Nancy K. – Sober 53 Years

Nancy K. is an extraordinary woman whose 53 years of  continuous sobriety is a stunning achievement built upon the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Growing up in a home dominated by a violent alcoholic father, Nancy started drinking at age 12 to quell the constant fear and self-loathing she felt daily. Seemingly “rescued” at age 17 by her first failed marriage, Nancy continued to drink heavily with her husband, hastening the inevitable divorce. Her second marriage involved the same kind of abuse, dysfunction, and divorce. but was further complicated by three children. Lacking interest and skills in child-raising, Nancy turned to the bottle, but felt little relief after so many years of self-recrimination. Her drinking increased, and her completely hopeless state of mind manifest as feelings of guilt, shame, regret, and self-punishment. With her second divorce looming, Nancy’s thoughts turned to suicide. But she stopped short of it and a divine ray of hope lead her to Alcoholics Anonymous in 1972 at the age of 31. My interview with Nancy K. covers a wide range of experiences over her 53 years of continuous sobriety. She talks about the good times and the bad times; the challenges of maintaining sobriety in the midst of both difficulties and good fortune; and the importance of using a sponsor, working the steps, attending meetings, and service work. It would be easy to point to Nancy’s 53 years of concurrent sobriety and AA membership as proof the Program works in the long-term. But it’s so much more than that. Hear it for yourself over the next hour as AA Recovery Interviews welcomes my newest friend and AA sister, the remarkable Nancy K. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, Apple Books, or Amazon.  I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.