"Don't Judge a Book By it's Cover"

Alcohol was never really the problem for me. It was what I used to cope. To block things out. To numb stuff I didn't know how to deal with at the time.

Recovery hasn't just been about stopping drinking. It's been about learning how to sit with my emotions instead of running from them. Feeling things instead of trying to drown them. Realising I don't need to escape every uncomfortable feeling.

It's taught me accountability. It's made me look at myself properly (not in a self-hating way), but with honesty and forgiveness....that's been a big part of it. Forgiving myself for the mistakes, for the denial, for doing the best I could with what I knew back then.

The biggest thing I've learned is that vulnerability isn't weakness. Pretending everything's fine was exhausting. Being honest is uncomfortable, but it helps.

I'm not ashamed of saying I had a problem with alcohol out loud anymore.

It's part of my journey (yes,  it was ugly), but it is not my identity.

Addiction doesn't always look how people expect it to. 

Pain doesn't always show on the surface.  

Not every battle is visible just like, not every smile means someone is okay.

So no, don't judge a book by its cover.

You never know what's written inside.