"This was a T-intersection. This was not a crossroads. If I carried on drinking, I knew exactly where I was going to go." Louise A. shares her story of reluctant participation in the recovery process. It took some time for her to accept that she was like the other people in the meetings that she'd been attending. "It was like waking up on a rollercoaster every single day," she says. "Full speed. Strapped in. Tied down. Unable to do anything or think about anything until it stopped." Now Louise sees those meetings as "a place where we are able to practice being ourselves" and explore what it feels like to live more authentically.

In this powerful episode of the Confident Sober Women podcast, host Shelby John welcomes Louise Atthey, sobriety coach and team member at The Luckiest Club. With nearly 16 years of sobriety, Louise shares her journey from rock bottom to spiritual awakening and how surrendering to a higher power transformed her recovery.

Ever wonder if alcohol is holding you back? Have you struggled to quit or control your drinking? Do you compare yourself to other drinkers and tell yourself “It’s not that bad"? Curious what might change if you were alcohol free? Or maybe someone you love is struggling with alcohol, and you long for insight to better understand and support them.

The contributors to this book asked ourselves these questions too. We are real people, perhaps just like you, with diverse, successful careers, personal passions, active families, and countless responsibilities. We learned to say no to alcohol and yes to freedom; a better, brighter, and more meaningful life.

The decision to live alcohol-free is not an easy one. In fact, for many of us it is the hardest thing we’ve ever done. We wanted a book like this when we were struggling, curious, flustered, and uneasy. Here, you'll find heartfelt truthful answers to your questions and perhaps other questions you might be too afraid to ask.

We get it. We've been there. Through our compelling, enlightening, and empowering stories, discover why choosing to live alcohol-free is The Best Decision We Ever Made.