Ever wondered if fun and sobriety can coexist? In this episode of Recovery Elevator, Paul Churchill chats with Fanny, a 39-year-old from Wilmington, NC, who has been alcohol-free since February 3rd, 2021. Fanny shares her journey to sobriety, highlighting how quitting alcohol opened up a world of possibilities she never imagined. From early morning walks with her dogs to discovering a love for hot yoga, Fanny’s life has transformed in the most unexpected and delightful ways.

She talks about her newfound appreciation for nature and the simple joys that make life worth living. Paul also touches on the importance of having fun in sobriety, urging listeners to rediscover their playful side and not take life too seriously. He shares an amusing anecdote about his wife calling him a three-year-old, which he took as a compliment. The episode is peppered with humour and heartfelt moments, making it an engaging listen for anyone on their own recovery journey.

Paul also mentions the upcoming Recovery Elevator trip to Peru in 2025, where participants will hike the Inca Trail and partake in service projects. This episode is a reminder that sobriety isn’t just about saying no to alcohol but saying yes to a fuller, more joyful life. So why not tune in and see how fun can be your best ally in recovery?

Fanny shares her journey to sobriety and how quitting alcohol opened up a world of possibilities. Discover how fun can be your best ally in recovery.

Sobriety and Fun: Rediscovering Joy with Fanny

Episode 508 – Your Job is to Have Fun   Today we have Fanny. She is 39 years old and lives in Wilmington, NC. She took her last drink on February 3rd, 2021.   Recovery Elevator is going back to <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/peru-2025/">Peru in October 2025</a>. On this 10-night, 11-day trip of a lifetime, we will be hiking the Inca Trail and participating in two service projects. Registration opens January 13th and closes May 30th in order to secure tickets to the Inca Trail.   Sponsors for this episode:   <a href= "https://www.betterhelp.com/get-started/?go=true&slug=elevator&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=2687&utm_term=elevator&promo_code=elevator&landing_page_img=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FqYHezjI.jpg&aff_channel=podcast&discount_rate=10&discount_period=P1M&date_interval=P1M&percentage_off=10&amount=1&amount_spelled_out=one&unit=month&gor=start"> Better Help</a>  - code ELEVATOR for 10% off of your first month   <a href= "https://www.soberlink.com/partners/recovery-elevator"> Sober Link</a> - $50 off of device using this link   [01:43] Intro:   Better Rhodes recently sent Paul a couple of drinks to sample, and he shares that they were all fantastic. Gone are the days when O’Doul’s was the only alcohol-free option around.  Paul says his favorite was Hiyo.   <a href= "https://www.betterrhodes.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=(_campaign)&utm_term=(_adgroup)&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8--2BhCHARIsAF_w1gwvstkc7AVLqKPf8921mU5qJJBZzbMg3mSu_VOdnNVOo6uwUTsIBowaAj9HEALw_wcB"> Better Rhodes</a> – code RECOVERYELEVATOR15   [04:05] More thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares an article called <a href= "https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/benefits-of-play-for-adults"> Benefits of Play for Adults</a> that shares the importance of being playful as adults. Remember that as a child, you were naturally playful without alcohol. Somewhere along the way we forget how to be playful and then we link alcohol with having fun.   This is great news for healing. Just like some of us have goals to hit a certain amount of steps in our day, you should aim to have at least a certain amount of laughs. Laughter is the best medicine and some of the side effects may be a boost to your immune system, release of endorphins, reduction of stress and anxiety and improvement of mood.   Your job, listeners, is to have fun. The healing pathway will contain challenges, but overall, it cannot be more stressful or boring than when you were drinking. You need to have fun and please don’t take yourself too seriously at any moment on this journey.   [09:48] Paul introduces Fanny:   Fanny has lived in NC most of her life and recently proposed to her fiancé who she plans to marry in March. For her profession, she says it’s all things food. Recipe developer, food writer and content creator. For fun, Fanny enjoys outside activities such as biking, hiking and walking her dogs.   During high school and college, Fanny says she drank like any other college kid and always enjoyed a party. Over time, Fanny found herself using alcohol to push down negativity and some lingering questions about her sexuality.   When Fanny moved to California for a while, she said drinking was fun again. She says she learned a lot about herself there including that she didn’t want to be an actress, her real passion was food, and she found herself wanting to return to North Carolina.   After moving back, Fanny met someone, and they eventually married. Drinking was a big part of their lifestyle. They moved to Illinois for his job right before the pandemic and found themselves isolated without family and friends. Fanny says the drinking ramped up and there were some incidents that gave her a lot of guilt and shame. They eventually divorced and Fanny moved back to NC.   Fanny started a relationship with a friend from college who expressed their concerns over drinking because their ex had an issue. Fanny assured her that she was not like she was in college. After a two-day bender, it was Fanny’s girlfriend that helped her call her parents and get some help. Fanny was able to find a rehab in Western NC with the help of her therapist.   Fanny says the first few days were tough, but eventually she settled in and became a sponge trying to learn everything about the addiction. Through her rehab she was exposed to several different recovery modalities and found she enjoys Recovery Dharma the most. She really identifies and enjoys the Buddhist perspective on recovery.   Recovery Elevator We took the elevator down; we got to take the stairs back up. We can do this.     <a href= "https://www.cafe-re.org/alcohol-free-community/"> Café RE</a>  - promo code OPPORTUNITY waives the set up fee <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/merch/">RE merch</a> <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuWac9dxkn3J93xJOka3L2g"> Recovery Elevator YouTube</a> <a href= "https://appsto.re/us/z8w_5.i">Sobriety Tracker iTunes </a>

RE 508: Your Job is to Have Fun

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It isn't a NO to alcohol, but a YES to a better life!  Best selling author Paul Churchill, along with Kristopher Oyen interview people who have stepped away from alcohol in their own lives. Each week this podcast does a deep dive into an exploration of what a booze free life might look like from various perspectives and opinions. 

If you are sick and tired of alcohol making you sick and tired, we invite you to listen to Recovery Elevator. Check out what an alcohol free life can look like as others share their own stories of sobriety. If you are sober curious, newly sober, supporting a loved one or living your best life already in recovery, then you are in the right place.

This podcast addresses what to do if you’re addicted to alcohol, or if you think you’re an alcoholic. Other topics include, does moderate drinking work, does addiction serve a purpose, what happens to the brain when we quit drinking, should you track sobriety time, is A.A. right for you, spirituality, and more. 

Similar to other recovery podcasts like This Naked Mind, the Shair Podcast, and the Recovered Podcast, Paul and Kris discuss a topic and then interview someone who has ditched the booze.

Recovery Elevator

Ever wondered if fun and sobriety can coexist? In this episode of Recovery Elevator, Paul Churchill chats with Fanny, a 39-year-old from Wilmington, NC, who has been alcohol-free since February 3rd, 2021. Fanny shares her journey to sobriety, highlighting how quitting alcohol opened up a world of possibilities she never imagined. From early morning walks with her dogs to discovering a love for hot yoga, Fanny’s life has transformed in the most unexpected and delightful ways.She talks about her newfound appreciation for nature and the simple joys that make life worth living. Paul also touches on the importance of having fun in sobriety, urging listeners to rediscover their playful side and not take life too seriously. He shares an amusing anecdote about his wife calling him a three-year-old, which he took as a compliment. The episode is peppered with humour and heartfelt moments, making it an engaging listen for anyone on their own recovery journey.Paul also mentions the upcoming Recovery Elevator trip to Peru in 2025, where participants will hike the Inca Trail and partake in service projects. This episode is a reminder that sobriety isn’t just about saying no to alcohol but saying yes to a fuller, more joyful life. So why not tune in and see how fun can be your best ally in recovery?

Paul Churchill

Paul Churchill

RE 508: Your Job is to Have Fun

RE 508: Your Job is to Have Fun

RE 508: Your Job is to Have Fun

Monday 11th November 2024

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Recovery Elevator

Sobriety and Fun: Rediscovering Joy with Fanny

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