INSPIRING WOMEN IN RECOVERY ABSOLUTELY WELCOME!

Though it might seem like every woman in the world (except you) is handling this pandemic life by pulling a cork before the afternoon, it’s just not true!

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Whether you are a certified sommelier or a part of a group of women in recovery, I want you to know that I have so much love for you!

I want to encourage you to make space for all of the powerful lady- friends at your happy hour Zoom hangouts, group chats, and those confusing group FaceTime calls. That means welcoming those who are managing pandemic life without alcohol.

Still with me?

Listen, I do appreciate a glass of wine or a frosty mug from a local brewery. I’m certainly no teetotaler.

Pandemic rules

We have all be thrown into this crazy situation where it feels like new responsibilities rain from the sky and land right on our shoulders.

Bake bread! Clean the house! Get in the Best shape of your life! Learn a language! No grace!

Then, like everyone else get completely exhausted by 2 pm, and count on a numbing to get you through.

Don’t forget to take a picture and show the world how you are handling this just the same as, “Everyone else.”

Dear one, it doesn’t have to be like this.

Here’s the thing: Not everyone poppin’ bottles in the afternoon right now. We might consider slowing our roles with the publicly praising of dependence on our beloved wine to get through the day.

Many options are better than getting blitzed, even and especially, when life is hard.

(We’re athletes, remember?)

We can all make our own choices about the role of drugs and alcohol in our lives.

We all know that as a front-line management strategy, they have massive shortcomings.

Women in recovery

Really, I want to talk to you, my dear athletes, who are struggling to stay sober right now, no matter how long ago you took the first step on the sobriety journey.

I see you.

I know that the messages are loud right now telling you that the only way through this is drunk.

It’s not true.

You know that it’s not true.

And I am so proud of you.

If you are handling all of the tasks assigned to you plus the strange outsider quality of being a sober person in a sea of wine-is-the-answer posts, you are doing some heavy lifting.

You Don’t have to do this alone

If you are navigating this strange time without your normal support structure of meetings and community, I see you.

I wanted to share a couple of resources that might be helpful in the coming days or weeks to anyone struggling, whether you have been in recovery for years or you are just realizing that maybe the trendy coping mechanism is becoming more than an internet joke in your own life.

There is a 24-hour National Helpline from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, part of the US Department of Health & Human Services, where you can get 24 -hour treatment and referral information for substance abuse. That number is 1–800–662-HELP (4357).

Alcoholics Anonymous is offering online meetings.

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-focused recovery program. If they do not have a chapter in your local area, I’m sure you would be welcome in the Zoom calls for the local chapter held at my church here in northern Virginia, Park Valley Church.

Though this isn’t an area where I have personal experience, you bold and brave women in recovery have been on my heart so much this week. You are inspiring to me.

So I just want to encourage you, you fierce and fabulous woman: find joy where you can, be aware of how your messages might impact the incredibly strong souls around you, and know that there are people who are ready and able to help you if you could use a boost.

None of us are alone.

Originally published at https://findingfinishlines.com on May 1, 2020.