Christine's Trek: From Going Nowhere Fast to Sobriety

In this laid-back episode between two friends, we're chatting with Christine about her incredible journey detailed in "Christine's Trek: From Going Nowhere Fast to Sobriety." She opens up about her rollercoaster ride from addiction to achieving over thirty years of sobriety. 

Christine shares honest stories about hitting rock bottom, her experience in rehab and  working the 12 steps. With plenty of laughs and heartfelt moments, Christine's story is all about resilience, hope, and turning life around. Join us for an inspiring conversation packed with insights, tips, and encouragement for anyone navigating their own path to recovery.

Transcript

Christine: [00:00:00] When I put my mind to something, it's like, get out of my way. I'm just going to bulldoze whatever and just get there. 

Host Dora: I think that's a common theme for addicts. We're like all or nothing with everything, right? Whether it's drinking and drugging or getting sober or whatever, it's all or nothing. Hello, beautiful peeps, and welcome to the Soberoso podcast where we celebrate life in recovery.

I'm your host, Dora. I walked away from 30 years of drinking and drugging. After years of chaos and self destruction, by the grace of God, I found my way into a life of recovery. This podcast is for anyone seeking not just sobriety, but also the healing and growth that follows. Whether you're just starting your journey, feeling stuck, or looking for a supportive community, you found your peeps.

Each week we share real [00:01:00] stories and tips to help you live a fulfilling life. Through the healing journey. Join us now in sharing our passion for recovery. I am so happy today to be visiting with my good friend, roomie and partner in crime, Christine.

Her and I have a long backstory, a long history together. I believe she was there in my very first year. Of recovery. Um, my one year celebration, which some of you who are in the 12 step program know that can be a, a pretty, um, well, it's definitely a big milestone, but for me, the way we celebrated was me sharing my story.

So that's a longer than five minutes. That's, like a, 30 to 40 minute, talk about you, your experience, strength, and hope. So it was quite nerve wracking. And my good buddy, Christine was there. She's, actually seen me come into the rooms from the early stages. So we go way back. But this [00:02:00] is not about me.

This is about her. So get to know her.

Christine, thank you for being here. I have been asking you to do this for a while. So what was the change? What made you finally say, yeah, I'll do it. I just said, fuck it. Perfect. Well, that works. All right. So. What I would like to know, because I do know a little bit of your story and we're going to get all up and over and up in it, but what I would love for you to share with us and the listeners right now is why don't you tell us what was going on in your life the last week or the last month leading up to the beginning of your recovery journey?

Christine: Okay. Well, thanks for having me, Dora. I truly miss you a lot. [00:03:00] I guess, you know, I was looking around and I saw the shit that I had in tow and what I meant by that was like men that I was attracting and that really was my bottom. I had a look and I'm like, you know what, I'm not a terrible person. I don't deserve this and who knew that I could think that way back in those days, you know, like I guess I had a little more self esteem than I actually initially thought So i'm looking at what I got in tow and i'm like, I don't deserve this like I cannot do this anymore I decided to call my family physician and I said look i'd like to go into treatments So he filled out all the papers and the thing about it is, is I did not tell a soul that I was going into treatment.

And the reason for that is because I had always said in the past, I'm going to go to [00:04:00] school. I'm going to do this. I'm going to go here. I'm going to, you know, I had all these plans and all I did was sit on the couch and go nowhere fast. So I thought I'm not telling a soul what I'm doing. Because I just knew that I might sabotage it.

And I thought, you know, and, and here's the thing that I've realized over time. When I put my mind to something, it's like, get out of my way. I'm just gonna bulldoze whatever and just get there. 

Host Dora: I think that's a common, uh, theme for addicts. We're like, all or nothing. With everything, right? Whether it's drinking and drugging or getting sober or whatever.

It's all or nothing. It is. It 

Christine: is. It's all or nothing and it's like, balls to the wall. Go home or go hard. Go hard or go home. That's it. So anyhow, yeah. It came the time for me to go into treatment, and that morning, I [00:05:00] had a dog, and that morning, I put the keys in. You mean that morning you gave birth to a dog?

No.

No, Dora. Oh, okay. No, I had a dog. When I was living in my home and I knew that I couldn't go to treatment without somebody looking after the dog So what I did was I was in a house by myself living there with this dog and I put the keys in the mailbox I called my brother. I said look I'm going away for a month I said, you need to come and pick up the dog and look after her.

He's like, where are you going? I said, I can't tell you. And he's just like, oh, fuck, here she goes. She's on a roll. It wasn't unusual for that kind of stuff to happen. OK, this was in a different context in my mind, but he had no idea. I get to the treatment center and I think I had no idea what I was in for.

I get there. I [00:06:00] pack my stuff. The worst. Like, I thought they were going to give me a hospital gown. I thought they were going to give me slippers. I get there, it is a fucking fashion show. Everybody is decked right out. They're fucking getting their 

Host Dora: vehicles hammered. Like, they should Weren't you, like, at a Hollywood recovery Malibu center or what?

No! No! This is in Alberta. Wow. 

Christine: But, you know, like, my idea of what I was walking into, I had no idea of what I was getting into. So I get there, and they're going through my suitcase, and I've got the rattiest underwear in that suitcase. I've got sweatpants and sweatshirts and looking like shit. Right. Here we are.

And I can't believe 

Host Dora: that, but okay. 

Christine: So, yeah. Again, I thought I was there for the full, excuse me, the full 28 days. That's all right. And, uh, turns out after two weeks, [00:07:00] I got to go home. So I get home. I call my brother. I'm like, Hey, I'm home a little bit early. Can you bring the dog over and bring my sister in law Lori?

I said, bring her over too. So they came over and they're like, what's up? So there I told them what I was doing and you could see in their eyes. It's like, uh huh. Yeah. Here we go. You know, 

Host Dora: like they didn't believe that you'd just been away for two weeks getting, getting sober. Yeah. Yeah, can I back you up a minute?

Sure. Okay. Can you just tell us a little bit? Um, so right before you check yourself into rehab, um, without telling soul because you're worried you're going to disappoint because it sounds like that's how you felt you, you always were up until that point. What was your drinking style? Like, like, obviously you knew you had a problem if you were checking yourself in, like, what was, how was your, your, your consumption that led you to believe, like, Wow, maybe I should [00:08:00] stop drinking.

Well, it wasn't every 

Christine: day, but I've heard so many times before, it didn't matter what mood I had going. I was doing it. And I think the clencher was, Oh, so I'm working for the federal government. My part time job is working at Alberta Liquor Control Board. I'm working at the liquor store.

Ooh, great job for an alcoholic. Exactly. You're like, I'll make the rules. I can take some work home. I'll take some work home on a daily basis, 

Host Dora: right. 

Christine: But, I think also the other thing too is I always said in my head that I'll never drink alone. And I started drinking alone. And I actually wanted to be drinking alone.

It didn't want to be with people I would have a bad day at work or whatever and my girlfriends I had some really good friends and I still have these friends I mean, I think what happens is either some of us go into recovery or some of us just grow up 

Host Dora: Yeah 

Christine: Life changes us and [00:09:00] and it's no longer a focus For some, and for some we need to go elsewhere.

And they would call me, I'd have a shitty day and they'd call, well, let's go out to the bar and I'm like, you know what? It's going to start out fun. And then there's going to be a switch that turns, and then I'm going to turn into this person that you don't want to be around because I'm not even going to be at one in your room.

To be around myself, correct? So yeah, I just knew how I functioned And I just knew that you know what hangovers were last in three days You know, and I remember coming home from the bar so many times and I mean I didn't eat during the day And then when I got home I'm calling up boston pizza and i'm ordering a pizza and i'm ordering lasagna and i'm ordering caesar salad and wings and i'm like Okay, you got 20 minutes because once i'm on the nod, I will not be answering that door All right, get that shit here pronto, [00:10:00] right?

The next day like I ate like a horse I listened to loud music, smoked more cigarettes the next day than I did the night before. So, I mean, like, I did not suffer hangovers like people that I've heard stories about. Like, I just went with the flow. And, I mean, it didn't hurt to the next day, you know, hair of the 

Host Dora: dog, here we go.

Okay. Okay. So you're, you're drinking, you're coming to the point where you're aware of the consequences. It sounds like, like you don't like the life you're living. You're attracting and got these guys in, in tow that are no good for you. Probably treating you not like you deserve. And it sounds like you're not treating yourself very well either by the choices you're making of the way you're drinking, of the way you're binging.

You don't even want to hang out with your friends. You're drinking alone and then something clicks. You say, I'm checking myself into recovery. Tell me a little bit [00:11:00] how getting into recovery worked for you. Like, do you just pick up a phone call? How, how, where do you even begin? Cause that's not a part of my story.

Christine: Well, the thing about it too is in the recovery center, you had to go to one meeting a week. You were, it was mandatory. So I'm coming down the hallway and I'm looking left and it's these old farts. I'm not interested at all. I'm looking left and there's some young eye candy and I'm like, giddy up. That's where I'm going.

Yeah. I'm in my 

Host Dora: sweats and slippers. I know. Attractive. But 

Christine: yeah, I mean, Here's what I realized over time is like what I came into recovery seeking. Is to this day what I don't have but I'm not seeking that anymore. I'm not like I was looking My goal was to find mr. Wonderful [00:12:00] get my shit together. Adios.

I'm good. Let's go 

Host Dora: And 

Christine: then I realized over time it's like God's plan was so much bigger better and different than I could have ever imagined Had it gone with that initial plan. It really would have shortchanged myself on everything that's given To me the opportunities that have presented themselves the people that have crossed my path, you know, and I just sometimes I can't even imagine that this is where i'm at I 

Host Dora: just sit back 

Christine: and i'm just like i'm Oh, I 

Host Dora: love it Okay, so you call your brother and his wife or girlfriend over at the time, say, bring me my dog back.

You're sitting in the living room and you say, look, this is what's up. I've been in a recovery center, checked myself in for the last two weeks. That's why you didn't hear from me. Where does it go from there? [00:13:00] 

Christine: From there, then I go back to the treatment center because I had another two weeks to complete.

Oh, so you were just like on a day pass? Well, weekend pass. Ah, wow, that's risky. Yeah, right? Okay. Because when I got back there, there was Not the same people. Some didn't make it back. I mean, I look at how my recovery went and how it has been, uh, you know what? What works for me may not work for others. I mean, I did not do any of the suggestions that were given to me.

They said resentments are going to send you out and like I, to this day, say that a resentment kept me. Over. They said, if you don't get a sponsor, you're going to relapse. I'm like, yeah, I'll show you. And just, you know, that, that, I don't, I don't know. It's just that, um, rebel. [00:14:00] You know, I, I come from a military background, like, I just don't want to be disciplined.

I'm just gonna, you know, and looking back at it, it's like, yeah, actually there is a lot of discipline in what you do to get into recovery without even realizing it, you know, but I was just not going to follow suit. I was going to do it my way. And I am here to say that my first year recovery has got to be the most.

Looking back was the most loneliest time, you know, like there was people there that I didn't even want to associate with, but they had my back, you know, looking on it. Right later it's like and I still have contacts with a lot of these people. 

Host Dora: Wow. 

Christine: Yeah. I mean my last celebration you were there. Yes. And there was some people from [00:15:00] Edmonton and that's where I cleaned up.

That's right. That's where my recovery started was in Edmonton. And what is your sobriety date? My date is January 21, 1992. I know. 

Host Dora: Check this chica out. She's a hot, hot, hot commodity and she's been sober for over 30 years. Who'd a thunk Not me. Wow. Not me. And so from that point, when you checked yourself in, you didn't relapse.

No, no, I didn't. 

Christine: Beautiful. And I think too, again, it was the, the, I'll show you, I'm not doing this. And the thing about it is, is when I went back to the recovery center, I think that everything plays out the way it's supposed to, and I took my sweet ass time doing anything in recovery. I watched people that in two weeks they were already on step [00:16:00] four.

Host Dora: Right. 

Christine: Not doing that. 

Host Dora: Right. No, 

Christine: no thanks. 

Host Dora: Yeah. 

Christine: I had to struggle with just admitting, you know, like I knew that my life was unmanageable and that's how I got into recovery. But to think that I was powerless, I was young, self sufficient, self supporting, so I thought, and you know, I just felt very powerful.

When I gave in to the idea of getting a sponsor, and she said to me, and this was the clincher, she said, how many times did you try and quit on your own, and how successful were you? And I would look back and I'd think, yeah, I would wake up that day and say, I'm not going to do this. And I don't know, five o'clock I've got amnesia.

Cause there I am. I'm doing it again. All over again. 

Host Dora: So that really clicked incredible. [00:17:00] So 30 plus years clean and sober You said the first year was pretty lonely for you because you were not taking the suggestions which probably meant that you were still in a way living some of the habits that you had before you went into this recovery program by Isolating and saying like, I can do it on my own, my own way, but now I'm just not drinking and I'm just not drugging.

It's a miracle you didn't pick up in that first year. If you were kind of rejecting the people around you, did you jump into like weekly meetings when you got out of that center? Did that help kind of tie you over? 

Christine: Yeah, well, the one, um, that meeting I made at my home group, and it's in an institution, so having said that, there's no, um, reading of the Twelve Traditions.

So lo and behold, I venture to go out to other meetings outside of institutions and they start reading these 12 traditions. I [00:18:00] run to my sponsor. I'm like, Oh my God, I can't even handle the 12 steps. What's the shit 12 traditions. And she said to me, she said, the 12 steps are the glue that's going to keep you together.

And the 12 traditions is the glue that keeps the group together. 

Host Dora: That's 

Christine: the thing I needed somebody just to really simplify. Stuff for 

Host Dora: me. I get that 

Christine: And and she really simplified things like the language when I came in there I I did not understand how those people taught like if it didn't start with f and end with off It wasn't in my vocabulary.

I did not know these words, you know, amends. 

Host Dora: What in the Frick is that? Oh, I didn't know. But that word was either when I came into recovery, I even had to like Google what serenity is. Cause I was like, I think I know what it is, but what is it? Like, it's just another word for peace. [00:19:00] Right? Like I, I hadn't, yeah, I, I had to look up a lot of words when I got injured.

Christine: Well, and here's the other thing too. I mean, like I had this recovery literature and I would call my sponsor and I'm like, what is this? What is this? She goes, okay, there's another piece of literature I want you to get. And it's fucking dictionary. She's like, okay, I don't mind answering your questions, but it's getting a little overboard here.

Start picking up some of this 

Host Dora: shit. Figure out some of these words with the dictionary. Right. Sounds like you had a great sponsor. And obviously she did wonders for you. If you stayed clean and sober, even with all that, uh, defiance and that rebel attitude, you still had even an early recovery when here's.

You know, 

Christine: I, I, when I heard that I needed to get a sponsor, I'm like, okay, I'm going to get a guy sponsor. Cause that's going to work. 

Host Dora: And I 

Christine: come from the days where [00:20:00] that doesn't work. You are not getting a male sponsor. 

Host Dora: Right. 

Christine: And I'm like, well, that sucks. I, I look back on it and it's like there was all that.

It was like the bar mentality came into the rooms with me too. There's all that competitiveness, that cattiness. It's like, you know, like me against them. And, and to date and how she, what she showed me was, She showed me the true meaning of intimacy. I thought it meant something else. She showed me how to trust another woman.

She showed me how to be vulnerable. She showed me how to trust myself, my thinking, my, my gut and to pay attention to that. I learned so much from this woman. Like again, getting back to the vocabulary, like [00:21:00] amends. I'm like, what does that even mean? Amends. And she goes, well, what do you do for a living? And I said, well, at this point I type up contracts.

And she said, when you change anything in a contract, what do you call that? I'm like, well, that's an amendment. She's like, duh, look it up in the dictionary, not about saying sorry. And that's what I always thought it was. And to me, I struggled with it because I had always said in the past that I was sorry just to get people off my back and just to put them away and just to, you know, put them over here.

And it's not about that. It's just changing your behaviors, changing your thinking, changing your ways. And trying something different. Cause we know that that didn't work. So let's try something different and let's be open to what other people are presenting to us. 

Host Dora: I love it. Absolutely love it. I'm sure there's a lot of [00:22:00] women and maybe even some men out there that are going to resonate with your, your story, especially the part about, you know, going in, choosing your room, depending on the eye candy on which recovery room you were going to step into.

How did that work out for you? Did you score? Of course. Are you kidding me? Oh my goodness. 

Christine: Oh, 

Host Dora: of 

Christine: course. They say don't get in a relationship in your first year. I say fuck it. Go hard. Do it. I will to this day say do it because I think that what you're going to learn is a lot about yourself, how you interact with other people, and it will make or break you.

Host Dora: Right. 

Christine: And it was always said to me that if you are going to get into a relationship, make sure that you're talking with your sponsor. Make sure that you're talking with your support group. Make sure that you're bouncing ideas off. Don't just focus on that person. Right. And I've seen many relationships that can work.

Yeah. I [00:23:00] was married 

Host Dora: for a minute. You were married for a minute? A minute. After the, after you got clean and sober? 

Christine: Girl, I was 8 years clean, 38 years old, ya think I might know what I want out of life? Nope. Nope. I know all too well. Here's the thing, I learned from that, that I was in love with the idea of being married and not in love with him.

I had to take responsibility on that. There was some really good moments. I mean, I should be a wedding planner. I can organize the shit out of anything. Well, you're still a good planner. I, I can do that. Yeah. I had my dad walk me down the aisle. That'll never happen again. So, I mean, like there's so many positive things that came out of it.

Right. 

Host Dora: What an inspiration you are. And you know what folks, you don't know, Christine, like the way I know her, but she inspires me, you inspire me [00:24:00] because you just have this confidence about you. And just like this, I, you still have this, like, I don't take any attitude and I've seen it, um, not like. in a egotistical way or in a selfish way, but yeah, like you have just, when it comes down to making decisions, which is something I, I faced a lot of difficulties with, and I'm sure a lot of people do in recovery after the shit that we put ourselves through and others, it's like, how do I trust myself to make a right decision?

You know, I was very afraid of making wrong choices. And, um, Christine here has, has just been an excellent example for waiting for the right thing, using that pause, you know, even when it comes down to looking for work for yourself. Like I've been, you know, around you where times that you're like, you know, you're like, it just doesn't sit right with me.

And you have a motto. You have a motto of [00:25:00] Refresh my memory that's about 30 days or something. 

Christine: Oh, I got that from 

Host Dora: a 

Christine: friend. 

Host Dora: Okay, tell us about that one. 

Christine: Yeah, and it's one that I really like to base decisions on. And it is, if you had 30 days to live, what would you 

Host Dora: do? And I've heard, I've heard and witnessed you put that into play.

Even when you have, you know, not that it's a bad decision, but just decisions where you're like, Oh, making mega bucks, but. Just don't feel right about the situation. Like I've, I've seen you put that into practice and I just admire that about you because I've also seen you base decisions on this theory of if you had 30 days left, what would you do with it?

And I've always seen you come out on top where it's like, then you get into this moment of unknowing, you know, what's going to happen if I say no to this. What's, what's going to happen if I let this pass me [00:26:00] by? I've constantly witnessed something more incredible coming to your life. And I'm just like, I just applaud you.

I love that about you. And I'm just like, wow, that's really good at decision making now, sweetie. 

Christine: But I've had a lot of examples and a lot of people that have, you know, like. guided me and pushed me and and also to, you know, like tuning into a higher power. And you know, like many, many years ago, it's like when I walked into those rooms, like the word God just made me cringe.

And now I don't know what the switch was. But now it's just, I accept it. It is what it is. Sometimes I'll call it God. Sometimes it's just gut feeling. It's just, you know, that 

Host Dora: intuitive. I love that. And you also have a story I'd love if you could touch base with us is, uh, you know, I've been to a couple of your, a few of your celebrations now, your yearly [00:27:00] milestones, uh, there to eat your cake and hear your story.

And, and I mean, you and I have had so many meetings. Before, after, in the middle and outside of the meetings because, you know, we were roomies. So we, we have endless great conversations in depth, a shit ton of laughs. And there's some things that, uh, you know, I can only say to you that I just can't say to others.

And, uh, I, I do miss you too, a lot, Chica. I can't wait to see you in, in January for big January in Mexico. But now I, now I talk. All that. What was like, Oh yes, your story. So coming back to it. Um, You mentioned a little bit about, you know, the higher power and the God. So why don't you tell the listeners how you came to terms or what you used as a higher power how many years ago?

Christine: You know, like I [00:28:00] was listening in the meetings and everybody's talking about their higher power and they're talking about God. And of course, I'm not going to use that word because that was my train of thought. So I went to my sponsor and I'm like, I, I don't understand what these people are talking about.

They're talking about this higher power. I know I don't have it. I'm not tapped into this at all. And she said, well, why don't you go and ask people what their higher power is? And I'm like, you can do that. Like I thought it was so sacred that people would not share that with me and all that. Of course she said, go ask people.

So I would run around meetings and I'd ask people and of course people want to share this shit. Right. So they're willing to talk about it. So, I'm talking with them and you know, it's in one year and it's just like, out it goes, you know, and then I went to my friend Richard's. I'm about six months clean at this time.

I go to my friend Richard's and I'm asking him about his higher power and he goes into big, into depth [00:29:00] about what his higher power is. And of course I squirreled and I'm like gone somewhere else. Like I'm just not even listening to the shit. And then he can see this, you know, like I'm just like out there.

So he says, wait a minute. And he goes into his kid's room and he comes out with a Snoopy doll. And he slaps it on the counter and he goes, okay, this is going to be like a teddy bear or like a Snoopy dog, 

Host Dora: right? Like the Snoopy from the penis. From Charlie Brown. Yes. Okay. Not like Snoop Dogg, the rapper. 

Christine: No, no.

Okay. Okay. So he slaps it on the counter and he goes there, you're going to pray to this morning and night. So I'm like, okay, I think I can do that. So I would put it on my bed and I'm like, okay, Snoop Dogg. And I would just pray to it morning and night. And here is is it's like I to this day still have that Snoop Dogg.

Host Dora: Wow. That's like 30 years old [00:30:00] now. 

Christine: Yeah. Over it to day. It is not my higher power, but it is the symbol of where I was at. my mindset and how I can gauge how far I've come to the decisions where I'm at now. And it still sits on my bed. And every once in a while, I'm like, Morning, Snoop 

Host Dora: Dogg. That was the beginning journey.

I love that story. Because a lot of people struggle with the higher power. They either struggle with the higher power because they grew up in a religious setting and they just do not like what they grew up with or how they witnessed or how they experienced it. So they're against it or they have absolutely.

no concept of God or no learning or nothing. So they're starting from scratch. So it is a hard concept to come over. And I love how yours started, you know, because essentially you are asking [00:31:00] people, how do I find a higher power? What's your higher power? How do I get one? What is it? Because I've heard in meetings, it can be a doorknob.

It can be the, the group itself. It can be the Pacific ocean. It can be whatever you want it to be. But the point is, is that it's not us. You know, we are not doing a good job of running the show when we come into these programs. That's why we were so fucked up. I mean, that's why we need help is because we can't do it on our own anymore.

So it's something better, bigger 

Christine: than us. Well, and this is it too, my sponsor also said to me, she says, do you think you got yourself out of all those situations on your own? And I'm like, yeah. And she's like, uh, uh, no, no. She goes, that was a higher power with you. 

Host Dora: Right. 

Christine: You know, like you did not come out of those situations alive.

You need to tune into that. 

Host Dora: I love that. So [00:32:00] your higher power introduced itself into your life via Uh snoopy dog teddy bear from charlie brown that you still have How has your higher power and now you actually say god and you're okay with that depending on the day How has that evolved? 

How did that evolution look in your life from You the Snoop Dogg intro. 

Christine: Well, I think what happened was all of a sudden, you know, I started to pay attention to my gut. And there is a saying that says we will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. Suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

So, when I do pay attention to that gut, that intuitive, That's God's will. When I go against it, that's my will. And believe me, I go against it. I will try it. I will test it. And I [00:33:00] always revert back to, oh, should have done that. But these are lessons. I mean, like, I refer to them as lessons. I think a lot of people say mistakes.

It's only a mistake if you continue it. 

Host Dora: Right. 

Christine: If you learn from it, it's a lesson. 

Host Dora: Right. This leads me to another question is, where do you, Christine, find God? 

Christine: When I'm here in Mexico, I walk at least 10 kilometers a day. And I just get out there, and I just stumble around and get lost, but then again, how are you getting lost if you don't know where the fuck you're going?

And it's just, stumbling, wandering. Yeah, just wandering. But I just, like, I enjoy just getting lost. around me, the birds, the, the flowers, the murals, [00:34:00] the, and I just, I love sharing that with people as well. You know, like I'll have friends that'll come in and of course they want to stick to the touristy zones.

And I'm like, no, no, no, let's go off the beaten path here and see what we can find. And all these other wonders, you know, like you'd be surprised what is out here. Like every day is a new adventure. And I just like tap into that. I also, too, have kind of like a little Zen cave under my bed here. It's like Under your bed?

Under my bed. Like, 

Host Dora: when you're hiding from the monsters? It's actually, 

Christine: the bed is so high that it actually has doors that opens up and I get in there and I put on my meditation, I burn incense, and I just Tune 

Host Dora: in. Yeah, that sounds like you're gonna drop some acid while you're in there too. No! Tune in and tune out.

Wasn't that a thing back from like the 70s? That was the whole thing of Woodstock was[00:35:00] 

Christine: I don't know, I was still a bit of a kid in the 70s. Oh, okay. But, 

Host Dora: I 80s. So essentially, you, Christine, in your personal journey now, find God off the beaten path, just appreciating nature, wandering. 

Christine: That, and just rocking out to ACDC. I'm not even kidding. A lot 

Host Dora: of people Walking out to ACDC is where you find God?

When you're like, BOOM BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Oh, you're hilarious. 

Christine: I'm so into it. You know, like, I just, like, A lot of people, they, you know, get all zen with the quiet music. It's no, no, no. Let's do some Headbanger. 

Host Dora: Ah, you're one of a kind. I love you so much. All right, sweetie. Well, it has been a pleasure, talking to you on the show, before we wrap this call up, why don't you tell [00:36:00] woman who might be listening to this show, to this podcast that is in a similar scenario.

She's either drinking or drugging or both a lot, and she is attracting the wrong guys. And she's looking around going, I don't want this for me anymore. What do you say to that woman? 

Christine: I would say to that woman. Do yourself a favor, put your hand out, reach out for the help. It's there for the taking. It's like you do not have to do this alone.

And I know from experience that it's very lonely if you're trying to do it by yourself, not knowing what's going on. And I mean, if I can end something, like I didn't understand the 12 step programs at all. And if I could end with this how my sponsor said it to me I said to her why do I even want to do these 12 steps?

What is the [00:37:00] purpose? What's the end result? Why? And she just broke it down for me and I think it makes it really simple and to this day is how I live my life She said to me step one to three will show you how to live with a higher power Four to seven shows you how to live with yourself 8 to 12 shows you how to live with others.

Host Dora: Loves that. Absolutely love that. 

Christine: And that's what works today. For me, I don't need to complicate it. I don't need to make it hard. I just need to go with it, show up, suit up, and just be 

Host Dora: available. I love that and I love you so much. Can't wait to see you. We're gonna start counting down the sleeps pretty soon.

Maybe after Christmas. We're gonna see each other in January and I can't wait to see you again. I can't wait to start. because yeah, the last time I was there, what, what was it? I went from Canada, [00:38:00] like the, I spent the night at your house. Well, I stayed with you. I boarded with you. I got to be your roommate with you again for me on vacation.

And we went on a walk the next day. And didn't I look at my phone? And it was like, my average was like 36, 36 steps a day in Canada. I'm not even kidding, to like 27, 000. Bring dragging your ass around. Yeah, my first day back in Mexico, but I tell you, I loved that. And I love doing that with you. So, if you guys are visiting Mexico, you're visiting Puerto Vallarta, and you need a tour guide.

I'm in. Christine is your gal. She loves getting out, getting off the beaten path, walking around. She knows where all the meetings are at, so. I know where all the meat is. And we're not talking males. I'm talking [00:39:00] food. Yes, we do love our meat. We like our meat. We're not talking men, we're talking meat. Like steak, chicken, meat.

Good old meat. You know, the kind of things that carnivores like. That's us. That's us. Well, good to meet you, Christine.

Can't wait to meet you again. Can't wait to meet you again. Oh my goodness, I love you so much. You always bring laughter, a smile, and joy to my heart. Right back at you. All right, sweetie. 

I hope today's conversation brought you a little closer to hope. Healing or understanding. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe or follow to the show, wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. If this episode brought you comfort and made you feel a little [00:40:00] better inside, please share it with someone who might need that today.

You can follow Soberoso on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for more inspiration and updates. Don't forget, we're here every week with new stories, tips, and topics to help you along the road to healing. Until the next time, I'm your grateful host, Dora. Stay safe, stay sober, and to thine own self be true.