Hello World!
Tough times don’t last, tough people do. – Robert Schuller
My name is Ciana ‘Ci’, and I am an alcoholic. I’ve struggled with addiction for most of my life. As a teenager I experimented with drugs and alcohol but was always able to stop using drugs without any significant withdrawals or impact. Alcohol on the other hand, was not so easy.
I’ve maintained sobriety in the past for long periods of time but always given in to ‘one drink’. For those of us suffering from addiction you know that one drink is too many, and one more is never enough. I wanted this time to be different, I needed this time to be different, because no matter how much I lied to myself and tried to lie to everyone else, I could see the effects in every aspect of my life.
So, I went to rehab! I started journaling as part of my daily routine in rehab. I kept thinking about something I heard there that really resonated with me. I watched a recording of Brene Brown who said, “One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will be someone else’s survival guide.” I don’t know if this blog will become someone else’s survival guide or just my journal to reflect back on later, I will be stronger for it either way.
May you be sober and happy always! Ci
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Church and Family
7.20.25 I really missed the Sunday women’s meeting — it’s my “church.” I hadn’t been able to attend the last two Sundays because life was just… lifing. But being back reminded me why I love it so much. There’s no better way to start the day, or the week, than with that group of strong,
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Old Triggers, New Tools
7.19.25 This morning, I sat on my couch waiting for family who had said they wanted to spend time with me before the graduation party for my niece. I had gotten up early to tidy up the house and water the lawn—wanting to make everything nice for their visit. Then I waited. And waited. And
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This Song Hurts in All the Right Places
7.18.25 Some songs don’t just play—they pull. Tonight, it was Friend of Mine by Kameron Marlowe. It didn’t just echo in my ears—it echoed in me. Every note, every line, felt like a mirror I wasn’t ready to look into. But I did. And now the ache is louder than usual. I don’t know how
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Ladies Night
7.17.25 Ladies Night has a new meaning now that I’m sober. I still look forward to it just like I used to—but now, I don’t wake up the next morning with regret, anxiety, or a hangover. It’s not about dressing up to numb out or pretending everything’s okay. It’s about connection. Laughter. Truth-telling. Sharing space