Back in November 2019, I made a promise to myself: Each day I would write a blog post about my growing up in an alcoholic and dysfunctional family. Instead of being ashamed and afraid to show people who I truly am, I decided to embrace my upbringing and face my fear.

I found a lot of freedom in admitting my past and in living my life openly.

I used to hide how I grew up and felt great shame in what happened to my family. This doesn’t mean that I overshare and get into all the nooks and crannies of my past. I only share such information with my closest loved ones.

But I am no longer afraid to admit that I follow the tents of Adult Children of Alcoholics. I have incorporated the Twelve steps in my life and have done so for more than 20 years.

Because I have struggled with my past and how to overcome my upbringing, I often kept quiet and didn’t want any of my weaknesses to show. But what I’ve learned is that sharing my vulnerabilities allows me to be honest and to live a full life.

I don’t have to pretend to be someone else any longer. I also learned that I do not need to defend my decisions.

If you grew up in an alcoholic home, you might choose to not drink alcohol. The decisions you make are up to you and you do not need to defend them to anyone.

By embracing your past and who you are, the options in front of you become exponentially more freeing. Fearing what other people might think or say simply restricts you and keeps you within the confines of a prison of your own making.

What matters is building up your own self-esteem and loving yourself.

Carrying shame and fear on top of all the other challenges you have in life is not healthy.

Let go of the fear. Be not afraid.

Be you.

Like what you’ve read? Be sure to check out my other posts in my Let Go and Be Free blog.