Episode 46 : Leaving LA: Gratitude, Grief, and Grad School

What if moving cities wasn’t just about logistics, but also about surrender? In this episode, Denise and Jackie talk through the whirlwind of Jackie’s big transition—packing up her life in Los Angeles to start grad school in the Midwest—while also reflecting on what it means to practice gratitude and enoughness in the middle of change.Key Times: 00:03:19 – Movers are coming! Jackie’s countdown to leaving LA 00:06:20 – Midwest weather shock: heat advisories, tornado season, and corn sweat 00:08:39 – Denise’s sober retreat: 42 people, games, puzzles, and community joy 00:10:21 – Walking a labyrinth: stillness, centering, and sacred design 00:11:56 – Planting seeds for future travel: a Sicily trip dream for 2026 00:13:51 – Shifting the grounding breath practice to the end of the episode 00:17:49 – Anger loops, cortisol, and surrendering what you can’t control 00:19:03 – Recording “emergency protocol” from two cities: the podcast evolves 00:21:12 – Community invite: their Sunday morning “12 Steps for Everyone” meetings 00:27:21 – Street safety and women navigating public spaces 00:29:41 – Letting go: activism, overwhelm, and doing what you can 00:33:02 – Closing ritual: gratitude and deep breathwork for the transitionShow Notes / Episode Summary:In this transitional and heartfelt episode, Jackie shares the emotional rollercoaster of leaving Los Angeles to start grad school in the Midwest. Between movers, storage units, and navigating summer storms, she opens up about the overwhelm of change and the gratitude she’s finding in the middle of it all.Denise reflects on her recent sober retreat, where a labyrinth walk and a thousand years of collective sobriety offered her new insights into stillness, play, and connection. Together, mother and daughter weave between the practical and the spiritual: how to handle the stress of moving, how to stay grounded during political and personal chaos, and how to trust that “enough” really is enough.They remind listeners that transitions don’t just require logistics—they require breath, surrender, and community.Topics Covered:Jackie’s move to the Midwest for grad schoolThe overwhelm of packing, movers, and storageWeather, safety, and culture shock in a new cityDenise’s reflections from a sober retreatLabyrinth walking and the spirituality of stillnessReleasing control when activism feels overwhelmingRe-centering with gratitude and breathworkContinuing the podcast from two different citiesInviting listeners into community and shared ritualsFollow Us:Follow Jackie: @jackiefreed.laFollow Denise: @denise.freedFollow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryoneFollow us on TikTok: @12stepsforeveryone