RE 589: The Little ThingsRE 589: The Little Things
Recovery Elevator
Paul shares a nature-focused recovery story and then talks with Brooke from Denver, who explains how years of “normal” drinking gave way to a kinder, alcohol-free life. The conversation centres on fear, self-compassion, community and finding joy in the small details of sober living.
51:13•1 Jun 2026
RE 589: Brooke on The Little Things That Make Sobriety Shine
Episode Overview
- Questioning long-held beliefs about alcohol can start with paying attention to how your body and mind actually feel.
- Early sobriety gets easier when you clear your schedule, rest more, drink water and speak to yourself kindly.
- Tools like box breathing, yoga, prayer and time in nature can calm the nervous system without reaching for a drink.
- Community support, whether through aa-style groups or online spaces, helps counter the fear of being alone without alcohol.
- Seeing sobriety as an invitation to a fuller, more present life can shift the focus from what you’re losing to what becomes possible.
“I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt. I feel more clear in my head space and in my heart space. I feel as though there’s just a lot more possibility.”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? RE 589 of Recovery Elevator turns that question towards the “little things” that make sobriety worth it, with a mix of heart, humour and straight-talking honesty. Host Paul Churchill kicks off by sharing a passage from Christy, a previous guest whose writing for the upcoming book *This Is How We Quit* celebrates tiny moments of presence: watching wind in the trees, birds chatting, a fox in the garden.
It sets the tone for an episode that’s all about how paying attention can quietly transform life after alcohol. Then the focus shifts to Brooke, 55, from Denver, who has a long history of what many would call “normal” drinking — wine after work, social drinks, book club, celebrations and wakes. She explains that she grew up believing alcohol was “a necessary part of living” and used it for stress relief, connection and routine.
Over time, though, her body pushed back with headaches, poor sleep, inflammation and joint pain, and she began to question why something so “normal” felt so wrong.
Brooke talks through her decision to stop, driven less by a dramatic rock bottom and more by exhaustion with the constant mental bargaining: *“Some, but not enough… one tall with just one shot… the endless negotiation.”* She shares how research, functional medicine, faith, therapy and sober literature helped her accept that “there’s nothing good about this” for her health.
You’ll hear how she now leans on breathwork, yoga, prayer, nature, and a local sober mums aa group, plus the idea of “inviting the tiger to tea” — facing fear instead of running from it. Her verdict on sobriety so far?
*“I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt… more clear in my head space and in my heart space… there’s just a lot more possibility.”* If you’re tired of the endless inner debate about drinking, could paying attention to the little things be your next step?
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