All paths lead to here...
 

I'd been questioning my relationship with alcohol for some time. But since the pandemic, I realised that my drinking had moved beyond the recreational and I was drinking alcohol because I was anxious, sad, scared, menopausal (*delete as appropriate). So, at the end of summer 2021, I decided to go sober for a month. I wanted to change my relationship with alcohol, and I knew I wouldn't succeed through willpower alone. I knew I needed to reprogramme my brain and reframe my thoughts in order to change the habit. 

 

I am now years into the process of habit overhaul and IT HAS BEEN A GAMECHANGER - not only for my mental health (Anxious Annie alert!) but there's been a serious shift in perspective- like I've cleared vaseline from my glasses. I have more clarity and focus and this was the catalyst for further change. I took on challenges that came my way... and in this case,  it was the Camino Way!   

Working on reframing my thoughts and beliefs attached to alcohol, (and other ingrained habits) reintroduced me to myself... the self that had been hidden for some time as LIFE took priority. I soon realised that changing habits was HARD and for any change, REAL change, to happen, I couldn't just scratch the surface- I'd got to go deep. For lasting change, I needed to go where the real obstructers to change resided. You know the beings, the ones who pretend to be your friends, but they're not. The Frenemies, festering in the darkest depths of your soul...

 

Step into the light... Mrs Imposter Syndrome, Signora Self- Doubt and her very close friend Signora Self-Sabotage, and the scariest frenemy of all Fraulein FEAR.

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I mean, I may see these scary chicas, but dealing with them is a whole other ball game. But, I can hopefully find a way to say bye-bye to these bitches. Or in the very least learn to walk alongside them. But this time, I'll walk my way!

 

 

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Now, I'm many things... some good, some not so good and a whole lot of stuff in between. But one thing, I'm really glad I am, is a reader. I inhale books!  I also use them as an excuse not to write... because I'm one of those too. A writer... and reading books is research, right? 

(Read about my writing path here; https://tizzief.wixsite.com/tizziefrankish)​

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After reading 'The Salt Path', by Raynor Winn, which reminded me of another wonderful book, 'Wild', by Cheryl Strayed, which are both about walking...  I walked my very own Pilgrimage. And you know what, I may not have found my path, but I have found my way! 

 

And I haven't stopped walking for wellbeing since!