Old-timers in 12-step programs say that if you want to stay sober, you only have to change one thing: your whole life. Sober Truths: The Making of an Honest Woman recounts how one woman did just that. Her personal stories describe the journey she took as two decades of drinking and despair gave way to a richly rewarding sober life.
Kelly's demons did not go quietly when she put the bottle down. Loneliness, anxiety, distrust of others-they were all still there. This memoir tells how she has learned to be with those demons and not drink, to let go of the jealous dramas of the past and embrace a new life of peace. Along the way, Kelly reinvents herself, becoming a visual artist, starting a successful business, and developing deep friendships and a satisfying spiritual life. At the same time, she faces the challenges of emotional eating and her sober ambivalence about sexual relationships.
This book offers hope to those who cannot imagine a life without alcohol by someone who has recreated hers."Jill Kelly writes with raw
authenticity about some of life's most delicate issues, weaving a highly
personal account with universal overtones. I am profoundly grateful for
her articulation of her journey."
-Christina Baldwin, author of Life's Companion: Journal
Writing as a Spiritual Practice and Storycatcher: Making Sense of
our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story (www.peerspirit.com)
-Mary Moore, BA, CDP, Lead Counselor for Women's Addiction Program, Northwest Recovery Services
"This story is an
extraordinary and gallant fight out of self-destructive patterns into a
life of fulfilling relationships and artistic development that is free
from alcohol and the ghosts of the past. A great read!"
-Marilyn J. Sorensen, PhD, author of Breaking the Chain of Low
Self-Esteem mjsorensen@TheSelfEsteemInstitute.com
About the Author
Jill Kelly, PhD, has been sober since 1989. She lives in
Portland, Oregon with her 3 cats, where she works as a freelance editor,
writer, and coach. A lover of deep color, wild animals, and old trees,
she offers workshops in creativity and intentional living for writers
and other creatives.
Visit Jill's website: http://www.jillkellyeditor.com/
Catch her blog at: http://thewritingwheel.blogspot.com/
Jill's new book! Sober Play: Using Creativity for a More Joyful Recovery