Imagine trading in nights of blackout drinking for the serene beauty of camping under the stars. That's exactly what Weston did, and in this episode of Recovery Elevator, he shares his inspiring story. Weston, who has been sober for over three years, recounts his transformation from a life overshadowed by alcohol to one filled with the joys of nature and outdoor adventures.

Hosts Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen sit down with Weston to discuss his journey, the pivotal moments that led to his sobriety, and the newfound appreciation he has for life's simple pleasures. They delve into the importance of having a higher power in recovery, the challenges faced in early sobriety, and the sheer joy of waking up to the sounds of nature rather than a hangover.

Weston's tale is not just about quitting alcohol; it's about rediscovering life's beauty and embracing new experiences. Whether you're contemplating sobriety or already on your journey, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what it means to live an alcohol-free life. Tune in to hear how Weston swapped booze for breathtaking mountain views and found peace in the great outdoors.

Hear Weston on Recovery Elevator as he shares his transformation from blackout drinker to sober camper, finding joy in nature and sobriety.

Weston's Sobriety Journey: From Blackouts to Mountain Adventures

<h3>Westin, with over 3 years of sobriety shares how he did it.</h3> <h3>Some of my best memories are those of camping with my family in Southern Utah. Camping growing up used to consist of fishing, catching lizards and snakes, watching the sunrise and sunsets.</h3> It was a simple and joyous time that I spent with my family. These are fond memories. But, somewhere along the line, my camping experiences diminished, the joy of spending time in nature was replaced with Hot Dogs, Booze and Passing Out. Last weekend, I was camping with Ben (my partner in crime, my four-footed friend), we had called it a night and crawled into the back of my truck in the woods of Montana. Now, these are real woods, mountain lions, grizzlies, etc. Nature is not to be taken for granted around here. Suddenly, around 2am, I awoke to Ben’s perked ears and sounds of snapping branches. The sounds grew louder as whatever was roaming the woods got closer… I reached for my headlamp… And... GOATS! Rocky Mountain Goats, a herd of them… Now, if I had been camping with Hot Dogs and Booze I would have been PASSED OUT (probably face down in a pile of biting red ants at that!) and would never have experienced this beauty, this joy. The Goats brought me out of the truck where I was then able to see the expansiveness of the sky and the stars and experience the cooling sensations of the pine trees. Nothing needed to change. I didn’t need to drink a Keystone Light or 50 of them… I am now getting back my memories and creating new memories that are more than just a party. Memories such as this that fill me up with satisfaction, connection, and awe.   AND NOW… onto the podcast!   <h2>SHOW NOTES</h2> Paul Introduces Westin Westin is from Indianapolis, Indiana. He is 33, has been married for 7 years, and has an amazing little girl who is turning 4 in September. “She is the most important thing in my life alongside my sobriety.” Westin works at an addiction treatment center as a “Recovery Coach.”   How long have you been sober? Westin has been sober for 2 years and 363 days, he is 2 days away from 3 years of sobriety! “Right now I’m in a place where I have to count days again. I’m in a weird place where I just have to count.” says Westin on his sobriety.     When did you realize it was time to quit drinking? “My bottom was 3 years ago almost to the date. I woke up face down on my Mom’s couch, not knowing how I got there, and not knowing what happened over the past 24 hours. I was highly addicted to Klonopin and drinking on top of them. I looked up from the couch and just saw this look of utter disappointment on my Mom’s face. It was different. I had unknowingly gone through her medicine cabinet the night before, and found all sorts of pills in my pockets.”   What were your drinking habits? “I was a blackout drinker from the age of 17. I was never trying to control it, I thought it was normal. I was proud of the amount of alcohol I could consume…” “But, I was physically addicted to it… Always struggling with anxiety and shaking. I couldn’t function without that first drink, and then the pills took over.”   What does it mean, when you’re back to counting the days? In the early days of sobriety Westin was counting: 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 1-year sober… Getting those next tokens, proving to himself that he could do this. “I needed the external motivation. From 2-years sober to just now I didn’t count, I didn’t need to, but now, I’m back to counting the individual days. I’ve been referencing my sobriety tracker, and just trying to get through each day. It’s not a comfortable feeling.”   The whole ‘God’ word in AA. That one word kept you from getting sober… Expand on that. Westin discusses his “religious” philosophy and how he made AA work as an agnostic. Westin had been agnostic (without knowledge, an individual who does not claim to say whether God exists or does not exist) most of his life. AA taught Westin to own his agnosticism, his belief system. “I’m now more comfortable being honest and open with who I am, and AA taught me this. I found a way to make my beliefs, or lack thereof, work within the framework of AA.” The gift of desperation allowed Westin to take what works and leave the rest…   How did you do it? (on getting sober) Westin went to a treatment center, <a href="http://www.fairbankscd.org/" target= "_blank">Fairbanks Hospital</a> in Indianapolis. “I looked at my wife and said, I think I need some help with this.”… “We tried to do a walk in, but like a good addict I had just finished the rest of my klonopin refill (half of the prescription), so I had to wait. I went through a 7-day long detox and then a 6-week intensive outpatient treatment.”   What emotions did you feel? “I had anxiety through the roof. Drinking brought about terrible, terrible anxiety… But now, I didn’t have my self medicating procedures in place. I had to face it. My anxiety was peaked out for 6 months. Drinking was not an option.” “That was my first time going into treatment, I had been looking for a solution, and I just kept doing all the things that were recommended to me. I still struggle with social anxiety. I still can’t attend a basketball game or a big social event…”   What is your recovery portfolio like today? “My recovery is inspired by my work, surrounded by people who are on this same journey. I don’t want to be that guy who is physically in shambles and I get to see that every day. I attend a minimum of 2-3 meetings a week. If I’m struggling, I hit the meetings hard.” Westin takes a holistic approach that includes: AA and the 12 steps, eating better, daily physical exercise, and alone time…   <h2>Rapid Fire Round</h2> <ol> <li>What was your worst memory from drinking? “Waking up with the shakes, just yelling out in pain with the convulsion I was feeling in my body.”</li> <li>Did you ever have an “oh-shit” moment? “In retrospect, yes. I was drinking at my Mom’s house, everyone else had gone to bed and I’m up taking shots by myself… She comes downstairs and gives me that look like, “What is wrong with you?!” I was past the point of control.”</li> <li>What is your plan moving forward? “Continue moving forward one day at a time, continue being teachable, and sharing my experiences with others.”</li> <li>What’s your favorite resource in recovery? “Meetings are really, really important along with interactions with recovery podcasts - Recovered Podcast & Beyond Belief - and the recovery community.”</li> <li>What’s the best advice you’ve ever received (on sobriety)? “Take what works and leave the rest.”</li> <li>What parting piece of guidance can you give to our listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? “If I can find a way to make this work, then literally anybody can. Anybody can find a way to make it for them.”</li> </ol>   <h2>QUOTABLES</h2> “I need to get plugged-in, connected back to my recovery network.” - Paul (on being in a recovery rut) “Take what works, and leave the rest.” - Westin You might be an alcoholic if… “You continue to drink once everybody else has been asleep for hours.” “If you are still thirsty at 2am in the morning.” <h2>Resources Mentioned in this Episode</h2> <a href="http://www.recoveryelevator.com/community/" target= "_blank">Connect with Cafe RE</a> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Cafe RE Meetup in Chicago Oct. 14-16 - If you’d like to join us, head over to <a href= "http://www.recoveryelevator.com/community/" target="_blank">Cafe RE</a>!</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">For $12.00 per month, you can unlimited, private access to groups of like-minded people via meetups, private-unsearchable Facebook groups, and travel.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">First month FREE with Promo Code Elevator.</li> </ul> Promo Code: Elevator <a href="http://recoveredcast.com/" target= "_blank">Recovered Podcast</a> <a href="http://www.aabeyondbelief.com/tag/podcast/" target="_blank">Beyond Belief Podcast</a> <a href="http://www.fairbankscd.org/" target= "_blank">Fairbanks Hospital</a>   “We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!” Don’t forget to support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at <a href="http://www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> with the Recovery Elevator link: <a href= "http://www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/" target= "_blank">www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/</a> This episode was brought to you by <a href="http://www.recoveryelevator.com/community/" target= "_blank">Cafe RE</a> and get your <a href= "http://www.transitionsdaily.org/subscribe.html">daily AA email here!</a>

RE 77: I Would Have Missed This

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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

Imagine trading in nights of blackout drinking for the serene beauty of camping under the stars. That's exactly what Weston did, and in this episode of Recovery Elevator, he shares his inspiring story. Weston, who has been sober for over three years, recounts his transformation from a life overshadowed by alcohol to one filled with the joys of nature and outdoor adventures.Hosts Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen sit down with Weston to discuss his journey, the pivotal moments that led to his sobriety, and the newfound appreciation he has for life's simple pleasures. They delve into the importance of having a higher power in recovery, the challenges faced in early sobriety, and the sheer joy of waking up to the sounds of nature rather than a hangover.Weston's tale is not just about quitting alcohol; it's about rediscovering life's beauty and embracing new experiences. Whether you're contemplating sobriety or already on your journey, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what it means to live an alcohol-free life. Tune in to hear how Weston swapped booze for breathtaking mountain views and found peace in the great outdoors.

Paul Churchill

Paul Churchill

RE 77: I Would Have Missed This

RE 77: I Would Have Missed This

RE 77: I Would Have Missed This

Monday 8th August 2016

About this podcast

Recovery Elevator

Weston's Sobriety Journey: From Blackouts to Mountain Adventures