by: Adam Wild Excerpt from The Female CEO_Create. Evolve. Overcome Magazine Issue 45
Author, Motivational Speaker, Writer and Commercial Real Estate Queen Leslie Register is the ultimate catalyst for change. Her book Double Shot of Sober is a story of hope and healing, a woman’s journey of a lifetime of transferring from one addiction to the next, hoping to find something that would give her peace, serenity, purpose and a sense of belonging. Her story is one of undoing, discovery and positive action, taking in the often messy but inspirational journey to recovery and wellness. https://www.thefemaleceo.
A Momentum Business Club Member and fellow entrepreneur, she is here today to discuss another adventure, this time to becoming a published author, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our table.
Leslie, firstly, thanks so much for being here with us and sharing a little bit about your journey as a writer. What made you decide to share your experiences with the world in book form?
My hope in writing my story was to bring awareness to others of not only the pain but the hope and healing found through a journey of both addiction and recovery. I desired to bring visibility to the fact that addiction is not the stereotype shown in the media. It is found in everyday people and places, from board rooms to faith institutions, schools, working parents, and even successful single moms like me. Addiction doesn’t discriminate; the good news is that recovery is possible for all who want it.
Your book contains a very personal journey with addiction. Why do you feel it is important to speak openly about your personal struggles? Have you had any feedback from readers who share similar stories?
I believe that our stories create connections and build community. Being our authentic self is our testimony to what is real. We need more realness to help those in pain find a path to progress and healing. When someone hears about my journey, they may discover similarities that allow them to relate. They then have evidence that someone experienced what they are experiencing and see that healing is possible. That a way forward beyond the pain is possible. Those who have read the story and found similarities have shared that they were able to begin a path or continue a path of recovery by using the steps that worked for me.
What is your favourite part about being a published author?
Helping others. When I set out on this journey, I repeatedly heard three words in my daily meditation. Write, Share and Serve. This book has allowed me to follow that plan. Whoever and wherever these words on paper are meant to go, they will land exactly as planned. I am the vehicle to help others. I was given a gift, yes, a gift of both addiction and recovery to serve the community of those seeking wellness. My gift was meant to be told, so I have said it, and whenever possible, I will continue to share.
In the book, you talk about your relationship with God. How have your religious values helped you overcome addiction and become a motivational speaker and author?
A saying I heard in my early days of recovery was, ‘God brought me to recovery, and recovery brought me to God’ This is my truth! While as a teenager, I knew God and studied the Bible, and I didn’t fully develop a relationship until my recovery journey. While as a teenager, at times I may have kept my beliefs private to be accepted by others, as a person who has lived ‘hell on earth’ in addiction, today I wear my faith boldly. I make no excuses for what I believe. Faith in a higher power is the single most important thing in my recovery and continued wellness. It is a lifestyle, not a requirement, that keeps me serene and able to manage daily life. The peace I have today is hard to put into words. It is a feeling that engulfs my being. Vision a white shirt drying on a clothesline. As the cool breeze and sunlight dry the garment, it transforms from wet, restricted, and stiff to loose, free-flowing, almost weightless. This is me today, found by my relationship with the God I trust and a daily devotion to seeking recovery first!
If you were to choose someone to play you in a movie of your life, who would it be?
Wow, awesome question. I have been told I look like Resee Witherspoon, and I love how she commanded the courtroom in Legally Blond. On a more serious note, if there were a movie to be made or a play to be cast, I would love someone who truly knew the pain and joy of addiction either through their own journey or the experience of a loved one who could authentically show the light found when someone is willing to go to any lengths to seek wellness.
How did you celebrate when your book was published?
The celebration was internal. I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude to myself for following through with the call and to my family, who supported the story being told. Addiction and recovery affect more than just the person suffering, and it impacts those closest to us. The amount of thankfulness I have for my loved ones who embraced this message being shared is beyond words.
What’s your favourite book and why?
My favourite book is The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford. This is the only book, aside from Are You There God It’s Me Margaret by Judy Bloom which I read cover to cover at 10, that grips my soul every time I talk about it. Debbie Ford’s book opened my eyes, mind, heart, and soul to live a life free from secrets, shame and regrets. This book should be read by any woman and even man seeking recovery and change.
What does literary success look like to you?
When I was 11, I had the reading compression of an 8-year-old. My reading and writing skills were below average, and I struggled greatly to improve. As a result, I rarely read or wrote for fun. It was not until I recovered at 40 years old that I began to truly love reading and began writing. During the first 12 months of my recovery, I read over 50 books and wrote thousands of words. This is where my book took shape; however, it took 8 more years to publish. Literary success for me is simply that I was given the ability to write. I was provided fantastic support through family, a writing coach and a mentor to help bring this story to life. All to serve others.
If you could speak to someone struggling with addiction currently, what would you tell them?
Don’t quit until the miracle happens. Change is about progress, not perfection. Every step forward, even if you fall back, matters. We need all the moments, wins and challenges to help shape us into our authentic selves and live the life we were meant to live. I would tell someone seeking recovery that it is hard, yet the rewards are amazing. Everything worth having is worth the journey. When I started my journey of change and recovery, at times, it sucked! But slowly, I began to have more good days than bad. The fog of addiction was lifting, and I began to see with clear eyes and feel the freedom well up inside me as the control from the addiction was moving farther away. I began to live the life God had planned for me.
Your story is truly inspirational, but who inspires you?
So many people inspire me. However, the person who has had the greatest impact on me is my dad. My dad is a self-made man. He grew up working in tobacco fields as a child and barely graduated high school. Served in the United States Army and built two successful businesses before recently retiring at 77. He showed me what selfless service looks and feels like. He genuinely loved my mother until her dying breath and has been the most amazing dad and grandfather. He never let obstacles in life stop his progress. My favourite saying from him that speaks perfectly to the journey of recovery is, ‘Someone must hurt enough to want change’.
Do you have any tips for other aspiring authors reading this interview?
Go get what is calling you! Writing brings forth healing for self and others. If you are led to put words on paper and then share with others, know that you have been called to a place where few are chosen and even fewer will go. Be the one who not only feels the call but fulfils the plan. Don’t let limiting self-beliefs and other people’s comments stop your progress.
When you finished writing the book, did you feel like you were closing the chapter of your life which struggled with addiction?
This is a powerful question. My recovery story today is a scar that will always travel with me. I need that to remind me of where I was and where I am heading. It is my compass to help me navigate life. I heard it said that when we lose someone, we don’t get over them; they go with us. I will never forget what addiction took from me and how it hurt me, and I will take it with me and let it live in a renewed space filled with overwhelming kindness and joy.
What’s next for you as a writer? Can we expect any more of your work to appear on our bookshelves soon?
This is yet to be revealed. My passion for writing, sharing and serving is as strong today as It was yesterday. Currently, my writing focus is on my Blog and Newsletter. These are available through my website. Sharing my recovery story and the tools that led to my new beginnings away from those things that harmed me and into a place of wellness where I can embrace my faith, family, and fun is where my heart is drawn, and whenever asked, I want to be willing to serve.
Adam Wild is a published children’s book author, actor and presenter with a blogging and content creation background. He is a multi-skilled creative genius with a passion for writing and storytelling.
Adam is a student at Northumbria University who, at times, struggles to balance all aspects of life and therefore understands the importance of hearing these stories. You can find out more about Adam here.