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

  • Family Fun

    4.25.25 I didn’t want to go to work today. But I sure as hell didn’t want to go to the mall either. So, I’m grateful for work even though I’m exhausted today. I’m also grateful for my family coming to town and getting to spend time with them. My brother and nieces are leaving in

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  • Nailed It

    4.24.25 It’s been a long, busy month, but I’m proud of myself and feel accomplished. It’s been an even longer time since I’ve been a student, and I managed to pull it off while working full-time, too. On Tuesday, I decided to be a wild child, so I took my certification exam before finishing the

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  • What Am I Searching For

    4.23.25 When I started attending AA meetings, I was overwhelmed by what seemed to be a different language. I quickly learned the basics and common acronyms. I also quickly conceded it would take a lifetime to hear and understand all of them. I love the catchy phrases and sayings that provide a quick pick-me-up and

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  • Prayer And Meditation

    4.22.25 Tonight, we read Step Eleven from the Twelve and Twelve. The first thing I realized is, typical for me, I’m doing it ass-backwards. I always meditate and then pray, but I don’t think it really matters if I listen or speak first, as long as I’m making an effort to practice both. The second

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