I Unclenched My Jaw for the First Time in a Long Time
Hi Friend,
I just spent 11 days in Columbia, Missouri, with two game days with my girls, and it was the absolute best.
They were the best hosts. So were their friends and roommates. After a few days, my husband joined me, and then my sister-in-law and nephew came too. But the best part? The simple things.
I stayed in a little house I nicknamed “Grandma’s house” because it smelled like a musty basement. Across the street was a house that looked like it came straight out of a fairytale, and I loved walking past it every day.
Here’s what 11 days in COMO looked like:
10,000+ steps every day. Trails. Ten different bird songs (confirmed by my Merlin app, thank you very much). A 500-piece puzzle. Fresh Baked Cookies. Podcasts and music. A lot of reading. Naps with my babies. The finest of Columbia’s cuisine (IYKYK). The best coffee. Leaves changing. A facial, just for me. College nightlife. And mostly, slowing down.
I was working while I was there, but everything felt different.
I slept so soundly. I had dreams that rearranged my brain in the best way. And somewhere in there, without even trying, I unclenched my jaw for the first time in a long time.
It’s time to go home (I leave for my Nashville retreat this week)! I already can’t wait to come back. I already have a wish list for next time.
Here’s what I keep thinking about: years ago, a college weekend like this would have been about the bar. This time, it was about the birds, the puzzle, and my girls. Same scene. Different woman.
Curious about navigating college drinking culture as a sober mom? Hit reply and tell me. If enough of you want it, I’ll write about it.
New on the blog: Can AI Tell You the Truth About Your Drinking?
I use AI every day in my business, and I gave mine one standing rule: always ask me what I might be missing. Left on its own, it tells me I’m doing great.
If you’re questioning your drinking, “you’re doing great” might not be what you need to hear. In this post I share why AI tends to agree with you, four better questions to ask it, and what real support from me looks like.
Adventure & Joy: “Your Greatest Adventure Yet”
If you’ve ever wondered whether the excitement and possibility you felt in early sobriety eventually wears off, this is for you.
I’m joining 25+ other sober trailblazers for Sobriety is the New Epic, a free virtual speaker series running October 19–31. It’s all about how to keep creating a life that feels exciting, expansive, and fully alive.
You’ll hear conversations about:
- using travel to try on a new version of yourself
- chasing the next hard thing
- facing fear and uncovering the old patterns underneath it
- making room for more play
This lineup of adventurers, athletes, and change-makers will share practical tools that helped us keep stretching past what feels comfortable. Many of the speakers are also giving away free resources to help you put those ideas into action.
The adventure didn’t end when the drinking did. For a lot of us, it was just getting started.
XO! - Heather
P.S. If you want a human in your corner, not just a chat window, schedule a complimentary call with me. It’s just a conversation, and you’ll leave with a clear next step. Schedule Now → HERE
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