back to basics (erin jean warde)

I’m going back to basics. I miss how I felt in early recovery, so it’s time to go back to the practices, priorities, and mindset that helped me feel that way.

back to basics

It’s not a secret to this community that the past few months — all the way back to December — have been rough for me. It’s been an intense season of grief, which I’m still journeying with, not to mention a book release in April and a move in July. It’s. Been. A lot. And let’s be honest, with the pandemic, the years leading up to this season of my life were challenging as well. In the tumult, I lost track of a lot of the rituals that nourish my soul and self-care practices that support my body, which come together to center me.

In November, I will celebrate 5 years of sobriety. Quitting drinking alcohol very obviously changed my life in ways I try to explain, while knowing words don’t do the awakening justice. Almost 5 years later, there’s a huge part of me that misses early recovery. I miss how deeply I cared for myself. Maybe most of all, I miss how good I felt. (I still feel good, believe me, but there’s something missing…)

When it came to quitting drinking, I spent months upon months wanting to quit, but struggling to do so. But, I eventually hit a point when I knew it was time. Something shifted. I didn’t move forward perfectly, because perfection doesn’t exist, but the shift was noticeable. I knew it was time.

I’m at a point similarly in my relationship with myself right now, with how deeply I want to care for myself again, how much I want to prioritize the health of my mind, body, and soul.

And I hit a point this week when I knew it was time.

However, even when you know it’s time, you have to figure out how you will move forward, even when you know it won’t be perfect. For the past few months, before I knew it was time, I began to wonder how I would let care become a priority in my life again.

So, I’m going back to basics. I miss how I felt in early recovery, so it’s time to go back to the practices, priorities, and mindset that helped me feel that way. This thought has crossed my mind a few times — you need to go back to basics because you know it helped — but it wasn’t time. Now, I’ve felt the shift, I know it’s time, I know the way to go, and I don’t expect to go there perfectly.

Out of a spirit of accountability, I’ll be sharing my journey back to basics with the paid community here on Substack, starting in September. This journey will be our programming for the fall, in lieu of a book study. I’ll be focusing on different practices and ways of thinking about my recovery that helped the first time, which I will be practicing once again. Each month will have a focus and I’ll continue to share with y’all each week (with the occasional week off if life demands). More so than ever before, we’ll be journeying through really practical ways to change how we cope, because guess what — that’s the journey I’m beginning again.

You can expect something along the lines of:

• setting up morning and evening rituals

• bullet journal ideas for tracking & goal setting

• affirmation practices

• building a First Aid Kit to support myself when I’m struggling and need to cope

• how I’m trying to practice sleep hygiene

• my relationship with my phone (it just always comes up I can’t help it lol)

• joy practices

• what I’m doing when I’ve got an itch to numb out, feel triggered, etc.

• how I’m trying to sit with my challenges

• how it’s going (it won’t be perfect, you know!)

• lots of sharing different resources that are working for me (you can take what works and leave the rest)

• … and more

If you’re in this same space — desiring change in your day to day habits and self-care — I hope you’ll join us this fall (September through end of December) in the paid community, as we journey through this together. I’m so excited about working through this in my personal life and sharing this experience, as well as what I learned getting sober 5 years ago, with this community.

Don’t worry, these free weekly dispatches continue, and I can already tell you that this journey will shape how I share with the whole community as well. The paid community will just have a focus and a deep dive. And, as always, if you think this could be helpful for you but you can’t afford a subscription, reach out and let’s figure it out. I always want my work to find the people who seek it, such that money doesn’t withhold care. <3

I help people do this exact work in their lives, but I do so out of the knowledge that I need to do this work in my life, too. I don’t have it figured out; I’m forever in progress. I’m excited to dive back into care for myself, because I love witnessing others care for themselves. It’s time for me to witness that beauty in myself.

With love & care,
EJW

september events

Soul Care: A Holistic Approach to Self-Care — September 8-10 (Saint Paul’s Waco)
I’m thrilled to be leading the women’s retreat with Saint Paul’s Waco, one of the many churches I have called home. I can’t wait! If you’re one of my Saint Paul’s followers, please sign up, as I’d love to see you! <3

Sober Spirituality Book Club — begins September 11 (Justice Unbound)
Join Justice Unbound beginning September 11th for the first Unbound Book Club! For 11 weeks, we will journey with Sober Spirituality: The Joy of a Mindful Relationship with Alcohol. Each week we will read a chapter and through Unbound socials engage in questions and share as we feel called. Purchase the book at your local book store or check it out at libraries! (If they do not carry the book, request it!) Follow Justice Unbound on Instagram — @justiceunbound — to participate!

Discerning Sobriety: Explore mindfulness, sobriety, and spirituality — September 15-16 (Franciscan Spirituality Center)

I’m so excited to be leading this IN PERSON retreat at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin! If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll visit. What a joy it will be to journey with these lovely people.

Sober Spirituality Book Event — September 20 (St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Oklahoma City)
I’m beyond thrilled to be back in Oklahoma to talk about Sober Spirituality! If you’re one of my Oklahoma beloveds, I hope you’ll come hang out with us at St. Paul’s Cathedral!

recovery coaching

If you’re seeking support around changing your relationship with alcohol, I’d love to work with you as your coach!

Recovery coaching provides empathy, practical support, and encouragement as you change your relationship with alcohol or quit drinking. We dig into what is motivational and demotivational for you, so I can help you stay motivated along the path. We will focus on setting achievable goals, removing failure as an option, accountability, recovery techniques, and more to help you change your relationship with alcohol.

Coaching with me means crafting a journey that is unique to you and your life, because the only way we can change our drinking is through support that is unique to our real lives! Sign up today or reach out with questions below. :)