Daily tales of the Sober Tea Totaler!

Please grab a cup of tea and join me for my daily tale of how I've been in recovery for over a year now, finally!!

A lot has become much clearer over the past year with my recovery.  I finally understand what it means to recover myself.  I've been lost.  Didn't really know myself as I had been molded by other people.  Told what to do, when to do it and how to do it.  

Funnily, I've been on my spiritual journey for many years.  I stumbled upon dearly departed Wayne Dyer's books in the early 1990's.  He became my mentor along with the very popular Eckhart Tolle.  In the meantime, I was completely immersing myself in wine. 

Instead of recovering myself, I dosed myself to numb out how I was feeling.  We are the baby boomers and grew up in the 1950's and 60's.  Canadian families were able to enjoy abundant lifestyles and this meant, a lot of alcohol in some cases, such as mine.  We didn't talk about feelings.  Parents motto was "children should be seen and not heard."  We towed the line but had very little supervision and lived a feral childhood.  Dad was a logger and gone most of the time, leaving poor Mom with three, quite rambunctious daughters.  This was during time when stay at home mothers had what they called " mothers' little helpers" or in other words, speed! 

I started drinking about 12 years old and believe I became an alcoholic in high school.  The teaching staff deemed me as "university material" but I didn't have a mentor and very little family support, so I really struggled.  As well, I spent all my free time either working at my part-time job or drinking.  Studies took a back seat.

I'll be back with more stories of how I've finally started to recover myself. xxx Cath

Daily Tales of the Sober Tea -Totaler

It's already September.  The year of the fire horse is racing ahead.  We had some much-needed rain and now the sun is shining.  I love fall weather.

I celebrated my one year of sobriety on August 22!   My body is feeling so good.  The inflammation in my legs is gone.  I was suffering from extreme leg cramps and they've dissipated. My face is looking much more youthful.  Granted, I've put on some extra pounds because sadly, sweet things have slightly replaced the alcohol but I'm hoping to get that under control.

The most important thing about being sober is I've found my peace.  After all these years, peace has come into my life and its a beautiful thing.

I don't have go out much to events that serve Alcohol and so that isn't really a trigger for me.  Tonight, I was watching weddings on Instagram and for a moment, was carried away thinking about good the alcohol looked.  I cannot just have one or maybe two drinks once in a while.  I've tried drinking in moderation and it doesn't work for me.

Anyhow, here's to me for one full year without alcohol and to many more to come.  If I can do it, you can to! 

 

Daily Tales of the Sober Tea-totaler

 In 2021, I joined an on-line recovery group called "Women for Sobriety".  I managed to quit alcohol for six months.  I'll be referring to alcohol as AL in my posts.  I remember thinking when I started again, "I'll just have one or two!"  Didn't happen.  Finally, in late August 2025, I had my last drink and, in a few days, will celebrate my sobriety of one year.  I honestly can't believe a whole year has gone by but I'm really proud of myself.  This has something I've tried to do for years. 

Women For Sobriety was started by Dr. Jean Kilpatrick in 1975 and is based on The New Life program along with 13 Acceptance Statements.  It's based out of the United States with a few Canadian women involved.  There is incredible support with zoom meetings, groups, including the Newbies with our incredible leader, Queen Bee!!  

I'm sharing this because I'd really like to make some connections with other women who are on this recovery journey.  I was thinking the other day about the stigma with telling family/friends, I've quit drinking!  Right away, it's assumed that I have a problem!  In truth, that's right but the big reason I'm not in biding is for my health.  Sadly, I saw AL completely take out members of my family.  Health is our wealth and AL steals our health from us.

If you happen to read this post, please reach out!  I'd love to hear how you're doing on your road to better health with Al involved or it you're trying to quit and don't have any resources.

The Sober Teatotaler (When the Universe Throws a Curve Ball!)

  In the past, when the Universe threw me a curve ball, I would turn to the bottle.  Growing up, many years ago, sadly, I didn't have a mentor to show me how to regulate my emotions/nervous system.  Born in the fifties, just after the Second World war, we were taught to just soldier on.  Children were seen and not heard.  On top of it, my family was consumed with alcohol, so I started imbibing at about the age of 12, maybe sooner.  I was the oldest in the family and was responsible for the care of my two younger sisters. My first job was babysitting, and I would look after the children that my parents were going out partying with.

What I started to say, was, recently I have been thrown a curve ball but I'm still sober.  Drinking would not be helpful right now and probably make it worse.  It's also helped me to see that I am not a victim.

The Sober Teatotaler! July 2026

Hi my Teatotaler friends!! Great to talk to you today!  Please find yourself a cup of your favorite tea and join me for a chat!

I'm celebrating as I approach one full year of sobriety!  Pinching myself because I didn't think I'd be able to do it, but I did it!! 

I'm thanking the wonderful on-line, women only, support group called Women for Sobriety.  I originally joined in 2021. I managed to stay sober for 6 months and relapsed.  Rejoined August 22, 2025, and haven't looked back.  WFS, is very supportive with on-line zoom meetings every day as well as groups.  I committed to pledging every day and have done so with only a few misses.  Pledging keeps me accountable.  

The Sober Teatotaler

Hello my Sober Teatotaler friends! Happy to see you today!  I drew two cards from my deck today!  Sadly, I'll have to look up the designer!  I love this deck and when I find out who made it, I'll let you know!  Enjoy the cards and let me know what messages they bring to you!  Sorry about the photo quality! I hope to improve because I'm just starting out here! Have a cup of tea on me today! Lots of love! xxx

The Sober Teatotaler

Hi my sober teatotaler friends! Please grab a cup of your favorite tea and join me as I celebrate 11 months of sobriety. 

This is the lemon pie I made to comenerate this milestone! It's been years in coming!

Sobriety is the best!❤️

The Sober TeaTotaler!

July 7, 2026

 I'm 322 days sober.  Haven't taken a drop in all these days.  Feeling proud of myself.  It's been a long time coming.  Sadly, I've lost two family members from alcohol abuse that led to cancer.  It's a wake up call.  The other thing is, I'm not getting any younger.  Thankfully, I've been blessed with fairly good health but seriously, getting elderly is staring me in the face.  

I've admitted to have "life-threatening problem that once had me.  I now take charge of my life and well-being.  I accept the responsibility." 

July 2026 The Sober Teetotaler

Get yourself a cuppa coffee/tea or anything else and join me!

It's really hard to know where to start because it's a very long story.  So, I'll just start.  I'm in life review as I enjoy my seventy second year around the sun.  I'm an Aquarian and have followed astrology for a long time.  This is my year of the Fire Horse.  We've already burned through half a year! 

This is the first sober year I've ever had.  I think? Trying to remember, so long ago.   I've gone fairly long stints of being alcohol free, but this is the longest time.

Today I was reading comments from sober people, and it was wonderful to see how very well everyone is feeling.  Some people believe that alcohol calms our nervous system down and relaxes us but in fact, it makes us more anxious.  They commented about not waking up sick with a hangover, sleeping better, more regulated nervous system and the pride we feel as we beat down the sober days, weeks, months and years!

I joined a fantastic on-line women's group called "Women For Sobriety" first in 2021 when I managed to stay sober for six months.  Fell of the wagon and decided in August 2025, I was quitting for good. WFS has been an incredible resource with lots of Zoom meetings and groups to join! I honestly can't say enough about it.  It originated in the United States and currently most women are from there.  I would love to start an in-person meeting in my town, but I'll have to see.  I would like to meet some new women who are in recovery, like me!

 

The Sober Teatotaler!

I just looked up some words to describe "sobriety" and teetotaler popped up first!!  Funnily, this word has come into view a few times so this is what I'm calling my blog!! THE SOBER TEATOTALER!!

I had my last drink on August 22, 2025, so I'm heading towards 10 months and getting close to a year without alcohol!  This has been a very long journey with spells of not consuming at all to completely over doing it!  I'm actually pretty bowled over that I'm doing this!!

Luckily, I found an internet site called "Women for Sobriety" (WFS) and it's been my lifeline.  I originally joined WFS back in 2021, when I managed to maintain sobriety for 6 months.  I fell completely off the wagon until last August when I decided, enough is enough!

I'll talk more about my relationship with WFS in my next post but I wanted to introduce you to my new blog, one which I feel very strongly about and hope I can help some other people out with their sobriety journey.  Stay tuned my sober friends!! xxx

  

Indian Music

2020 Year End Forecast with Kaypacha, Rick Levine

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The Bohemian Keto Lifestyle

In late August, 2017 I began to prepare for a "sugar free" September.  This was huge because I love sweet stuff.  As well, I made a commitment  to go low carbohydrate again.  I'd quit the white pasta, rice and flour about a year ago but fell off the wagon.  During the time I didn't consume all of those carbs I had lost some weight and felt good but unfortunately didn't stick with it.

This time, I've managed to stay on course, with a small deviation at Christmas.  I have healed the inflammation that was starting in my Achilles heel, lost inches and gained energy. 

I practice Intermittent Fasting which means I don't eat from 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 a.m the next day.  I know the experts say we should never miss breakfast.  The three days I get up really early to work, I eat breakfast.  The other four days I do the fasting.  This works for me because I am not a breakfast person.  I just don't feel hungry.  On the topic of hunger, this Way of Eating works.  Once you get over the craving for sugar and carbohydrates you really don't feel that hunger.  It's very interesting. 

There's lots of information in regard to Keto diets and Low Carb eating plans.  If you are so inclined, check out Diet Doctor that has free information and you can pay to subscribe.  My favorite cook book writer is Maria Emmerich.

This is a lifestyle change for me.  I sabotage myself when it comes to scales so I don't weigh myself.  I just go by how my clothes fit.  #keto

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This Incredible Life

Lately, I am just very grateful to live where I do.  This is my view from my living room window taken about two years ago.  When I look out, all I see is ocean, trees and mountains.  Nothing else.  It was my dream to come and live here and I've made it happen.  So grateful for everything.

Cars and Mechanics

So.....I seem to be the one that the mechanics see coming and right away they think.....dollar signs!  I took the car in for an oil change.  They said they  checked the fluids ect. and gave me a list of things that would need looking after.  The most important thing was the rear brakes.  Apparently, they only had about 30% left on them and I was told they should be done soon.  The quote for that was $299.00.  Luckily for me, I have a mobile mechanic who I called.  I picked up the brake parts I would need for $30.00 and scheduled an appointment.  Later that week I dropped off my car and told him to call if there were any problems.  I soon got a call from him saying the brakes were just fine, hardly used and didn't need to be replaced.  Wow, if I had gotten the other outfit to do them, it would have been very costly and not even needed.  I just dread going to repair shops because they just seem me coming!!!  Thank goodness it was a good outcome!