The past year has opened up a world I never knew existed. A world of feeling, beauty, sadness, pride and the deepest heartfelt love. Deeper than I ever imagined, and always growing.
There are beautiful bloggers out there who share their experiences of failure and success. Of hard days and boring routines. These brave souls give me glimpse of life. In all its many wondrous forms.
Sometimes their experiences bring me to tears. Relapse. Struggling to find even the start of sobriety. The loss of a spouse, the death of a friend, miscarriages and divorces. Hurt feelings and embarrassments. But these are real moments. I learn so much by reading of the experiences of others. My compassion and love towards other people grows daily.
As much as I wish I could take away the pain for others, I have learned that pain can be transformational. We all need to walk our own path and fight our own dragons. With as much help as we are willing to reach out for. Because help is ALWAYS there if you look for it. It really is.
And then there is the joy! I look forward to reading of each day of sobriety. The falling in love. The re-finding of normal life. That remembrance of living for the joy of it. Coffee, clean sheets, face cream and hugs from family. The relief at the other side of fear. The sudden realization that things are some much better than they thought. Or, at the very least, so much more manageable sober.
There are posts of such deep insight I am in awe. Quotes from poets and authours that have me adding to my reading list. Personal insights and experiences that help me every single day.
I think I had forgotten that there was such beautiful (or maybe, as Glennon says, Bruitful) honesty out there. It is rare to find in “real life”. Fear and social convention keep people silent.
I went to a grade 6 poetry slam a couple weeks ago and those kids were the most open, brilliant, soul bearing poets. They wrote of trying and failing. Of bullying. Of being a friend. Of self confidence and hurt. These were the bravest kids I have ever seen. 11 years old.
I am not alone. You are not alone. We are all struggling with the same inner fears of worth and finding our place. And we are doing it together. Each voice out there matters. Keep writing! And, if you can, maybe even tell your story to someone. The more we do it, the easier it becomes.
Thank you all for your voices.
Stillness and Peace.
Anne
ainsobriety 
Beautiful Anne – thank you 🙂 xx
here here Anne.! Nicely done and thankyou too. i am trying to be more open and honest in ‘real life’ too.
hugs
Lisa
Beautiful, thank you 🙂 And thank you for being here as one who shares and helps, helps a lot. When I came out here about 7 months ago I sometimes had difficulty understanding your niceness, if that even is a word. It has taken some time but I am guessing I am at the start of realising why niceness is nicer, more appropriate and more succesful than shame and guilt.
Thank you for that. 🙂 I don’t think I would have found that in my offline friends club easily because we select the people who are alike.
Thanks Anne,
xx, Feeling
Thank you for saying that.
I spent so many years shaming and guilting myself.
I never believed kindness would work. It sounds way too weak. Yet it does. And so much better than harshness ever did.
My own friends don’t always understand, but they see the change in me. And it’s undeniably for the better.
Kindness, that is the word I was looking for! 🙂 My flu/cold has caught on and my brain is slowly giving in. 🙂
I do believe being firm helps me with my bounderies. That’s what firmness was designed for in the first place. But indeed, there should be kindness to it otherwise we would becomes inflexible.
My friends sometimes seem (politely) baffled by my newly developped kindness. And I think I’ve cut down on harmful humor. Of which of course at first I thought it was just humor. 🙂
Again, thank you for showing me the way. 🙂
Dear Anne, I’m feeling a bit down this evening, and your post made me cry – in a good way. Thank you! SoberMummy xx
Hug. The power of connection doesn’t require us to be in the same place. Just to know we are out there. All trying our best.
Beautifully expressed, Anne
I love this – just as I love reading your blog, and all the kind, supportive and wise comments I read from you all over the sobersphere! Thank you for your presence and your lovingkindness 🙂 xx
What a wonderful post. I love this and your comments. So insightful and dead on. I love the blogging world and the people who share their stories and their comments.
Dear Anne,
Reading other people’s stories is a gift. I learn from their sharing, and hopefully they learn from mine. You write a beautiful truth. Thank you so much!
xo
Wendy
Thank _you_ for inspiring me 🙂 And thank you for being there and reminding me I’m not alone. A beautiful post, I really love the idea that pain can be transformational. Amazing, positive stuff 🙂 xx
What a beautiful post. Thank you Anne. I always learn so much from your blog, I feel privileged to be part of this wonderful online community. A x
You inspire so many people with your writing, Anne. Thank you for always sharing your thoughts so generously, and for being an important part of this community. ❤
I really love this- I am finding such enlightenment in all this ‘truth telling’ too…it really is what will set us free, all of us. Love you Anne:)
Thank you!
In the last couple of days I have felt so full of emotion for everything. I had to get some of it out.
Beautiful and eloquent.
Thank *you*
You know… kind people sometimes put me on edge. Cause I always wonder what their angle is, like, “what’s in it for them?” At least with assholes you can take them at face value. That being said, what value is there in being disingenuous with a bunch of internet strangers? I think you’re pretty awesome AND genuine. Thanks for that.
Thank you. I understand what you mean. I used to want to be known as sharp and intense. I could be very blunt. Perhaps even mean. Of course, I felt I was just being honest.
The day I recognized that holding out a hand was much more powerful than pointing a finger, everything changed.
You have helped me so much, Anne. Thank you. Annie x
What a beautiful and lovely post. Thank you.
Sherry
Hear, Hear!! I sometimes think I have more in common with some of you ladies than my own family :). I never would have thought I’d find such an amazingly supportive community on the internet…
Lovely post Anne. Thank you for being the first person to respond to my blog, making me feel welcome and not alone in my struggle.
You are definitely not alone!
What a beautiful post! Thank you for your positive and caring voice in this online community.
Thank YOU Anne xxx
Stillness and peace. Hugs too! 🙂
“coffee, clean sheets, face cream and hugs from the family”….I love it Anne. Your positivity continues to inspire me and help me heal. You were the first person to ever present the idea to me that I was too harsh on myself and that there is a kinder way to live. It’s opened up a new world for me too…it’s amazing and profound that we, any of us, can make a difference in one another’s lives and journeys.
“The day I recognized that holding out a hand was much more powerful than pointing a finger, everything changed.”
WOW!
love that anne!
Your words are so inspiring and inclusive , loving and genuine, what a great honor to “know” you.
Beautiful XOXO
Bravo……thunderous applause 🙂