
Whoosh. Nine years.
Nine years of freedom, growth, learning, connections and healing.
Nine years without alcohol, the crutch that became a foe.
Nine years of writing about it, listening and learning, sharing my truth and holding space for yours.
Nine years of waving the lantern so other others might find their way.
It sounds like a long time but feels like a blink. I’m a heartbeat away from that first day; a burning in my chest returns the instant I remember the awakening moment of knowing for certain that IT WAS TIME.
Here’s to everyone who follows the call to radical change – whatever it is – and steps bravely into the unknown. Here’s to anyone willing to dismantle the decades-old armour and explore the human inside; to stand in light and truth, exposed in earnest vulnerability.
Here’s to all of us…..
Wow! That’s awesome! I am on Day 6. Like you, I just knew it was time. Time to get healthy and ditch the habit of wine o’clock. I’m feeling confident and am also blogging about it at https://a-sober-life.com/. Thanks for sharing your story and your strength!
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Congratulations – in the morning you will celebrate a milestone – a week of freedom from alcohol!
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10 days since I drank the last bottle of wine, by myself, in private, in secret. Done with the hangover, the guilt, the disappointment with myself. Tried many times before to quit, this time feels right. Finding your story is helpful. Small victories with each day sober. Thanks for sharing your story.
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So happy for you, Jane. Keep going. It gets better and better.
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Congrats on nine years…and two months now! You were my inspiration to quit almost 5.5 years ago. Thank you for this blog. It has saved more lives than you could possibly know.
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Aww thank you. And congrats on your success in recovery. So happy for you!
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Well done Jean. You are the only person/blogger who was able to convince me to go off the wine completely and onto the road to sobriety seven years ago. You are such a wonderful role model for us all in sobriety. You have kept up the blog all these years never ceasing to give support.
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❤️❤️❤️
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Dear Jean – I know that I’ve told you this before, but yours was the first sober blog that I read on my last day of drinking and I still recall how it felt like seeing through a doorway into a life where things COULD be different. I’m six and a half years sober now and my life is in that utterly different, utterly better place. Thank you for your example and for all you continue to do for this community. Much love and huge gratitude xxx
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Hi Prim, how lovely to hear from you. Six and a half years! Whoosh!
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Yes! Here’s to you 🙂 xo Congratulations and Thank you!!
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Congratulations, Jean! Wow! you are a superhero and continue to service all of us through your blog, podcast, music and as an author! Although we have never met, you are my friend, model, and always there through all these platforms to go to for support! THANK YOU!!!!!
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Congratulations! I will be there one day. As you say, I recently had my ‘This is the Time’ moment.
Thank you for the inspiration xxx
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Congratulations Jean! I have been reading your blog for quite awhile. I was doing very well with staying away from wine and going to SMART meetings…..since last summer. Hubby & I went to Australia and New Zealand on holiday and, although I was not totally AF I was very successful at not overdoing it. Since being back and in C-19 isolation I have slipped. I’ve had a couple of hangovers so I’m pretty angry with myself. There are no meetings to go to so I’m online trying to use the tools there. I’m back at it and your blog is such an inspiration Jean. Thanks so much!
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Congratulations. 9 beautiful sober years. I look forward to joining you. Me. I’m 1 year and about 4 months sober. So happy to be sober during the pandemic. Will look out for our podcast too.
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You are amazing and so inspirational. I love how low ego your pod casts are and how kind you are to people. I am starting again tomorrow DAY ONE for me. I have before done 70 days, this time i am trying for 30 and then will take it from there. Keep up your most important work. I LOVE the Bubble Hour. You are the best.
Phillipa
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Thank you for your kind words. I’m honoured to know you are able to use these things. Keep going. You’re worth the effort and it does get easier and easier.
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Congratulations on nine years, you’re an inspiration 💜
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Congrats on 9 fabulous years! Your journey is such a great example. 510 days for me — 1 year, 4+ months. Feeling great and so happy to be where I am at . . .
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Congratulations Jean, thank you so much for sharing your sober journey. You are truly inspirational. I have now been sober for over two years and finding your blog and podcast helped me enormously. Knowing that I wasn’t unique, that I didn’t have the monopoly on destructive behaviour was so powerful. Wishing you and yours well in these difficult times.
Kind Regards
Judith
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Happy Soberversary! I couldn’t have done it without you and the weekly Bubble Hour episodes help to keep me in a sober space. Thank you for all you do Jean, and thank you also to the guests you’ve had on the show. Now more than ever, we need a community we can access from home.
Stay safe everyone.
Sunflower 🌻 Day 1359
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Wow! Congratulations!! 🥳
Like many others, my sober journey started with this blog. Celebrating 90 days today myself! Thank you for teaching me what self love is & for showing me what strength is. I couldn’t have done it alone. Finding your blog saved me and my marriage. From the bottom of my heart, Jean, thank you.
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Congrats on 90 days!!! I can’t seem to get past 60, trying again, I want to be able to say 90 days, 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, 9 years! Kudos to everyone on here making a difference in their lives. Stay strong!
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You got this! Don’t forget you are a badass, and YOU are in control of you – Your emotions, your wants, your needs!! Stay positive, you can get past that darn day 60! ❤️
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I couldn’t imagine 9 years! On day 29 today. I am feeling quite lonely here doing this. Wanting to connect with others on this radical journey.
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It goes by in a flash! Congrats on 29 days – will you bake yourself a cake tomorrow to celebrate a month? You should!! If you send me a message via my UnPickled Facebook page I can connect you with some online support. You’re not alone!
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Congratulations Jean! You have helped me and so many others with your podcast and blog! I have been alcohol free for three years now and would not be here if not for you! Thank you!
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Love this–wonderfully stated. Congrats, and thank you for your lantern…
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Wonderful Jean, what a milestone! It seems like yesterday that we were together in Mexico. Sending love and light to you. Stay well and keep shining your light. Your work is an inspiration to me❤️❤️❤️
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Congratulations Jean, you ROCK!! The fact that you put yourself out there to be vulnerable to the whole world has tremendously helped so many people including myself. It has been a tough go these last couple of weeks for me but I am hanging in there. I agree, drinking with the current situation in the world would perpetuate anxiety in ways I don’t even want to think about. I am 8 months alcohol free and am really looking forward to celebrating 1 year. Thank you again Jean! ❤️
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Congrats 🎊 you are an inspiration and so generous to share your light! I feel lucky to have 17 months of clarity behind me. I intend to continue along the journey too. Take good care 💕
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Thank you, Sandra 💕
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Thank you for being a beacon of light for all of us and for keeping the Bubble Hour alive and with such high quality interviews. Congratulations!!!!!!!!! Love to you and yours, Leslie
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Thank you, my friend
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Thank you for your bravery!! Very soon after my decision to start my sober journey 3 1/2 years ago I found your blog and The Bubble Hour. I remember my tears of happiness at finding someone who had a similar story. I wasn’t so alone and that gave me strength. Congrats on 9 years!
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Thank you for your kind words. I’m so glad it’s all been helpful. Congrats on your success!
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Congratulations, Jean. I just love your podcasts. I love your soothing voice and the emotion that comes out of your interviews. You are so respectful of the people you interview and let them have their say and do not interrupt them when they are “getting it out there”. You continue to be one of my very best recovery tools and your episode of interviewing women at of your events was awesome. Lisa
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Thanks, Lisa 💕
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I was so excited to see your blog post this morning! I’m at 11 months and, even in these stressful times, I feel so free! I love the Bubble Hour, old and new, and use it as a light post to help me keep clarity. Thank you. Thank you! Thank you!! For helping me and so many others find freedom!
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Congratulations on 11 months, Kathy! I hope you will plan some sort of celebration to mark your upcoming one year milestone 🎉🎉🎉 TREMENDOUS!!! (Can you even imagine the burden of trying to manage addiction under this societal isolation? My heart hurts for anyone struggling through this time. Blogs and podcasts are more important now than ever, in that way.)
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Wow! Congratulations! My sober journey started with your blog, and I am forever grateful to you for baring your Truth so that I and others like us can know we are not alone! It was a huge weight lifted that gave me the courage to continue, and three years later I am still going stronger than ever! Here’s to all of us!!!
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You have me tearing up with gratitude and joy. The ripple effect we all have on one another is beautiful.
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Congratulations Jean! Nine years! You are my inspiration.
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Thank you, Maureen. We are all in this together ❤️
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