I own it, I didn't, not proud that was me, and when I face it a little dignity, not looking for excuses.

I just want to be free from power, weakness, head on sea.

Free, free, free, free, free.

Hi there, everyone, and welcome to the bubble hour where real people tell real stories of addiction and recovery.

I'm your host, Gene McCarthy, recovery author and blogger over at Unpickled, where I've been chronicling life after alcohol for the past, oh, nearly nine years now.

I tell my story there and I hold space for your stories here.

And we are into season eight.

This is episode two.

Happy New Year, everyone.

And today's guest is someone who I have known virtually through an online group for many years, six years, maybe seven,

but I've never actually got to hear her voice until we connected on the phone today.

So I'm really thrilled that she is here to share her story.

And before I introduce you, I just want to say, you know, one benefit of being in an online group

is that you get to observe the interactions of other people. And I have to say that when we first

join what we're really kind of interested in tends to be, what are other people saying? And

who are the people that are kind of like me and where can I hear my story? And as time goes on,

you start to pick up on something else that's really fascinating,

too, because you start to see what other people say when someone is struggling and how people

with more recovery reach out and support anyone who's struggling. And I have been just so impressed

and amazed with today's guest because I have been

able to see her respond to people, encourage them through hard times, hold them, hold them accountable,

and make herself available and even let others know when she herself is feeling vulnerable.

...