Stepping Out!

“You can choose COURAGE or you can choose COMFORT, but you cannot choose BOTH!”

— Brené Brown

This is one of my least favorite quotes by Brené, probably because it’s the one I most need to hear. And if you’ve ever been without comfort for a long period of time, you want to grab on to it with both hands — it might just get away from you.

Regardless, I just started a new blog for anyone interested in spirituality and A Course in Miracles. I can tell that some people here in the blogosphere are really interesting in this kind of thing, and others are really not. Another blog was the answer to keeping the two separate, though they’re completely intertwined for me.

And I’m also stepping way outside my comfort zone, as sobriety teaches you to do. I had an unusual and amazing spiritual experience about 18 years ago, and only a few people know about it. The result was that a doorway opened, allowing me a more direct connection with my spirit guides. I’ll be blogging about that as well … how we become channels of the divine, particularly through journaling. I’ve done readings for friends for years, and will be doing intuitive readings over the phone. I’m not sure how that will work yet … but I’ve been talking it about for over a decade. (Don’t tell my mom.)

So there you have it! My new blog is www.shawna-rae.com, and I currently have zero followers. I can only go upward from here.  💕

Advertisements

Before and After: Breakfast

Behold: the Breakfast of Champions!

A million small things change when you stop drinking, even for a short period of time. Those small changes add up to seismic changes in your life.

Here’s a typical morning for me, before and after:

Breakfast after drinking: McDonald’s take-out on the way to work to settle stomach. Egg McMuffin and medium Diet Dr. Pepper. Eat while driving and applying make-up. Arrive late, as always.

Breakfast while sober: Fried egg over avocado, Italian herbs, and tomato. Add fresh basil from actual plant, kept alive for weeks on end. Read A Course in Miracles meditation for the day. (upper left) Work from home, for self.

Happy Monday!

💕

Notes from the Universe

Notes from the Universe are the personalized  daily email from Mike Dooley that I absolute love. They always seem to tie in to what I’ve been thinking about or what I need to hear.

And they’re free!

Here’s my note for today:

About those dreams you have each night, Shawna, that you don’t quite remember… 

Well, those are the ones in which you hold sway over the stars, possessing the keys to the entire Universe, and in which all the angels sing your name in praise. The very same ones in which you summon legions to do your bidding, create worlds to play your games, and unflinchingly orchestrate challenges that are so intense, you completely forget you’re even dreaming. 

And you’re having one right now. 

Now, repeat after me, “I will remember I’m dreaming, I’m perfectly safe and sound, and that rumble in the jungle… is just me.”

Tallyho,

   The Universe

“Love yourself …” — Heather Locklear

Does addiction bring drama into your life? Just ask Heather Locklear. Things appear to be looking up for her, according to her recent quote on Instagram:

“Love yourself…enough to take the actions required for your happiness…enough to cut yourself loose from the drama-filled past…enough to set a high standard for relationships…enough to feed your mind and body in a healthy manner…enough to forgive yourself…enough to move on.”

I Hope You Dance

Here’s an oldie but goodie by Lee Ann Womack. I’m in a nostalgic mood, so what the hell.

The lyrics are beautiful. In the days when my daughter was in middle school and didn’t like me much, I gave her the CD and a little book with the lyrics. Enjoy!

I hope you dance. 

Day 900!

Today, I have 900 continuous days of sobriety.

If you take out the word “continuous,” there’s no telling how many sober days I have. They just weren’t all that continuous.

It’s weird, but Day 900 doesn’t have much meaning for me. The struggle is over, thanks to the woman I used to be. Every day is easy now.

What matters to me more is the hundreds of Day One’s I have. Those beautiful, magical days when I would wake up groggy, throw out the rest of the wine, take out my day planner, and write in my best handwriting, Day One.

Surviving those days was excruciating. I know because I often wrote about the anguish of having to start over, again and again. My mind was so enmeshed in drinking that I couldn’t imagine going without my 5 o’clock anesthesia. I needed that drink, more than I needed food or water or air. At least that’s what I thought at the time. But still, on Day One, I faced the battle head on.

Other days, I was not so brave. As long as my head was still above water, and it looked like I had an OK life from the outside, I ignored the ticking time bomb buried inside every bottle of wine.

But that woman who dragged herself out of bed, shaky and unsure, with just a whisper of hope … she is my hero.

Imagine being completely overtaken by one of the most addictive substances there is — one that is legal and ingrained in the culture and available at every grocery store — and to still rise up, even after falling over and over again. That is such an act of blind faith that I’m in total awe of her.

After years of blaming and shaming her, I am so grateful for every day that she found the strength to hope for a better tomorrow.

That woman I used to be — the one who paved the way for me with her sweat and tears and love — that is who I’m proud of today.

Best Break-Up Lines Ever

Can you top these? Here are my personal favorites:

From my college boyfriend:

“At least I really improved your taste in music.”

 

From another boyfriend, to explain cheating:

“I mean, your clothes don’t even match.”

Arghh! Non-matching clothes were in style!