. Is this what happens when you fix your life up? Is my brain just so happy to be free and unburdened of toxins and neurological trash that it's blasting off like a rocket ship? What do I even do with all this joy? Genuine question: Is this just how people live?"
Not a crash. You will stop gaining altitude eventually. You might even lose a couple of hundred feet in altitude as you settle it when you realize that, no, this isn't how people live, but it's your new normal and baseline for how you want to feel. The shine wears off of everything, eventually, but that's what is supposed to keep us going: finding the next new (healthy) thing that gets the endorphins popping again.
"Whatever you think about the most is your God." Wow, did this hit me today. Even with 21 years of recovery, it is SO sneakily easy for my "God" to morph into the person, place, thing, attention etc. that I think will fix me, that I think will make the buzz of anxiety subside. And the answer is so simple and yet, I still have to remind myself constantly to go back to ye olde acceptance. Also, I fricking love Julia Wertz.
First thing that came to mind when I read this is, “Me. I think about me the most.” And that tracks ugh.. (progress not perfection etc)
Agree that all the shares are wonderful, honest & how I feel all the time. Loved the compliment too from writing class & “ aboutness”.
The cartoon’s & storytelling from Julia Wertz is amazing & so damm funny relatable . Thanks to all.
Relate and don’t compare. I’ve got 18 years but all that means is that I can occasionally think a drink looks good and I can often think meetings are boring. Not a single one of these entries today was boring. They all remind me that alcohol is indeed cunning, baffling, and powerful, much more powerful than I am. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to every single person who shared.
This is brilliant. Keep it up <3
The Kids These Days are also really into Diet Coke. My 24-year-old loves it; Forever 21 had a sparkly Diet Coke crop top this summer, and youngins on TikTok are hawking Diet Coke sweatshirts that are actually pretty cute.