17 Comments
Oct 2, 2022Liked by Valorie Castellanos Clark

Congrats on 150 days! I stopped drinking alcohol on Feb 15, 2020 and used to quietly celebrate the 15th of the month for a while. Maybe I'll get back to that -- I love the idea of a little monthly fresh start.

To my surprise, I don't get asked that often why I don't drink (I'm currently pregnant but obviously the not-drinking predated that by quite a while!) If they do ask, I say, "One day I saw that I could either drink, or have the spiritual and creative life I truly dreamed of, but not both. Once I understood that, it was an easy choice." This is what feels true for me, and it also tends to shut them up. :)

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A monthly fresh start is a really nice routine to cultivate! I recommend it.

It's funny and strange to me how people ask such a personal question but then don't know what to do with a vulnerable and honest answer. Congrats on two and a half years!

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Oct 2, 2022Liked by Valorie Castellanos Clark

Love this! As someone who used to struggle with alcohol I can totally relate. Did a three year sober stretch and that set me straight. Now I’m doing Sober October, which is so fun! Good for you for taking charge before much worse stuff happened to you!

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Oct 2, 2022Liked by Valorie Castellanos Clark

And my original sober day was May 13! Something bout May!

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Yeah! I don't know if it's the seasons changing or what, but there's something about May.

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Oct 2, 2022Liked by Valorie Castellanos Clark

Congrats on 150 days Val. That’s amazing.

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Thank you! <3

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Oct 2, 2022Liked by Valorie Castellanos Clark

While I'm probably not going to be posting any Writers Notebook style posts this month, on substack or even on my personal site, this very post inspired me to start organizing my notetaking efforts into more of a commonplace book style again. This is something I got away from, so thanks for the nudge to get me better organized with my ideas going forward!

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Of course! I used to do a physical journal that I made more decorative. Maybe I'll get back to that.

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Oct 2, 2022Liked by Valorie Castellanos Clark

May 3 was the day I published my first post on my Substack. I'll keep going if you will. :)

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What a cool coincidence! Love that!

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Oct 2, 2022Liked by Valorie Castellanos Clark

Oh, please check out my Substack - I have a whole section named Vulnerability; maybe that section has a nickname now!

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Oct 2, 2022Liked by Valorie Castellanos Clark

I love bouncing in on a post that completely changes my perspective on my day, on my month, or on my life. This is one of those posts. Thanks. "Aggressively vulnerable" is a term that will be put to good use. Write on!

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Thanks Ric! I'm so glad you got something from this.

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Oct 2, 2022Liked by Valorie Castellanos Clark

150 days. Very good. Huge.

I love the idea of the first of the month as clean-slate; throwing those little-used blankets in the wash, hanging them on the line, in the wind, and later over the clean sheets. Another day to be treasured.

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Thanks Alison! Yeah, I like having several days like this a year, instead of putting so much pressure on January 1.

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Oct 2, 2022Liked by Valorie Castellanos Clark

Yes, I like that thinking!

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