Someone recently commented that we take so many selfies after quitting drinking/making big life changes because we are waiting to see that spark that we saw in our childhood photos. So, I pulled up my last selfie and the childhood photo I used to look at when I started this, and thought, wow. “THERE YOU ARE, GIRL!!! THERE YOU ARE!!!” That little girl who believed she could be anything, who loved life and the next superhero adventure.

I think that might be part of the longing and sadness a lot of us feel when we’re nearly ready to quit drinking. That we’re losing that bright-eyed kid who believes she can do and be anything, and we know what she deserves even when we are hardest on ourselves. Thinking back to that girl, I’m able to treat myself with a lot more compassion and change the self-talk. Now I make sure to keep that photo handy.