As some of you might have noticed, there’s been a bit of a break between podcast releases. I know you will understand why when I explain that I’ve been facing some incredibly challenging circumstances, with one of my daughters being taken seriously ill and hospitalised for several months.
At one point, I thought I’d simply shut down Choose Sunrise as life really did feel just too difficult. However, I’d just entered into a new collaboration with Andy Mee of the Alcohol Free Drinks Company and this episode’s guest, Hannah Taylor, of the Sober Butterfly Collective. Between them, they persuaded me to go ahead with an event that we had planned to launch our new collaboration. “We’ll do everything,” they said, “all you have to do is turn up.”
I cannot tell you how moved and inspired I have been by their kindness.
Attending the event and seeing how many people out there we can help and what a difference we can make in the world gave me a much needed boost, and I can honestly say that it’s put the spring back in my step after a month of feeling overwhelmed and sad. That’s why I have decided to keep going and continue with this work, albeit perhaps at a slightly more sedate pace, because I honestly believe it is my vocation.
I also believe that the guest for this episode, Hannah Taylor, has found her calling in life, too! Hannah is one of the most inspirational people I have ever met. Using her own experience of what it’s like to socialising sober, she’s developed a network of volunteers called the Sober Butterfly Collective that organise face to face sober meet-ups, completely free of charge, up and down the UK.
It's astonishing what this young woman has achieved without ever receiving a penny for all her hard work, because, in her own words, “Friendship is free”. I have found this so inspiring that I have decided to become her first ever sponsor, donating a minimum of £50 to the Sober Butterfly Collective for every course and every accreditation sold.
Because friendship is free.
If you’d like to know more about the work we do, head to hello@choosesunrise.co.uk
You can find out more the Sober Butterfly Collective at https://soberbutterflycollective.com/ or on Instagram
