Today we have Rose. She took her last drink on March 12, 2019.  This is her story. Today's Sponsor: Café RE
Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.  Update on the Alcohol is Sh!t book!  The book is out!  Pick up your copy on Amazon here!  On today's episode Paul talks about Recovery Elevator Bozeman Retreat that took place this past August.  One of the speakers at the retreat was a spiritual teacher that Paul has worked with, Elaine Huang, you can find out more about her here.   And a BIG thank you to the sponsors of the retreat.    SHOW NOTES   [22:20] Paul introduces Rose.    Rose is 37 years old.  She is from New Zealand but is currently living in France.  Rose is a physiotherapist by trade, but her degree is not recognized yet in France so she is teaching English.  She is a newlywed and they have a 3-year-old son.  For fun Rose likes to cook, sing, be outdoors, and go to gigs.      [25:20] Give us a background on your drinking.   Rose started drinking as a teenager.  She says she grew up in a loving family but that everyone was a boozer, that it was normal.    At 18 she went off to university but dropped out after 2 years because it was getting in the way of her drinking.  She moved cities in search of new drinking friends and for the next 5 years was in an abusive relationship.  Rose says she spent a good chunk of her 20's getting out of, and recovering from, that relationship.    Rose then spent time on a friend's large sailing boat and sailed to Fiji, continuing her drinking.  She then went home and started studying to become a physiotherapist.  Rose says she slowed her drinking down while she was studying.    [28:25] What happens next?    Rose got her degree, got a great job in a hospital where she wanted to work.  In 2016 she had her son.  She says after the birth of her son she fell into the 'mommy drinking' culture.  Rose also started to feel like an imposter.  Promoting health at work but doing the very opposite personally.       [32:20] Was there anything in particular that led you to ditch the booze?   Rose says a big part of it was moving to France in 2017.  She found France's drinking culture to be the polar opposite of New Zealand's which made her feel out of place.  Even though she knew she needed to stop her drinking ramped up at the beginning of this year after the death of a close friend.     [35:15] What happened on March 12th?    Rose says she had started to drink during the daytime, when she wasn't on pick-up duty with her son.  She also started smoking cigarettes.  She started feeling guilty about not being present as a parent.  She reached out to an American friend she had met on that sailing ship that was posting about being sober.  This friend led her to Café RE.    [38:50] How did you do it?   Rose says she told her husband, creating some accountability.  Her husband was very supportive.  The removed all the alcohol from the house and Rose declined engagements for a while.  She joined Café RE and jumped in and starting participating and getting involved.    [48:50] How have things changed in an alcohol-free life?   Rose says she's a better mother, she's present.  She has an increase in self-love and self-worth.    [55:05] Rapid Fire Round    

1. What is your favorite alcohol-free drink?

  Pineapple and lime sparkling water.   

1. What are some of your favorite resources in recovery?  

  I loved The Joy of Being Sober book.    I also really love Josh Korda's Dharmapunx podcast.   There is a New Zealand woman named Lotta Dann and she has a book, and blog, by the same name called, Mrs. D is Going Without.   

1. What's on your bucket list now that alcohol isn't part of your life?

  A lot more travel, I love to travel.  To be able to help someone else get sober.   

1. And what parting piece of guidance can you give to listeners?

  Connect, connect with people.  Look for the similarities and not the differences.   

1. You might have a drinking problem if...

  You're drinking wine out of a coffee mug just so the neighbors won't know because it's 11 AM on a Monday.     Resources: Sobriety Tracker iTunes Sobriety Tracker Android Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com   "Recovery Elevator – You took the elevator down, you have to take the stairs back up."