Episode 685: Nobody Told Us They’d Fly Away — Halloween and the Empty NestEpisode 685: Nobody Told Us They’d Fly Away — Halloween and the Empty Nest
Busy Living Sober with Host Elizabeth Chance
Elizabeth “Bizzy” Chance reflects on facing Halloween and the holiday season as an empty nester while staying sober and grounded in faith. She talks about grief, quiet evenings, new hobbies and the importance of love, community and voting during changing times.
16:48•27 Oct 2026
Halloween, Empty Nests and Sobriety: Bizzy Chance on Quiet Houses and New Beginnings
Episode Overview
- The first holidays as an empty nester can feel shockingly quiet, bringing up grief and loneliness alongside relief.
- Focusing on the present, rather than replaying the past or worrying about the future, helps ease the pain of change.
- Faith and trust in God, as reflected in Psalm 57, can provide comfort and a sense of protection during emotional transitions.
- Empty-nest years offer a chance to rediscover creativity, hobbies and friendships that were sidelined during intense parenting years.
- Voting and engaging with civic life are framed as important responsibilities, even when the wider world feels chaotic and uncertain.
“Before you know it, they're going to have flown away.”
What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction? This conversation with Elizabeth “Bizzy” Chance zooms in on a quieter, more emotional chapter: Halloween as an empty nester, while staying sober and sane. Bizzy talks honestly about waking up to a silent house during what used to be one of the loudest, sugar-fuelled weeks of the year.
No costumes to sew, no carpool logistics, no kids asking, “Mum, where’s my mask?” Just her, the quiet, and a wave of unexpected sadness. She shares, “I didn't know to embrace every moment… before you know it, they're going to have flown away.” This episode speaks straight to mums and dads in recovery who suddenly find themselves with time on their hands and feelings they’d rather not sit with.
Bizzy connects her sense of loss with a growing faith, reflecting on Psalm 57 and the idea that “God has us no matter what under his wing,” and how that trust has deepened over twenty years of sobriety. You’ll hear about small but powerful shifts: turning lonely evenings into chances to dream again, booking visits with friends, and saying yes to new hobbies like pottery, music, or even Tuesday mahjong.
The message is clear: those years of chicken dinners and costume panic weren’t the end of the story. Bizzy also shares strong views on voting, community safety and looking at the bigger picture, using her trademark mix of straight talk and heart. Through it all, she comes back to one theme: “Feelings aren’t facts” and love matters more than tearing each other down.
If you’re sober, newly sober, or just feeling the sting of an empty nest, this episode offers comfort, gentle humour and a reminder that you’re far more than the ‘mum’ box on a doctor’s form. What new chapter might you write with this extra space in your life?
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