For most people, when they decide to stop drinking alcohol, they do it quietly. It's not something they want to talk about, it's not something they want to share with all their friends and loved ones. It's embarrassing, right? We never thought this is where we'd end up, and it's hard to accept that it is. We just want to quietly conquer the alcohol demon and get on with living our lives. Except that's not how it works. As we explore in this podcast episode - talking about it is exactly what we need to be doing. Talking about the things we're embarrassed and ashamed of is how we get on the other side of that shame and really start healing. It's how we connect with others in a meaningful way, and finally fill that void that loneliness has been creating for so long. Vulnerability is the key to sobriety - and it's not talked about enough. Listen as we chat with Jennifer, Michael, and Nicole about how vulnerability has made recovery from alcohol abuse a reality in our lives. The opposite of connection is addiction. And without vulnerability, there is no connection. In this episode: Humility and the role it plays in vulnerabilityLearning how to let your guard down, when it's been up for so longVulnerability is the key to creating genuine relationshipsAsking for help is one of the most vulnerable things you'll ever do.Vulnerability is the link between connection and addictionBeing vulnerable is a risk, and people have to earn the right to our vulnerabilitySharing your story with others takes tremendous courage.Healing is going to be uncomfortable - and that's okay.How vulnerability improves the relationships in your life. "Say the words that burn when they leave your mouth." - Andy Grammer It seems that men have an even harder time (in general) with vulnerability. If that resonates, make sure you check out this episode about vulnerability as well. --- My name is Jennifer Gerroir, and you can find me on Instagram @dropkicksober. My sober date is August 27, 2021. As a base brat I grew up all over Canada. My hubby and I are in the Canadian Armed Forces and are currently stationed in Wainwright, AB. Our daughter graduates high school this year and will be off to college in the fall. I was well aware for years that my relationship with alcohol was problematic. After 32 years of drinking I found my way to the sober community on Instagram. More and more sober content began showing up in my newsfeed. As I viewed, I started to pull at the thread that should have been ripped out years ago. I thank God each day for every person who has decided to recover out loud (seriously, you saved my life). For years I felt so much shame, self-hatred, and blame for not being able to manage to moderate. I’m so incredibly grateful that I found the sober community when I did. Now that I know that recovery is possible, I want to be sure to shine my own sober light for anyone who may be struggling with their own relationship with alcohol. As a self proclaimed Bible nerd, I also share a mix of Scripture along with my own recovery journey, other sober content, as well as anything else that inspires me. Not every day in sobriety is magical, but even my ‘worst’ day sober far outshines what I would have considered my ‘best’ day while I was still drinking. ODAAT, one foot in front of the other. --- My name is Mike and I recently celebrated 6 years of sobriety, my sober date is 01/17/18. I publish a newsletter for men living a sober lifestyle called Own Sobriety. It can be found at ownsobriety.com and @ownsobriety on Instagram, Facebook & X (Twitter). I also post sober lifestyle content on my personal Instagram, @mikeunwasted. I was an all-the-time drinker for 9 years, from age 25 to 34. Every aspect of my life revolved around alcohol and I suffered from several physical & mental health issues. It took several attempts to make sobriety stick, but my life is completely different today. I’ve been able to hold a job and advance my career, address health issues head-on, and create a stable, happy lifestyle. I have recovered out loud from the beginning of my sober journey and credit the decision to my long-term success. Through Own Sobriety, I am able to connect with other men who are living a sober lifestyle which keeps me grounded to my own sobriety. Building a sober community and maintaining a support system has been critical to keeping me on track in sobriety. Even after 6 years of sobriety, I do my best not to take a single day for granted and constantly remind myself how bad it was. I worked my ass off in early sobriety to get to this point and build a life that no longer has room for or a need for alcohol. --- Connect with Julie & Steve! Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings. You can also find Julie and Steve on: Instagram Facebook
