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How your writing has healed me. How your existence and the formation of what you have done has healed me. True is that. 200 days today. Oh I have had 200 days before. But not 200 days like this. It was my birthday yesterday. I hated my birthdays. I have had trauma around my birthdays in childhood. Because of the work I have done, which all started with what you gave to me. A book. A platform of recovery. Yesterday for the first time (I was 59 years young) I woke up with a new reframe. I had a simple but beautiful day. I didn’t drink. I didn’t want to drink. But as important I valued who I am, who I have become. I wrote a poem. I met sober friends on a platform YOU created. I walked my pup with another sober friend. I received flowers and love. But I really received me loving me. Why because it all started with a book, and then a platform created by this wonderful person called Holly Whitaker. Thank you. Thank you for sharing your raw self with us. I feel honored to be part of your post today. 🙏

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Miranda!!! Happy birthday, happy 202 days; I understand every single word of this. It's so uncomplicated, isn't it? It's just poems and flowers and friends and walking your dog.

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Yes 💜🦋 🙏

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Jan 15, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

Holly! My first soberversary was a few days ago because you made tempest. Keep on writing and screw the haters. You’ve made a big difference in my life. Thank you.

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HAPPY 1 YEAR!!! Ugh. How amazing are you? Love you so much, congrats, thank you for being here.

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Jan 15, 2022·edited Jan 15, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

God it would be impossible to articulate the impact your writing has had on me! Going through a gut-wrenching breakup 6 months ago I reread your *Instagram* caption about "the tool is to burn" countless, countless times--not to mention your book, old blog posts, and podcast episodes. Maybe that kind of love feels a bit odd too, probably, but I am so grateful for how you've bravely continued to let your words take shape, and then allow them to be in the world. When I read the Cut piece, I felt protective of you, as a fan of so many years. It felt like a profound misunderstanding--in fact, the way I read it is they had to create a story, some tension, so they created some that didn't really need to be there, at your expense. Your reaction makes sense to me.

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Thanks for this. From your words, "continue to let your words take shape," I think that's the thing that I keep working with, the part where it takes shape and it doesn't look like it used to; when we burn we become in some ways unrecognizable. Or maybe totally unrecognizable. I love you, honoring what you went through to get here. xx

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Jan 16, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

I read quit like a woman the same month I let go of alcohol - i hit two years alcohol free this week. Your words had impact on me then and still do today. So thankful that you are doing the work that you do, personally and professionally to keep putting your work out into the world. We need more smart, authentic, loving, badass women in this world.

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Staci two years two years! As I've said many many many times, that was the best year of them all. Or maybe it was year three and year two was terrible. Either way, ENJOY IT. Congrats to you. And thanks for this note.

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Jan 16, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

Thank you for being so brave. I promise all the content you put out - in any format - really really does land for people right when they need it. It's done that for me. Once when I absolutely felt completely alone and scared out of my mind. It's one thing to be a champion for sobriety but I think you're becoming a champion too for whatever we can call being human & shit getting messy AF.

Also your newsletter could drop on Sunday! It's a weekend highlight for me regardless!

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Reading this was a balm for me; thank you. Also I think Saturday is the day this thing wants to talk so it's probably going to be Saturday? xx

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Jan 15, 2022Liked by Holly Whitaker

🔥Compassion🙏

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Love you Janet

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I found you in 2012 and have been obsessed with your writing since then. It’s real. It’s no bullshit. And it makes me want to stand up and be myself and do the hard, scary things. You’re incredible. Thank you 💜

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If it does that then thank god. I love you. Thanks for sticking around. xx

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“Pain whispers it talks it firmly scolds it yells and then it starts chasing you with a knife.”

Jeez, does this resonate. Spent the better part of life being chased by that damn knife and finally FINALLY starting to notice the whispering. Sobriety turned all the outside noise down and now there’s so much to hear. Plenty I’d rather not hear, but it’s part of showing up for myself so I’m listening even if sometimes it’s with white knuckles and gritted teeth. Thanks for putting words to so much of the feelings I’m wading through, and for having forged this path for us. 💜

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founding

I’m so proud to know you, My Friend♥️

You’re the cutting edge👏🏻

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Same same same. So proud to know you KS.

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Wow. This is incredible. 💚 you inspire me. Thank you for all you do.

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<3 Thanks Bridget

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