22 Comments
User's avatar
Allison Tryk's avatar

I'm grateful for you. I randomly came across your book while struggling with sobriety after decades of alcohol abuse... It took me from a white knuckle experience to completely NQingTD. Now I'm spending Thanksgiving alone after sending my family off to various places and I couldn't be happier for the time to recharge. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Holly Whitaker's avatar

A total power move. I love you, thanks for this sweet note. I hope you had the best day ever.

Joe Martin's avatar

I think that book dealt with it quite a bit. His novels may not be your cup of tea but I know Dr. Sleep, Fairy Tale and the one I’m reading right now- Later- all deal with it to One degree on another. Happy thanksgiving to you and Yours, Holly. I am thankful for all the support and insight you have gifted to me over the years.

Holly Whitaker's avatar

I do need to read one so maybe I’ll try that one?! Thanks Joe, wishing you exactly the same ♥️

Chris La Tray's avatar

That Laura Cathcart Robbins piece and video are both SO great. Wow. I recently had an experience doing a talk in Idaho where, especially at the airport, it sucked to be verbally headlocked by white people telling me their "funny" Indian stories that really aren't funny at all. I could so relate to everything she had to say.

Today I met with a friend who is the executive director of a conservation organization that I am technically a member of the "advisory" board though I have advised on absolutely nothing. Their board is very white, with two exceptions. So I looked at the boards of a couple other, larger organizations I've done work with, and they are overwhelmingly white. It is sickening to me. How can they not see it? These are just raindrops in the ocean and it's fucking hard.

Holly Whitaker's avatar

I shared this comment with her and she was floored ♥️ An incredible article and talk and she’s also one of the best humans on this planet. I can’t even begin to imagine what that’s like which I think is the point. The optics play is especially gross. Loving you, deeply grateful for you, your words, your work, and for going through all my links lol.

Chris La Tray's avatar

Thank you for sharing that with her, Holly, and thank you for the kind words. I love knowing she is one of the best humans on the planet too.

As for the links, well ... I have so many deadlines I am behind on, of COURSE I'm going to go through all of them. 😏

Nicole G's avatar

Verbally headlocked. Wow. Great description. So vidid and viscerally accurate. Im so sorry you had to deal with that and appreciate you sharing here.

Nicole G's avatar

*vivid. Sorry, i am in denial i should be wearing my reading glasses full time now ❤️

Chris La Tray's avatar

I am a full time reading glasses person for this very reason. 😆

Names's avatar

I miiiight need to try this. I started daily journaling (a practice I loathe because I want to burn every page in the largest fire), and I realize at the end of *most* days when I write that I am incredibly angry or sad or hopeless and that writing something -anything -good that may have happened will be a falsehood - a way to polish something that isn’t? I don’t know if this makes any sense.

Holly Whitaker's avatar

Lol it does. I vouch for it, fully.

Names's avatar

We are likely soulmates?? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Michelle's avatar

Kia ora from Aotearoa New Zealand

I had not read the piece by Laura Cathcart Robbins, nor seen the TED talk. As a fan of Cheryl Strayed, and as an Indigenous woman of colour, my reaction was a big sigh ... familiarity of the reality, mixed with frustration that still this happens in 2022. And I wondered, given how much coverage the written and TED talk received, whether Cheryl Strayed or Liz Gilbert responded at all?

In with my big sigh was big love - for your friend, Laura Cathcart Robbins - for speaking truth and calling out to those who have the wisdom to be better, and the platform to do better.

And thank you Holly for sharing. I am grateful to have been guided to your substack!

Holly Whitaker's avatar

I started to reply to this then went down the rabbit hole and never did. I do not believe this specific thing was ever addressed directly and can't say with confidence what the outcome was or how much either new of her experience. I am so grateful for her and her work and the space she's created from that experience. She has a REALLY GOOD podcast called Only One in the Room (based off that experience), and she's just also the best fucking human. She also has a book coming out, not sure if I mentioned that above (I can't see the original post from this page). Kia ora! Ugh I want to visit New Zealand quite badly. I dream of all that green. Thanks for being here Michelle.

Nicole G's avatar

I love this reframed gratitude approach. Will be helpful given the nervous and jerky energy the holiday season sets off for me. Also, your 10 things are consistently amazing. I feel like i want to record one of those “unboxing videos” as I open each link and marvel at the treasure. Is that already a thing?

Holly Whitaker's avatar

Awww thanks Nicole! That means a lot ♥️

Dr. Dana Leigh Lyons, DTCM's avatar

Therapy wolves!

Holly Whitaker's avatar

*Alcoholic* therapy wolves!

Joe Martin's avatar

King, in recovery now for many years, has done a very good job of elegantly weaving alcohol abuse issues into many of his recent works.

Oh and by the way, at the risk of sounding creepy, I would be happy to share a glass of milk with you at any time, at any place.

Holly Whitaker's avatar

I’ve only ever read his book on writing, which was v v good