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Bittersweet memories
Manage episode 518230272 series 3664710
What if the ache you feel when life moves on isn’t a problem to fix, but a compass pointing you back to what matters? That question sits at the heart of this solo story from Meg, where nostalgia, fear of loss, and the bittersweet nature of change collide with the choice to live fully—without alcohol.
We trace the hidden logic that once drove her to drink: the unbearable awareness that moments pass, kids grow up, and chapters close. Meg shares how a lifelong love of photographs turned into a paradox—chasing memories while missing the moment—and how blackouts stole the very days she wanted to keep. A chance encounter with Brene Brown’s Atlas of the Heart provided a vocabulary for bittersweet and nostalgia, helping her see that memory often edits out the hard parts. By reframing the past and naming feelings accurately, she found room to breathe in the present.
From there, the conversation turns practical. Meg walks through the exact tools that keep her alcohol-free: treating cravings as signals, asking “what do I need right now,” choosing connection over isolation, moving her body to regulate stress, and gently updating old beliefs that say the best is behind her. Teaching her youngest to drive becomes a vivid example of the shift—from anxiety and grief to gratitude and presence—one breath and one moment at a time. The result is a grounded kind of freedom: clear mornings, real memories, and confidence to face change without numbing.
If you’ve ever felt pulled between longing and living, this story offers language, structure, and hope. Hear how to honor the past without getting stuck there, create memories you’ll actually remember, and build a sober life that can hold all your feelings. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help others find these tools. Your next present moment is waiting—come join us.
Contact Us:
https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1
Ali
insta: https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/
Meg
website: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/
insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/
bookclub: https://www.alcoholfreedom.com.au/unwinedbookclub
Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching
Chapters
1. Bittersweet memories (00:00:00)
2. Why I Drank, Why I Quit (00:01:22)
3. Nostalgia, Photos, And Lost Moments (00:02:19)
4. Bittersweet Defined: Atlas Of The Heart (00:04:38)
5. The Unbearable Awareness Of Passing Time (00:06:04)
6. From Numbing To Participating In Life (00:08:11)
7. Reframing Memory And The Past (00:11:23)
8. Safety, Childhood Homes, And Mythmaking (00:13:17)
9. Using Triggers As Signals, Not Drinks (00:15:56)
14 episodes
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