~~Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.~~ Brene Brown
I've often said that we need to own our quit. Not hope for it, or dream about it, or try it, but own it! We create it through education, knowledge, and knowing ourselves well enough to know what we can allow in our lives during this vulnerable time and what we can't.
And then we need to love ourselves. We need to take care of ourselves like we take care of our family, friends, co-workers...and anyone else we feel needs nurturing. Please, please do that for yourself!! If you need to cry, cry. If you need help, ask for it. If you need a twinkie, do an extra lap around the house if you are worried about gaining weight. Just love yourself enough to own your quit no matter if the world falls down around you. Dodge the pieces and continue with your precious, life saving quit.
I don't know who said it, but I love "I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being". Just because you are having a bad day does not mean your astonishing light had dimmed. It may just mean you need someone to remind you it's there. That's ok. I am telling you...it is there and it is amazing!! Each one of you glows with a uniquely lovely light that the world needs to see things more clearly. And when you own your story, you shine that light.
We are so much more than our quits. Our stories are so much thicker than our quits. But it is triumph over our addiction that gives us hope that we can own our stories. We may need to always be aware of our potential to relapse, but we also need always to be aware that there is power in us to overcome. Own your quit, own your story. It's the bravest thing you'll ever do. Sheri
