#109 – Jewels: The Making of a Woman

#109 – Jewels: The Making of a Woman

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? Recovery Survey brings that question to life through a raw, honest chat between host Brett Morris and his guest, Jules, author of the memoir *The Making of a Woman*. Jules shares how her story began in a small Midwestern town in the 70s, with an alcoholic but loving father whose drunken breakdown led to a terrifying family suicide attempt.

From there, things spiralled into more trauma: sexual and verbal abuse in a new household, constant moving, and a school counsellor nudging her towards a GED at just 14. Overnight, she was technically an “adult” with child-level coping skills. Alcohol quickly became, as she puts it, "my band-aid that kept all of that contained". For 19 years she drifted through relationships, constantly changing herself to fit in, all while anger, fear and shame simmered under the surface.

At 35, a casual “we shouldn’t drink so much” to two friends in recovery landed her in a meeting within 30 minutes – and she’s never left. Jules talks openly about early sobriety: being a “hot mess”, not trusting anyone, acting out, and how the quiet kindness of people in recovery kept her coming back. Simple gestures like “Hey, come sit up here with me” felt life-changing and showed her a kind of love she wasn’t used to.

The conversation also touches on writing her book, keeping ego in check, and the idea that sometimes you write the story for yourself first. Brett adds his own reflections on relapse, fellowship, and the motto “practice makes better”, showing how recovery is built one imperfect attempt at a time. If you’re carrying old wounds, questioning your drinking, or just needing proof that messy people can build meaningful lives, this episode might be the nudge you’ve been waiting for.