Vol 2.20 Sh*t That Feels Good

Colostrum, keeping faith close and creating communities.

The Sober Glow Studio is an extension of what was started on social media circa 2016. As I have evolved, the topics I cover have naturally evolved. Here, I provide stories, recommendations, and resources on the art of living an alcohol-free lifestyle, navigating midlife, and honestly, anything that simply feels good.

1 ARMRA Colostrum. You know by now that I love supplements but also have a healthy appetite for discernment. I will try anything that calls to me and will also toss out anything that doesn’t do what it promises to do….and then I’ll tell you all about it. ARMRA has been on my radar for months now. I see it everywhere, and it’s one of the products everyone and their mother seem to be promoting. But after having just tossed four new products that I had high hopes for, I felt more critical than usual of all these IG ads. That’s until I finally listened to a podcast with the owner of ARMRA. First, I love when a product is created by someone that was trying to save their own ass. These tend to be the best products. Second, I was pretty impressed that the creator of ARMRA is Dr. Sarah Rahal, a double board-certified pediatric neurologist and not some Instagram famous talking head. I am just starting this one, but I will absolutely let you know if it’s a keeper or not. Watch the interview here to learn of all the benefits of colostrum and this particular product.

2 AMERICAN SYMPHONY. I cried before the trailer finished and have had this queued up ever since. The documentary on Suleika Jaouad and Jon Batiste drops on Netflix tomorrow! I became privy to Suleika after she wrote about her battle with leukemia in her book Between Two Kingdoms. The hospital unit where she was treated was the same as where I started my nursing career over a decade ago. That floor has a lot of memories for me, many of which are not great. Though I have wanted to read her book and have recommended it often, I have yet to bring myself to read it. Given that I am an oncology RN, it feels too close to home, and sometimes a heart can only take so much. I know this film will bring tears to many, but I am also confident it will bring faith and awe to anyone who watches it. You can feel it.

“Until death, it is all life” - Miguel De Cervantes

3 Prioritizing Community & Friendships with Radha Agrawal | EP 17. I love a great talk on gathering people as well as cultivating relationships. I am great at the first; the second, historically, could be better. I want to continue learning how to create more spaces where women can learn from each other, share, and support one another. Whether this involves one of my AF adventure retreats or more local meet-ups and even here online.

What I am taking away from this conversation:

• Loneliness is an epidemic and something we have to consciously seek to eradicate. Personally, I see how isolated some of my family members are and how sad it is, yet they don’t do anything about it. I am motivated to live the opposite. Though I wouldn’t call myself a social butterfly, it is very important to me that I have quality friendships where there is mutual love and respect.

• I want anyone and everyone who chooses to quit drinking to feel as if they belong there, no matter why or how they quit. The fact that non-drinkers judge other non-drinkers drives me wild. There is a place for everyone, and I wish more people would share their quit stories so others who hear and connect can find belonging - something we are all seeking. If you would like to share your quit story here in this community, you can find those details here.

• Go first (smile, say hello, etc). We as individuals have the power to change someone’s life with the smallest act of kindness. The old saying goes - we never honestly know what another person is going through. Grace and kindness may be the exact thing they need. Maybe saying hello is the first time someone has talked to them in days. We all need to slow down and think about these things instead of walking around thinking everyone else is an asshole.

• “Having poor social ties is as harmful as being an alcoholic, and twice as harmful as obesity.” I have seen this firsthand.

• It’s okay to seek out and create the relationships we want and need and not just stay in our communities because of circumstance or geography. For example, old college friends you no longer relate too, a childhood friend who has nothing to say other than negative shit, or a co-worker who you like, but the conversations are nothing but gossip.

• Stop waiting for people to come to you; go out and create what you want! Seek out the people who lift you up, who share your values, and who equally and genuinely want to be in community with you.

Today’s newsletter is shorter than usual because this Saturday, I am sharing all the details of my recent three-week trip and writing retreat in Morocco with the paid subscribers. I will have all the logistical information, what I learned, my conclusion on hosting my own retreats, and why traveling sober can be a beautiful way to find your footing in sobriety. If you are newly sober and curious about travel, here is the Happy Hour I hosted on the energetics of sober travel.

After writing this, I just purchased Suleika’s book on my Kindle. Let’s read it together.