“Everyone has a story or a struggle that will break your heart. And if we’re really paying attention, most people have a story that will bring us to our knees”. Brene Brown shared this quote in a 2018 article. The other part of this truth is that sharing our stories can help us heal.
I recently sat down with a new friend, certified recovery coach Jessica Duenas. Jessica offers writing and reading workshops to help those in recovery learn to tell their own story. She believes that storytelling is a way to help us heal and process our recovery journey. Jessica has her own healing story; she was the Kentucky State Teacher of The Year in 2019, but she was living a double life. Her alcohol addiction had become life-threatening, and she ended up in rehab multiple times in 2020.
Her ‘break-free’ moment came when she wrote a story for the local paper sharing her alcohol-use disorder with the public for the first time. Jessica admits it was a vulnerable move. She was unsure of how her story would be received and realized that, finally, it didn’t matter what anyone else thought, it was time to share her truth.
That article, written in October 2020, when Jessica was only a few weeks into her recovery, became a viral sensation. The story was picked up everywhere and Jessica appeared on CBS Evening News, NPR and Red Table Talk. Telling her story created the accountability and vulnerability Jessica needed to create lasting change. She is now 3.5 years sober, a recovery coach and a lighthouse for women seeking change.
In her 6-week program, Writing to Heal, Jessica teaches you how to tap into your deepest self to write about unspoken parts of your life that deserve to be freed. She stresses that being in recovery is not a requirement. This course is open to anyone with a story to tell and a heart ready to mend.
To hear Jessica’s story in her own words and to find out more about the work she does, *please listen to our podcast – recovery is open to all, and, in many different forms. *this episode touches on suicide and suicidal ideation
Find out more about ‘Writing To Heal’ HERE and learn how to tap into your deepest self to write about unspoken parts of your life that deserve to be freed.
Childless Not By Choice: if you are struggling with Mother’s Day this year, my friend and colleague Maureen Benkovich is offering a special call to support women. You can find out more and register to attend HERE
