“one thousand glimpses of beauty”

From my genius and amazing inbox, full of wonder and insight:

Gina (36): “I lost who I was and my passions after kids and the constant non stop consumption of alcohol buried my true self.  So part of this sobriety will be to discover who I am.”

Earthymama (3): “I feel like I’ve been let out of a prison sentence that I’d confined myself to for many years. Yesterdays darkness and struggle was worth it. I am remembering that with growth, you can’t go around it, you have to go through it.”

C How (131): “You have this unique perspective that I can only describe as a combination of deep insight and ‘hey, that’s really just common sense, why didn’t I think of that?’ It comes across in your blog, but hearing it and being able to just sit and listen and let it soak in seems to add a whole new dimension. Not to mention that I think you are both a talented writer and a talented speaker. It was especially helpful to be reminded in the first audio that it doesn’t matter what ‘bottom’ you may or may not have. If I’m on the internet searching for ‘sober’ stuff, then i was drinking too much for ME. it’s true it doesn’t really matter if I give myself a label or fit any certain criteria. The audio on accepting help and support was also very helpful. I think that’s the hardest part for a lot of people — reaching out and accepting that we can’t do everything alone. We can learn from others who have been there and we can accept additional help. Your attitude comes across as ‘what’s the big deal’ if we ask for some help. Hearing you say it in the way you did made me ask ‘what IS the big deal?’ and once i asked myself that question, I couldn’t come up with a single answer. So thanks very much for that.”

Sobermom (75): “I feel more human every day. And I get one thousand glimpses of beauty every day that I was blind to before. I thought I saw them but I had not a clue. I like people more, even my brother in law. My kids make me laugh and when I kiss them good night they smell dinner on my breath, not booze. When they cry I want desperately to hold them, not shush them like I did before.”