Sometimes you just have to take the leap...

Sometimes you just have to take the leap…

and build your wings on the way down.

I look at that saying often, it’s been on my fridge for years. It has stayed through several culls of art and mementos. I keep it because it makes me smile. I have often thought of myself as cautious, giving measured thought to changes I want to make. I ask myself - How far is my leap? Do I have a safety net? Am I wearing a harness? Does my harness look like wings? When do I just GO? And yet, since diving into this later-life career change, as an art therapist and counsellor, I’ve had more opportunity to reflect on my ‘leaps’ and realize they aren’t as hard anymore.

A recent leap was presenting at the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) Conference several weeks back. I focussed on creativity in recovery from addiction, anchoring my talk in my own 36+ year recovery journey from alcohol use. I am a comfortable presenter. I had to work on that many years ago when I realized I wanted to teach but couldn’t open my mouth in public to save my life! But I was adding the personal. I was surprised at how much I procrastinated, doubted and wondered “What was I thinking?” And yet, I took that leap and learned so much more about addiction, recovery, myself and my own continuing growth. I understood more profoundly how the creative process, for me, was foundational to my sobriety.

I came away from that conference energized and convinced that giving voice to our innate creative spark provides a path to healing for everyone. As I researched for that talk I was delighted to find communities of women living joyfully in recovery, actively sharing their stories, successes and support in less traditional ways. The recovery movement – and, yes, it can be called that – is active and offers anyone with questions and a desire for help, the necessary tools and connection. If you’re curious, check out what these passionate women have to say. “The Unruffled Podcast is a weekly show hosted by Sondra Primeaux and Tammi Salas that explores all topics related to creativity in recovery. When an addiction is removed, there is a void that is left and this show digs into all of the ways to fill that void. The Unruffled is passionate about ‘creating and making’ and how those pursuits fuel recovery, specifically from alcohol. Come with them as they unruffle the old stories and write new ones, to not just exist but thrive.”

Your Kick-Ass Life - Andrea Owen is a life coach in recovery and she doesn’t hold back. Her stories are real and meaningful and she’s serious about living from a joyful place – whether you’re struggling with questions about your alcohol use or not!

Brene Brown, writes about and celebrate’s her own 23 years of sobriety in this article “What Being Sober Has Meant to Me”.

Ruby Warrington is a journalist who describes herself as ‘sober curious’. In her book, Sober Curious, she explores the question "Would life be better without alcohol?” For many people, drinking may not be “a problem” and yet, it doesn’t offer a lot of positives, either. Warrington argues that there is a broad scope of behaviours between “teetotaller” and “alcoholic” and being open to self-exploration around our drinking habits is a healthy step.