I am 48 years old and started my yoga teacher training last week. I was nervous that I would be the oldest. I’m not, but what I realized is it hardly matters. The women I spent my weekend with are amazing, all ages, all walks of life. We bonded almost immediately. I found myself saying things like, we should start a running club once we’re finished. I haven’t run in years, but I felt inspired by them. One woman wants to run thirty marathons in her thirties. How awesome is that? Another woman, only in her twenties stopped drinking four months ago because she was just tired and a little disgusted with the whole scene. Another woman works for the park service. What I mostly felt during the entire weekend with these women was connection and gratitude.
Then bam, I got hit with vertigo. What the F, really. Could the timing suck more…
I made it through the weekend and most of the week feeling mostly okay with bouts of wicked dizziness. My son and I even ran with Adventure Man (check him out on youtube). Then self pity set in and I started to feel really sorry for myself. And a little panicked about the five more weekends of yoga teacher training that would be very difficult to accomplish with vertigo.
It felt really unfair. Then I realized that it could be so much worse. And it is strangely reassuring that I did not cause my illness. I might feel hungover, but I am not hungover. I did not do this to myself. There is no guilt. In fact, guilt is a feeling that is pretty much gone from my life. Which is amazing because I used to feel it on a regular basis.
I am three weeks away from one year sober. From the outside my life looks that same. From the inside though, my life has changed dramatically. I am steadier, more at peace. I like who I am. Even with vertigo.
You are really wonderful, sober-and-well. 🙂 And such an inspiration. 💛
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Wow, I really appreciate your kind words. Sharing this journey with others keeps me writing.
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You’re so inspiring. Congrats on nearly a year!! You have done so amazingly well. Sorry to hear about the vertigo, that must be awful. But lovely that you got to connect with such awesome women (like yourself!) at the yoga teacher training. And had a run with your son! And yes, it is wonderful when life throws us a curve ball and at least, there is no guilt because you were following your right path. Sending love ❤️ xoxoxo
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Thank you Nadine. You are a kind friend. You inspire me to write even when I feel like I might not have enough to say…even with vertigo:)
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I am newly sober and your blog is really helping me. Thank you!
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I’m so happy you find it helpful. Reading other people’s stories helped me so much, it still does.
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Bravo! Be patient with your process.
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Thank you!!
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God bless you.
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