Wild, Finalist, Epic, and Final

Hi!

First and foremost, a big thank-you! With a HUG!

You've made me a finalist for Best Coach from the Sans Bar Academy Awards. I was listening to the nominations and preparing myself to NOT hear my name, and it was the first one listed. It took me by such great surprise that I burst out crying, 😭 just like I did with the AFTER Awards at the beginning of the year. I honestly feel so grateful and so seen. Thank you so much! I have no chill, you know that. I will never get over these awards and nominations. I will never be too cool for any of it (obviously). 

It feels like a great affirmation of following my (dare to) dreams come true. I am the underdog as far as the number of social media followers and all that. I likely have the smallest (best) community. It means even more to me that my little group of INSIDERS and newsletter subscribers are so mighty and fierce. You showed up to vote for me, and I am forever grateful. Getting voted by the people I serve is the best possible nomination. Go Me! Thankyouthankyouthankyou! 

As mentioned in my last newsletter, I am walking the walk alongside you when it comes to asking for help, coaching, and community. I am trying new communities, reaching out for help, and getting a guide too. I will continue to share more about these experiences. 

To start, I am fresh off a weekend-long virtual writing course with Cheryl Strayed at Kripalu. I am a huge Cheryl Strayed fan. Her book "Wild" is incredible and inspired my red-laced hiking boots and first-ever (sober) hiking retreat. Want to join me on my next hiking retreat? Repluy and let me know, and I'll share the details.

Cheryl's book "Tiny, Beautiful Things" is one of my all-time favorites. It is a universal advice column. I've always dreamt of having a magazine column like Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City or Cheryl's Dear Sugar. I've got more to share on this soon! So stay tuned and keep reading my newsletters for more information as it comes out.

My last writing course was years ago, and although writing has always been a hobby, it was time to sharpen my pencil. I knew I wanted Cheryl as my guide. Yet, still, I was somewhat skeptical when the virtual experience started. I was worried I wasn't going to get my money's worth. By the looks of the chat, there was a lot of chatter and anxiety around it all, so I wasn't alone. I was watching the clock tick and wondering why we were still going over ground rules and housekeeping. I was thinking, "Let's go, I want the bang for my buck!" 

Is that how we all start something new, or is it just me? Are you kind of looking for ways to prove that is not good enough or scanning the room for problems when you start? Even when you are in the presence of someone you really admire, like I was with Cheryl? It took me a minute to settle in.

That is the same experience I am having in another new community that I joined. I will tell you more about it soon. In short, I don't think it's the right community for me, and I already have some bones to pick with the leader. I am trying to give it a chance. More to come on this one too. 

I was able to settle into The Story You Have to Tell course. This is not a review of that course or Cheryl as an instructor, but they were both 12/10 if you were wondering. I am going to share the similarities between what I learned about writing last weekend and how that mirrors what I already know about sobriety.

In the words of Carrie Bradshaw, "I couldn't help but think...the lessons for writing your story and getting sober are the exact same."

These were the key lessons.

1- The first and most important thing is to do it. Finish your book.

👉🏼 Get sober. 

2- Do not go at it alone. Find a literary center, workshop, class, or retreat. Share your work.

👉🏼 Join my 🔗 INSIDER Community, go on a retreat, watch my masterclasses, and get on a group call and engage.

3- Surrender to your own mediocrity.

👉🏼 You don't have to do this perfectly and flawlessly. It can be imperfect and messy, and the mission will still be accomplished. Show up and keep showing up even when you have a slip.

4. Find an editor. They help you see things that you cannot see. They are the only other person seeing your work as intimately and intelligently, with as much care as you. It's not a list of rules but a conversation together. The best one for you is the one who sees you and has a kindness in telling the truth. 

👉🏼 Get a coach. Schedule your 🔗 complimentary call. 

5. When it comes to others, what are the consequences of telling the truth?

👉🏼 You might lose people, and what does that mean if they can't stay for this new version of you? Are they your people for the next phase? 

6. Go all the way there. Do not be afraid to cry. There is a deep sense of satisfaction from doing something that is hard to do. 

👉🏼 Do it. Ditch the drink. It will be hard and also worth it.

I can tell you firsthand that my writing improved 1000% through this course. I didn't know what I didn't know, so I was willing to learn.

If you've never gotten sober, you wouldn't know how to do it. It's ok to find a guide to show you the way. The weekend workshop lessons further solidified for me the need for coaches of all kinds to support you in any endeavor you want to take on, whether that's writing a book, getting sober, or running a race. The lessons are the same.

If you haven't reached out for help yet and you are not making the kind of progress you want on your own, like I was with my writing project, let this be a sign to reach out. I can't recommend it enough. It changes. You change in the process, even if you are skeptical like me to start.  

Life is too short to spend it wasted. And nice segue, because this week's Peripeteia podcast episode is 🔗  Navigating the End of Life Journey with Mary Willems Akers (a sober social worker who works in end-of-life care). It was a profound conversation and surprisingly comforting as well. I think you're going to love this one. Let me know! 

XO!

-Heather

p.s. last chance for the Sobriety is the New Epic Series replay

🔗 Grab your free 48-hour replay pass now → speakerseries.soberadventurecollective.com/heatherlowe