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I LOVE this comic. Mostly because of the artwork – it was a fun challenge to compose and draw all the different elements here – but also because the punchline is hilarious. I can’t take credit for the final line though, that was all my husband’s brain child. So shout out to Keith, thanks babe for your clever wit!

Of course this one, like all of my comics, was inspired by real life events. Since I began my alcohol free journey in 2023 (it will be 3 years sober for me on May 24th, 2025) I have read a LOT of ‘self help’, ‘personal development’, ‘self improvement’, ‘whatever-you-want-to-call-them’ books.

I used to be super self conscience and sometimes down right embarrassed to tell people I read these kinds of books. I considered it weird and weak. My demon really sums it up well, as I thought “only losers read this kind of crap” when I was buying or downloading such a title. I do think there is a stigma with the ‘Self Help Section’, and though it is becoming less so as our society is more open about self improvement and mental health, it’s still hard to shake on a personal level.

However, I think the reason I love this one so much, is that as soon as I drew it and shared it with people, it was like a big weight was lifted off of my shoulders. I was totally cool talking about these books with my group at One Year No Beer, and my coach, as it felt like a safe space with people who were champs about learning and self change. That group was certainly the catalyst for my literary journey of self improvement. But to tell people, in person! That felt different. My book choices and reason for reading was rather daunting to bring to the attention of friends and family.

But…I have learned SO much from books and audio books. Drawing this strip and all the learning I’ve absorbed by reading, gave me the confidence to tell others the benefits I’ve experienced and recommend books that may help them too. A wonderful side to this story is, as I started to recommend books to people, they in turn did so for me. People I didn’t expect to be into this genre came out of the woodwork with amazing recommendations.

A great example of this is a custom home builder I’ve known professionally for a few years, and always enjoyed working with, recommended “Quit Like a Woman” by Holly Whitaker. This was a surprising and kind of hilarious conversation; as he’s a man, in the construction world, and he recommends a book about quitting alcohol – written by a woman – that has some pretty non subtle points of view about the patriarchy. Needless to say I am still connected to this guy professionally and think he’s rad as fuck.

I simply love to read, love to draw and have learned if you are passionate and grow because of your choices, don’t be ashamed to share it. There is a balance for sure, I do try not to get up on my high horse of self improvement and shout at all the passers by. But sharing a book with a friend who is struggling, that’s a gift.