Abby Levesque: Sobriety is Sexy! Recovery Without AA; How to Heal the Pain VS Focusing on Trying to Stop

I've never met someone who made me want the sober life more than this woman I had the absolute PLEASURE of interviewing...

Abby Levesque decided to embrace sobriety at young age of 24, she didn't just step away from substance use—she danced into a life of vibrancy and passion.

In our latest episode, Abby, an addiction coach, certified personal trainer and an embodiment of authenticity, takes us through the twists and turns of her journey, not just in overcoming addiction, but in rediscovering the magnetic pulse of a life lived fully.

With a story that many will find a mirror to their own, Abby's candid narrative speaks to the heart of anyone yearning to reclaim their inner light dimmed by societal pressures and personal struggles.

With Abby's guidance, we traverse the landscape of personal development in the context of sobriety, addressing the societal pressures of social drinking and the immense inner work required for growth.

She unveils the strategies that have allowed her to navigate social landscapes without relying on alcohol, from journaling and meditation to the bold statement of personal boundaries.

Abby's tale isn't just about saying no to a drink; it's a masterclass in saying yes to oneself, a yes that echoes with self-respect and empowerment.

As we follow Abby's footsteps to Bali, it's clear her mission is to weave spiritual growth into the fabric of her coaching and personal training.

Abby doesn't just share her story; she leaves us with a roadmap to finding joy and meaning beyond the clutches of what once held us back, encouraging women to clink their mocktail glasses to the rhythm of their newfound freedom.

Abby Levesque:
IG: Abby Levesque | Sober | Empowerment Coach | Personal Trainer (@therecoveryrebel) • Instagram photos and videos
Website: The Recovery Rebel (the-recovery-rebel.com)

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:05

Hello, gorgeous, and welcome to the Women on Top podcast. I'm your host, valerie Lynn, and with over 15 years of business experience, I became truly passionate about finding ways to support and hear from way more women, and what we know to be true is that women thrive when they are in their favorite position on top. On top in business, in relationships, in personal growth and on top in being real and authentic to who the hell they are. So I invite you to sit back and enjoy the Women on Top podcast. Welcome back to all the listeners here Today.

Speaker 1: 0:44

I have a woman sitting here with me who is truly a woman on top. I feel like when I met this woman, or just even saw I saw her speak. I saw her speak on a panel at an event and I was just totally encapsulated by all of the things that you stand for in terms of how you are making recovery and sobriety something that is fun and edgy and sexy. It's a totally different narrative that you're creating and I just love this. So this woman is on a bold mission to rewrite the script about sobriety. She's achieved total sobriety by age 24, without AA or any program help. In that sense, she's also a certified personal trainer and empowerment coach who helps other women break free and really helps them understand what is holding them back. So, without further ado, I am welcoming the beautiful Abby Levesque.

Speaker 2: 1:46

If I could wake up to that intro every morning, I would feel like so much better than I walk around right now. So thank you for that. That was so beautiful.

Speaker 1: 1:56

It's really true.

Speaker 1: 1:57

I mean I remember watching you talk and just thinking it's so refreshing, like it's so refreshing to have, especially like a younger woman, just like completely own all of the parts of who she is, and then to talk about this kind of topic that can be really I don't know, I don't want to I guess boring a little bit and more like not maybe boring, but it just it doesn't have this like I don't know zest to it. It doesn't have this fun side, this like Ooh, I want that and I found myself like wanting it and I didn't even realize like that was going to be a desire of mine until I heard you talk about it and just saw you and like you were having so much fun the night that I like at the gala. So can you just kind of share a little bit like is has this always been who you are? Are you just like spunky and you just bring that naturally? Or is this kind of like you had to learn some of like who you stand for in this like authentic vibe that we have today?

Speaker 2: 2:58

Yeah, thank you. I get chills knowing that, cause I think it's so cool the way that we can live can inspire other people, um, so thank you for that. That's really sweet. And yes, I've always been pretty spunky. Um grew up with a lot of sass and was a fierce little girl, um, but it's so funny to look back and reflect on how that was always within me. But I did lose it for a little while and my light got dimmed in a lot of different ways and so, just through all different things of using substances and falling into the corporate route and in an unaligned route and in relationships that didn't serve me, and just life stuff, I think, all the things that get us trapped and bring us down and dim our light. So it's, as of recent that, like, the spunk has definitely came back, the zest has came back, so the light light is shining again.

Speaker 1: 4:01

Yeah, I definitely can feel that like in just how you're showing up in so many different ways, and I also just have to say I really love the name that you use. So on Instagram and all the things, it's the recovery rebel, and I like that you use rebel again, cause I think it makes it sound a little different and edgy and like something that we expect, cause we all have a little bit of rebel in us. So where does that name come from? Is that something that was, like, born out of you being a rebel, or where did that all generate from?

Speaker 2: 4:36

Yeah, it took some time to build that name and brand. I was working with a coach because I had wanted to get into a space where I could help other people, really empower other people, and it was talking about my own struggles and addiction and substance abuse was a part of my story. But I think I was so resistant to fully talk about and go into that realm of sobriety because I'm like that is the, that is not what I identify with at all, like that is just one small piece of me. And I think that's where I've gotten liberation. I've gotten the recovery side of recovery rebel. I've gotten there by not identifying with anything, especially my sobriety, and so I was so resistant towards getting into the recovery space. And then that's where, like, the recovery rebel kind of came into play because I didn't want to go into the normal realms of the way that recovery has been talked about.

Speaker 2: 5:42

And I also think when people hear recovery they automatically think it is a substance abuse base. But we're all recovering from something and I think that's really the narrative that I want to start telling is let's take away the like, what we're naming things, and come down to the root cause of like we've all just struggled with something We've lost our power to, something we need to recover and rebel against. The thing that took our power and a lot of what took my power was substances was this narrative of the societal norms of go to college, get a corporate job and all of those things. So it was. It's a. It was a long time coming and a journey to getting to that name. Um, but there's definitely some spunk in that name. It's.

Speaker 1: 6:33

I love it. I love it. I feel like it's so on, point and so on brand for who you are. It's and it's super unique. So, um, kind of to, to go back to where this all began, I think in your story you share that you started to get involved in certain destructive habits, like at a pretty young age, around 14. So what was it that you kind of got into and I mean share as much as you're willing to right and why do you think you followed that path? You know, was it something you were running from? Was it something that you just kind of fell into? Like, share a little bit about that.

Speaker 2: 7:08

Yeah, definitely. So there was some pain that I had at a young age. Something happened within my family and there was some trauma, and so I, being young, I was like always told that I had wisdom beyond my years and that I was so strong and wise. And so, when everything unfolded, my parents did as much as they could show up for me, and they did such a beautiful job, but I was always the one who was like no, I'm okay, don't focus on me, focus over there. And so I always wanted to act like everything was okay, cause I didn't want to add any other extra pressure. I think we can all do that, especially as women is, we just want to everything's okay, right and put on the brave face. And so I did a good job of convincing myself of that for a while.

Speaker 2: 7:59

But I think, like a lot of stuff, real world hit at such a young age, I wasn't able to process it.

Speaker 2: 8:06

So the minute that I got introduced to alcohol which would normally be at that 15 or, you know, in high school age it's like experimental and fun.

Speaker 2: 8:15

But the minute that I was able to experience that pure, like loss of control and responsibility, and step back into the innocence of being a child. I was like this is the best feeling ever, and that's what created my extreme binge drinking. So it wasn't just drinking, it was like binge drinking to blackout out of just absolute control. I felt like I got to get back to my spunky Abby. That was a kid, because before because before alcohol or when I wasn't using alcohol, it was just trying to make everything okay for myself and others, and so I think it was the perfect storm of things that just came at that time and that just led to a destructive path where then it led into like other substance abuse and, at a really young age, was just using drugs that I shouldn't have been and I just got a really strong dependency on that. I lost myself, I didn't know how to socialize without it, and so that's really kind of how all of that came about.

Speaker 1: 9:21

Yeah, yeah, I, I can definitely relate to kind of like pretending everything's fine. Um, I still work on that to this day of not strapping it all on and just, um, taking it and not processing it and just trying to kind of numb out in other ways. Um, because you know, we do that through multitude of avenues, not just alcohol. We do that through scrolling and through comparison and through sex and like all the kinds of things that are out there. So recovery exists in so many different capacities. But I'm curious, you know, through your journey was there what were some of the turning points? So was it like one significant turning point for you where you hit, like supposedly sometimes they say, okay, you have to hit rock bottom before you start to recover, but sometimes I feel like it's multiple rock bottoms, like it's not just one big rock bottom and then you're done, you're changed and everything's glorious, um, so I'm curious for you like what was a turning point, or multiple turning points, and how did you start to make the shift?

Speaker 2: 10:20

Yeah, girl, I wish my, because it's so funny to look back and it's like, oh my gosh, I mean, at like 16 years old, I literally was in the hospital with alcohol poisoning and then also in high school I also got an ambulance called on me another time, I got a DUI and then so like all of these things happened and I would take a break and I thought that it was like, um, I had to fix myself so I could drink normally, and so that was like really I had those rock bottoms, but I never allowed myself to just look at alcohol as like maybe we should just like not do that. It was like I gotta fix me so I can drink normally and have wine or bottomless or mimosas with people at brunch and things like that. See, that's the alcoholic in me. I'm like bottomless mimosas, not just. So that was the thing of those rock bottoms. It was always like with the lens of trying to fix myself to bring it back in.

Speaker 2: 11:26

And then I had a final turning point. It was really a crazy experience where basically I, drunkenly, was driving, someone else's car hit my own car when I was parking, yes, and literally like if I hit anyone else's car would have been arrested and in jail for a second DUI. I would have been arrested and in jail for a second DUI, and it was just really divine thing. And then I had gone to Napa Valley like that weekend with my mom and sister, because we already had a girl's trip planned, and so I was there drinking wine in Napa Valley and so many things just like were hitting me at once and there was just this moment where I was like I never want to drink again. The desire for it completely was gone. Um, along the way I was doing self work. I was always doing work, um, but I think there really was a point where it was just yeah enough, like, no matter what I'm doing, it's really the alcohol that is screwing this up. Um, and I'd never want to bring it back in my life again.

Speaker 1: 12:28

Yeah, how did you get introduced to personal development? How did you even know? Because the reason I asked that was is because a lot of times we're not illuminated to it until something happens or somebody says here's this and you're turned onto it all of a sudden.

Speaker 2: 12:49

Um, how did you find that? It's so funny? I found that at such a young age. I found that, like literally at 12 years old, I got a Tony Robbins book, like I always knew about self-development, I think, honestly, honestly, it was. That was the thing I was always looking outside of myself, that always looking outside of myself. And then it was a real shift when I started to get into things like journaling and meditating and coming within and learning about things like self-love, that I really had this shift because I was always looking outside of myself for the answers, the solutions.

Speaker 2: 13:27

And that's where I think self-development can get real sticky because I think it's so beautiful to have resources and conversations like this to listen into, but the real shift in personal development, when it really started clicking, was when I stopped trying to rely on answers outside of myself. I looked within.

Speaker 1: 13:52

That's so profound, because I think that that is something that sometimes a lot of people fall into and I think myself too is sometimes, when we're trying to solve something, we we seek so much information and we overload ourself with all of this constant searching and looking and reading and consuming, to the point where we're flooded and we don't even know what's real anymore. So I really like that you were able to figure out how to come back into your inner knowing, and I feel like that's like what has guided you forward this whole time. Okay, so drinking is something that is so social and it's so, like you know, if you go out to meet with somebody, you get a drink. If you want to have fun, you get a drink. So how, how do you make this thing work and do you miss it? Like, has it been hard to tell your friends and family Like, uh, I'm not doing that, I'll go out with you, but here's, here's what I'm doing. I don't. How, how have you set that up for your success for yourself?

Speaker 2: 14:49

Yeah, I don't miss it at all, like don't know.

Speaker 2: 14:53

And so the craziest thing is, I've never, after that final turning point, I didn't have a desire which I know in a lot of you go to like AA and different things, and there was, like there's always this fear of relapse, but it really was just that's what I'm saying. I hit the bottom of the bottom, where I was like done, so the cravings are gone, and so that's where it's like the socialization piece is easier in the sense that, like I don't have people offering it to me a ton, cause I kind of just said, nope, I don't drink. I. Also there was a good accumulation right when I moved, right when I got sober, so I was meeting new people and they knew me as Abby who doesn't drink, so that's really good. Now the people who did did know me.

Speaker 2: 15:43

That was when it got a little tricky. I had to say very is. It was a statement like nope, I'm not drinking anymore. And before, when I used to stop, I would be like oh no, I'm not drinking. Right now, that's very different, right? Or just I don't drink. Is that's very different than right now? Or no, I'm okay, you know, it's right, you make your statement and people respect that. But all that to be said, that social anxiety does not that.

Speaker 2: 16:17

I got hit hard with that um and I like after these past two years, that I've really been able to now feel comfortable being social. But see, that's where we focus in. We're like, oh, it must be so hard to socialize without alcohol. And it's like, no, it's actually really hard to socialize with social anxiety. That's what the focus is. And so when you cannot look at it like, oh, I'm feeling this way because I'm not drinking like everyone else, no, no, no, that's what gets you stuck in the desiring, instead of you say I'm feeling this way because I have social anxiety, you can address that problem of okay, why am I anxious? Type of thing is what I have found to be a big shift for me.

Speaker 1: 17:06

That's great. I love that switching that, because so many people, I think, don't see it that way and I would be included in that to think that, oh, if you drink, you feel a little more loose, you're able to socialize differently, where I think you're telling the right story, which is actually, maybe it's just that you have a little bit of anxiety normally and that's something that you can work on differently, just minus the alcohol. Okay, so for you, you had this like moment where you were like cravings are gone. I don't desire it anymore. Like we're done here, I'm, you know, telling a whole new story. This is, this is Abby. This is how I'm going forward For clients that you work with. How do you work with them if maybe they don't have that hard stop and they're just in this process of I want to give it up, but I'm going through it in a different way? How do you work with somebody to help them achieve sobriety?

Speaker 2: 18:06

Yeah, totally. So everyone's pretty different. And I think the biggest thing is with alcohol I've realized stop trying to give it up, ask the questions, right. Things like that of like, okay, reframing and digging a little deeper, okay, maybe this is social anxiety, maybe this is depression, maybe there's so much deeper healing, there's a pain there, right, and so we have a void in which we're trying to fill with that substance and so to just take that away, of course you're going to suffer, right, like, and it's going to be extremely hard.

Speaker 2: 18:46

And that's where, like, I don't want people to go into this cycle of shame of like, trying to quit but they can't, and this and that it's like, no, let's get you.

Speaker 2: 18:52

You to a point where you love yourself, you're healed, you've addressed pain, you know new coping skills. So that way it's an effortless transformation where you one day just say I don't want it anymore and that's your decision, right, like, the desiring of wanting to quit can overtake us so much. And that's where I feel for people, because it was such a long journey for me and it was such a process and a struggle where, eventually, I just loved myself and I was like I knew life could be better without it, and so it was easy to let it go, and that's what I want for people. It really should be easy to let go, cause that's where you find sustainability, that's where you're not having to deal with cravings and relapses and things like that. Um, and so I would say is just going in a little bit deeper of like, what's that void and let's find new ways to fill it.

Speaker 1: 19:49

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 19:50

Approach that.

Speaker 1: 19:51

It seems like also kind of your approach I mean, just all the things that you're saying is that the higher, the more that we can actually love ourselves and not just maybe it's not just the parts of ourselves that look pretty on paper, but it's like the whole human the the less you're going to need these external pieces to validate your worth. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 20:13

It's so multifaceted self-love.

Speaker 1: 20:17

Yes, and it can go. So I mean, we could go a million different ways with that. Did it teach you? What did it teach you? I guess, like going through all of this and having some of the addiction and numbing out you know what are some of the lessons that you feel like you walked away with and know now that you wouldn't have otherwise had you not been through that.

Speaker 2: 20:41

Yeah, I think I have a sense of empowerment that is unshakable, and I think that's like the coolest thing with people that like overcome addiction is like they're so freaking resilient. So I would say the empowerment, the resilience, and then also I think the emotional piece is the emotional strength. It takes so much in order to heal and become sober At the end of the day, like addiction is an emotional disease, right, like there's a deep pain there and you don't know how to deal with that pain or emotion and so you're using that. And so when people who recover, like truly recover, they're like that's what the resilience is is that they can deal with any emotion or emotional beings and so you can deal with any emotion that comes up. And that's like the coolest thing with me. And then I think the other huge lesson for me is that all the answers live within, that I don't need to go outside of myself, because after I stopped drinking I was still using substances for a little while.

Speaker 2: 21:46

And it's because I always thought that like, oh, if I smoke some weed or take some mushrooms, like it'll bring me to spiritual enlightenment and it's like actually I can get that through my journal and meditating and other things, Um, and so I think the coolest thing is that it's just strengthened my own being and knowing that I have unlimited resources within myself and the resource of being able to ask for help when I need it. Like I'm not standing here and saying that I don't cry to my mom still and need a therapist, you know, but it's that strength of like, oh, now I can ask for help, Now I can allow others to see me be broken, Whereas before I did put on that brave face and that facade. I can fully accept that emotion of pure despair and brokenness and be seen in that. And that's so powerful when you recover is you have that relationship with your emotion, where you are like, whatever it is. I'm fully embracing and accepting this emotion here.

Speaker 1: 22:50

Yeah, I just love how you're defining it, like it's I don't know. It's enlightening me in different ways of how I've thought about it, because I think you have just done it in such a yeah, in such a different way and using like just different narratives and again, like, what are we trying to solve for here? And just some of the ways that you look at it I think is really really valuable. What, what would you say? You know, you mentioned like sometimes you were like trying to use maybe weed or mushrooms or just kind of like oh, that that'll be enlightening, cause I think plant medicine can be really spiritual and, um, you know, achieve some of those things. But what's been hardest for you throughout this process? You know, it sounds like you've had a good support system. It sounds like you had some really good people that were there by your side. But what's been one of the hardest things?

Speaker 2: 23:54

Forgiveness of myself, forgiveness of other people, like I think there's so much resentment that I've been having to work through and still I'm working through.

Speaker 2: 24:00

Yeah, I mean, I luckily was able to overcome it at 24, but also like 14 to 24, that's really pivotal times to yourself and your youth, and to have forgiveness to all of it. Um, yeah, that's the hardest part, cause like that's the, the duality lives in that like okay, I can sit here and that's what I love to do about recovery is like alchemize it Everything happens for a reason, and so I'm looking at it like this is what gave me this lesson in this lesson in this lesson, but then also, at the same time, being able to live in this like just sadness of like shit, like I really was that dark and deep into it and lost a lot of my light and life to that for some time, and have the sadness and also forgiveness rather than anger towards that.

Speaker 1: 24:57

Yeah, that always feels like the hardest part. I you know just in going through my own therapy. It's one thing to forgive other people and that's a journey in and of itself, but then the hardest one is to look in the mirror and forgive the one that's in that mirror. So I resonate with that a lot. Did you? Do you feel like you lost people along the way? You know, did you have to find a new support group of friends? It sounds like you moved. So, yeah, what was that journey like?

Speaker 2: 25:28

Yeah, I definitely. I don't think it was any like hardcore cutoffs, um, but distance was created, and even like distance within, like my own family, Like I had to stop listening to certain things and create a little bit distance and do my own thing. But the cool thing about that is like it can come right back is what I've seen as well. For instance, like my family is everything so like that we've gotten closer back into and have healed through that, and then some relationships stay like a little more distant, but they're all love and it's just. It's this awareness of like we've grown in totally different directions and one's not right or wrong. But I think with everyone in my life that I have quote unquote lost or distance from, there's nothing but love and respect between us, and I think we can fear that making big changes because we're going to lose people, but it can really be done in a way where there's love and respect and if there isn't, then they clearly were meant to, you know, be removed from your life for you to to grow.

Speaker 1: 26:39

Right, it can just be, I think, one of the fears that people face when they're looking at how can I I mean and really this has to do with a lot If you're looking to even grow or start your own business those same fears, I think, kind of still apply in that is my friend circle going to accept me? Is my family going to accept me? Am I going to have I'm going to have different boundaries if I'm going to hold myself to certain standards, and so I think sometimes that dynamic shifts and we have to embrace that. But it's challenging. So I asked that for that reason.

Speaker 1: 27:18

I you know if, if there's women out there who are listening to this that are, like gosh, I don't feel like I'm necessarily, like I don't feel like I'm addicted, but I would like to lessen the amount that I'm depending on, um, you know, the wine or the weed or whatever it is, what, like I don't know top, like three things would you tell them to start doing? So maybe you're not going to tell them to stop drinking necessarily, you know, given the way that you approach it, but what would be those like first couple of things that you would tell them?

Speaker 2: 27:47

Yeah, I would say this is a good one. I would say start journaling. If you don't, for a connection with yourself, you'll just get an understanding of life and you and why you drink so much or not so much, but why you even drink in the first place. So I think journaling is just a good introspective um thing. I would also say try something new. Try to pick up like a new hobby or something Um, sometimes like we drink out of pure, like boredom or habit, and so even if you have like a certain group of girlfriends that you normally like get wine with, like maybe like go and try something new together, um. And then another cool thing is just mocktails. Like it really is just like the habit of wanting a drink Um, and so like if you are trying to like limit when you drink, like just the weekends, but like let's say you got on a Tuesday, like you can get a mocktail, um, and it's that habit, but they're so good yeah.

Speaker 1: 28:55

I am actually loving seeing that more on the menu. Um, and sometimes I get them just because they sound so much better.

Speaker 1: 29:02

It just sounds so good and they are so good, and sometimes it's the act of just having like at least that's what I've learned for myself is just having something in my hand, so it doesn't even matter really what it is, as long as it's not like really water Like, even if I just get club soda with lime, and that's it. Like sometimes that just feels fun. Or just, like you said, a mocktail can be really fun and it it changes because I leave and I feel so good, like sometimes I almost feel more like a badass when I don't drink I don't know. Like sometimes I'm like, yeah, like I had a good time and I don't need that, yeah, and so I love that. I'm not like fully off of, you know, having a glass of wine here and there, but I certainly feel like it's something that I'm aware of, isn't like serving me, and so I want to continue to look at that, and that's why I was asking that question is partially for other people, partially for myself too, just because I think that there are those different things that you know we kind of use and sometimes we don't even realize it. So I certainly used to use it much more often and that's why your story really um, I don't know just really is impactful, I think, and the fact that you're willing to share about it, because I feel like women as women, it's like very much a lot of shame we carry around, especially when we start realizing like, oh, this is, this is a habit that I've just been telling myself.

Speaker 1: 30:33

Well, I'm not an alcoholic, I just drink every day. But everyone drinks every day and like whatever those stories are that we like create in our minds just to kind of like, you know, remove any issue that might be there. So I love how you're like shaping this for women especially and I'm wondering if that's something that you see from your clients too is like do you see women who are just kind of like I don't know, trying to have it all together and who are telling themselves it's not that big of a deal? But then when they start working with you, they realize a lot of what's happening.

Speaker 2: 31:07

Yeah, definitely that, like from alcohol to like food. People are like, oh, I don't eat that bad, and then I like getting into it. And so I think you, you know there are spectrums of our like habits and, yes, I think, and that's that's the thing there is this balance of life right now, where I think we do live in a society where there's such a drive for personal development and optimizing your health and your life and your time, and and it's so beautiful that we have that opportunity. But there's some times where I'm like, just leave me alone. I want to binge on my Ben and Jerry's crappy like reality TV and like not have shame in that. And so I think there is such a like. It can be hard in this day and age where we're striving for this optimal perfection of who we are, which I think is so beautiful If you have that vision but also live a little. And so that's one thing. Taking away alcohol, I've like had to find ways in my life to be like girl, just live a little, like you know that's great.

Speaker 1: 32:16

I love that. You mentioned, you know, having some of those treats infused here and there, just because, like you say, if okay, I'm replacing this maybe with something that, yeah sure, the ice cream isn't good, but at the same time, I would rather sit here and eat ice cream and binge my TV shows than be binging on alcohol and feel like absolute hell the next day, Right Like. So I think that it's I don't know a different way of replacing something, and it's still a much healthier version that also sometimes gives you joy. So, with that, like what? What does give you joy now? Like, what lights you up the most? Cause I know you've got a really full, rich life. What are you just loving right now?

Speaker 2: 33:02

are you just loving? Right now I am loving my niece. I just I think this is like having her and her playful kid, like energy has brought me back to that and she's got the spunk like I did, and so I think that has been really fun. Family has been huge for me Um, with that, like we're spending time in nature, um, and then, of course, when it comes to like the business side, just building deeper connections with women, and I think one thing that I've really just seen a shift within is the way that I approach supporting women.

Speaker 2: 33:31

I think, before I came into it because this is all I was ever shown in life is like the coaching and teaching mentality, and it felt wrong for me for a little while, but I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong with the dynamics between my clients and I. And now what really lights me up is like holding space for people and just giving that love and support to others, because when I look at my journey, right, like I said, the transformation happened when I found the answers within, and so that's what I like want to help give to other women, and so I definitely have a lot of things and visions of like how I want to continue to hold space for people. Maybe a wellness center coming soon, who knows?

Speaker 1: 34:15

Oh, okay, I love this. I just adore the fact that, like you have these really big dreams and I feel like you just glow so much, Um, and it's such a testament to the fact that you know you can go through a lot of darkness and some of those times where you maybe look back and you're not necessarily like you don't feel great when you think about, uh, your past, but then you can come out on the other end and have so much life and so much joy and just be able to love so hard in the way that you do. So I love hearing your story and I don't know it just it's really inspiring, so, um, okay. So before we get to the last questions, I want to ask like you know, you've kind of mentioned your mom, but who, to you, is like a woman on top, Like, when you think of that name? Somebody may be spunky, sassy, maybe it's several people, but who just kind of like jumps into your mind for you when you think of that?

Speaker 2: 35:14

Yes, that's how we met and I just I think she's such a badass and talk about the spunk and the fun and, yeah, I just adore that woman and she is responsible for so much of my growth and the recovery rebel and coming with that. So she is a woman on top and definitely anyone who's listening who doesn't know her go check her out.

Speaker 1: 35:39

Yeah, I love that. Um, knowing Christine just from like the gala and her work and everything, she, yeah, she definitely has that fire and she's got her own unique like sense about her. That I also just really love, because I think she I don't know I feel like she gets a lot of her power from within too, and so I love, I love being able to feature and thank you for mentioning her. I also believe in women who pull each other forward, and I think you're that for so many, so many others, but then we also have so many other expanders for ourselves that continue to, you know, shine that light and that pull us beyond our limits. Um, so, what's next for you? First of all, you mentioned the wellness center. What else do you have going on? How can people find you Like, what's next for Abby?

Speaker 2: 36:30

So I am going to be traveling to Bali and live in Bali, um oh my god in the summer, and so I just have this call where I'm like I need to go and so I'm gonna be yoga teacher training and then just backpacking and it's such a spiritual place and so I'm really excited to just get deeper into my spirituality. And then when I come back, I that's where I'm excited Because I think just my offerings will be a little bit more personalized to me. Like I right now I do personal training, that will always be my bread and butter. I love it. And just weight training and getting people strong. I so much of me just wants to get really into that spirituality, help people calm their nervous system down and just relax, and so I'm really excited. So, with that being said, that's what's next? And then I mean you travel to a foreign country for three months and then again you don't really know what's going to happen next after that. So I'm kind of leaving that open.

Speaker 1: 37:30

Oh, I love that. I have always wanted Bali's on my list, so I'm going to be like docking your social media even more than I do now.

Speaker 1: 37:38

So that'll be. That is going to be an amazing adventure for you. I'm so, so glad that you're doing that. I feel like you're going to be open to all new kinds of possibilities, so that's that's amazing. Um. So, for those listening in um, you offer in-person training, but then you also offer training online, or coaching as well, online, right? So if people want to get ahold of you, they're not in the Denver area, they can find you on Instagram and you have a website, right, too. Okay, yeah, awesome, yeah, we'll drop that in the show notes, okay.

Speaker 1: 38:10

So I am doing this with each of the guests and I am asking each of them to, like, leave a quote or something that has inspired them, not knowing who the next guest is. So, the last person that I interviewed, um, she left this, and it's short and sweet, but I think it's so powerful. Um, she said what is for you will not pass you, so if it's meant for you, it's going to stay with you, and I love that. Like, I needed to hear that when she shared it. So, um, now I want to ask you what you know words of wisdom, even if it's a like a short quote like that do you want to leave for the next guest Not knowing who they are?

Speaker 2: 38:56

That kind of inspired me to say, if not this, something better.

Speaker 1: 39:03

Yes, I've heard that before and that always just hits all of the right nerves and all the right places.

Speaker 2: 39:09

That's so good, I'm like something better, please. What could be yeah?

Speaker 1: 39:21

exactly. I know I hear something like that and then it's like, okay, also, I need to hold loosely, if not there's something better, like let it arrive when it arrives. Yeah, oh my gosh. Well, thank you so much. This has been so inspiring. I just I can't say enough, like how, like the way that you show up is is what is inspiring, like obviously the work that you do, but I think it's that plus like just who you are in all of the elements, and there's certain people where you just can feel that in a certain way, and I really feel that from you. So I can't wait to see what's next for you and thank you so much for being with me today.

Speaker 2: 40:03

Thank you so much. This was amazing.

Speaker 1: 40:07

Thank you for tuning into the show today and before you go, I just have one quick favor to ask of you. There is a really simple way that you can help support me and help support the show, and that is to hit that follow button on whatever app you're listening to the show on. I'm trying really hard to level up the content and deliver unique value and amazing guests and just hitting that follow button is the magic that will help continue to empower that and remember that the world deserves to hear your voice and your stories and you deserve a place at the top.