Cultivating Joy, Spring Forward

The 45-degree midwest tropical heatwave has brought back all signs of hope for me. January is long, and February is often a depressing bridge to March. March brings mud but also hope, and after a few weeks of feeling meh about everything in general, I now have a burst of excitement about almost everything. The hills are alive with the sound of music around here. 

I will share a listicle * of the things bringing me joy lately, but let's keep the main thing the main thing. I am in charge of my happiness, and I know this. I know what I need and how to get it, and then I do it. I do what I know is good for me, whether I feel like it or not. I do what I know I need to do, and then I do. I do it and I feel better. It freaking works. This is the difference from previous versions of myself where I didn't know how I was feeling, what I needed, how to get it, or who to get it from, and I didn't feel like doing it, so I didn't, and I didn't feel better. You tracking?

My life and the lives of my client's are improving one million percent by ditching the drink, getting support, learning about themselves, and paying attention. I can't stress enough that if you are only here enjoying this newsletter (I am glad you are here and also...), you are missing out on the very best that Ditched the Drink has to offer, and that is a direct, real-life relationship with me and my membership community. 

I am increasing the value of this community every day by adding book clubs, workshops, masterclasses, parties, new ways to gather, and more. You do not need to be sober to join! Only sober curious. Bring your friends. There's a free trial 🔗. I see more real-life retreats coming up too, and I want you to have exclusive access.

Please check it out. I am pouring myself into this, and I want you to experience the delight of healing, growing, and learning in community. It's always going to be a small intimate group, but we have spots for more women to join and we want you! 🫵🏼 

The INSIDER community 🔗 is an award-winning private membership for women exploring life beyond the wine glass.

This is your safe, supportive space to:

✨ Connect with like-minded women who get it
✨ Get expert guidance on navigating alcohol-free living
✨ Build habits that bring you energy, joy, and freedom

Here's what you'll get if you join for free (🤯)right now.

💝 Group Call with Conversation Invitation: Patio Season and Drinking at the WTomorrow! tomorrow! 2/27 at 2 pm CST. 

💝 Evening peer support call with Conversation Invitation: Positive Self-Talk and the Value of Saying Things Outloud on 3/4 at 6 pm CST.

💝 Cultivating Joy Workshop with Deb Masner of The Alcohol Tipping Point 3/6 2 pm CST. 

💝 Looking ahead, there's calls every Tuesday evening and Thursday afternoon. 

💝 Author Jardine Libaire of The Sober Lush: A Hedonist's Guide to Living a Decadent, Adventurous, Soulful Life Alcohol-Free will join us for our next book club in April. 

💝 I've got recorded masterclasses on Human Design with Dupe Witherick and The Power of Intuition, Channeling Energy, and Your Spiritual Journey with Tina Conroy coming right up. 

This is a dream for me to have a place to host these kinds of connections and learning opportunities. I started very hesitant. I didn't want to make promises that I couldn't keep. I didn't want to commit to more than I could handle. Honestly, I hate group Zoom calls, and I wasn't sure if this was for me.

As a heart-centered business owner, I can honestly tell you that my energy in marketing and selling wasn't great in the beginning, because I wasn't sure. Now I am sure. I am sure I have the best group out there for the people that choose it. I am sure that I want to continue to dedicate myself to creating this connection and community between us. I am certain it is nothing short of healing magic, and I can confidently say you will be welcomed and loved with open arms and that this offering will be available for as far as the eye can see.

The technology is good and continually getting better. The people are miracles, and you must meet them. Please note that in a world of ChatGPT, it did not write this; the bottom of my heart did. I love you. Now get Inside 🔗 Schedule a call with me 🔗 if you need more convincing. LOL. This weather might feel like drinking weather to you, and it doesn't have to be that way. I have a new spot opened because...

A client graduated from her 12-week Becoming Coaching Package 🔗 this week. We had our 12th call on her 100th day, alcohol-free! She tried for 2 years to do this herself with limited, spotty, and unsustained success. Coaching support made the difference. It will for you too. Join me in celebrating her success.  🎉

Now Presenting my Current Joy Listicle *

 
*I kind of hate this word, like it's too cool for me. Do you have an opinion about it? I am using it to try to be cool, but the old-fashioned word LIST is good enough for me if I'm being honest, and I am being honest. I like lists better; remind me to never try to be cool with lists again.

• 30/30/30 morning walks. Still going (check back to previous newsletters or Google the details)! I am loving watching the season change by getting outside first thing in the morning. Loving moving morning pages cobweb energy physically out of my body. Obviously talking out loud to myself on my walks and getting to know the morning neighborhood dog walkers (all elderly). Wearing my 12-pound ruck feeling like an army boot camp recruit.💪
• Speaking of The Six Triple Eight Movie! Loved it! 
• A tiny little lamp (Target dollar spot) on my kitchen counter for a Nancy Meyers aesthetic
• Learning that I am a True Autumn color palette and hunting for clothes in my season/turning down everything that isn't that no matter how cute—buying less feels so good! 
• Using my daughter's sorority house menu for my weekly plan. Genius, right? This beef and broccoli 🔗 was delicious. 
• Speaking of recipes, I just got a pile of handwritten family recipe cards in the mail, including one from my great-grandmother. I plan on making them all. Specifically the Rocky Road Pie for my dog Rocky's 10th birthday coming up. We'll have the pie. He'll have ice cream. 
• Shopping for spring decor and DIY at second-hand stores. I made the cutest center piece bowl of trending cabbage greens, all from my thrift store finds. I'll post on my IG story soon.
• Finalizing the Kaftans and Quesidilla Art of Connection Event in Scottsdale, AZ, as an add-on for the Sober in the City Event May 15th. Limited spots so get your tickets here 🎟️ It will be magical. I can't believe I am pulling off a Helen Roper fashion-inspired sunset evening, but it makes me smile from ear to ear every time I think of it. Let me know if you have questions.
• The Armchair Expert Podcast with Nikki Glaser It was so fast-moving, vulnerable, and funny! 
• Giggly Squad Podcast—everything about these two. I want to live in their world! 
• The Wedding People: A Novel, loved this perfect story. Just the right palette cleanser between heavy novels and self-help.
• Researching volunteer opportunities (so many fundraisers are centered around alcohol, omg, I must change this)
• Super Dynamo podcast guests coming up—this week's Peripeteia Podcast is out. A Journey of Reinvention, Identity, and Growth with Jen Veralle. Listen here 🎧. 
• Putting books and notes in the mail for my clients today! You know I love post-office day! 💌
• I am using my creativity to make social media posts that I love. I feel like my posts are improving, and I rise to the challenge as the social media landscape evolves too.
• At the same time, I am not in a downward spiral about social media like so many people are right now (and I have been in the past). I don't care. I don't care about comparison, numbers, or what anyone else is doing. I am just so happy doing my thing and creating things for me. My real life is so good right now; I am not desperate for feedback or anything on social media, and it's so refreshing. This is subject to change, of course, but I just recognize that my work and my life are what matter to me, and it is good. So good. I have a healthy detachment with social media and my expectations. There's so much to enjoy, and so much of it is a game too. I get it. It's fine with me. I get to think my own thoughts and share when I want. It can be so dangerous for mental health and more when you are not in a good place with it. 
• I am helping other creators with this too, and you are welcome to join our MasterMind 🔗 (next call 3/4 at 4 pm CST) to discuss topics like this. There's other benefits too. For example, I've nominated two people for magazine features, offered three speaking events, and offered one collaboration opportunity already this month. Come to learn, connect, and grow your alcohol-free business or idea.
• A friend of mine is pregnant, and I am so excited to have a new baby in my life. I am calling it our baby It's mostly the only thing I think about since hearing the news 24 hours ago.
• Poetry in the mornings. Right now it's Keep Moving by Maggie Smith.
• Rocky got groomed, and the car got washed on the same day. Little victories are big wins. We are killing it over here!
• My body is so sore from lifting weights with my 16-year-old daughter. I could hardly walk down my stairs for a day, but boy showed her I still got it. LOL! 

Reply and share your joy with me; let's multiply it by sharing it.

XO!

-Heather