Twenty Percent

03/08/2026

Drunk Dating vs. Sober Dating

For most of my life, dating and alcohol were tied together like they were part of the same package deal.

If I was meeting someone… there was drinking.
First dates at bars.
Liquid courage before conversations.
Confidence that only seemed to show up after a few drinks.

At the time, I thought alcohol made dating easier. It quieted the nerves, loosened me up, and helped me feel like a more interesting version of myself.

But the truth is… alcohol didn’t make dating better.
It just made it blurry.

Conversations I barely remembered.
Connections that weren’t real.
Feelings that were more about the buzz than the person sitting across from me.

And when the alcohol wore off, so did most of those “connections.”

Now that I’m in recovery, dating looks completely different.

No numbing the nerves.
No hiding behind a drink.
No liquid courage.

Just me. Fully present. Fully aware.

And honestly, that can be scary at first.

Sober dating means feeling the awkward pauses.
It means being vulnerable.
It means letting someone see the real version of you, not the alcohol-filtered version.

But it also means something I never really experienced before.

Real connection.

Real conversations.
Real laughter.
Real memories that I actually remember the next day.

For a long time I thought alcohol made me more confident, more fun, more lovable.

Turns out sobriety just made me real.

And to anyone I may have hurt along the way while I was living that alcohol-blurred version of my life… I’m truly sorry. Some of those connections deserved better than the version of me that showed up back then.

I can’t change the past, but I can show up differently today.

And the right people don’t need the alcohol version of you.

They want the real one.

— Scott

If you’re in recovery and the idea of dating sober feels terrifying, you’re not alone. It gets easier. And the connections you build are so much more meaningful. ❤️

03/08/2026

When I first got sober, I thought the hardest part would be putting the bottle down.

I was wrong.

The hardest part has been facing the damage my alcoholism caused and learning how to repair it.

Alcohol didn’t just affect me. It affected my relationships, my trust with people, and the way some people saw me. There were moments I wish I could take back, words I wish I hadn’t said, and times when I simply wasn’t the person I should have been.

Recovery forces you to look at all of that. Not with shame, but with honesty.

One thing I’ve learned in sobriety is that you can’t change the past, but you can absolutely change who you are today.

Repairing the damage doesn’t come from big speeches or promises. It comes from consistent actions. Showing up. Being honest. Being dependable. Living differently than you did before.

Some people will forgive you.Some people will need time.Some people may never come back into your life.

And that’s one of the hardest truths in recovery.

But the goal isn’t to control how others respond. The goal is to become the kind of person who no longer creates that kind of damage.

For me, recovery has been about making amends not just with words, but with the way I live my life today.

Every sober day is another brick in rebuilding trust.

If you’re in recovery and feeling the weight of your past, just remember this:Your story didn’t end when you got sober.

That’s actually where the rebuilding begins.

— Scott

03/08/2026

For a long time, asking for help with alcohol felt more terrifying to me than continuing to drink.

That might sound strange to someone who has never struggled with addiction. But when alcohol has been part of your life for years, it slowly convinces you of a few lies.

It tells you that asking for help means you failed.
It tells you people will judge you.
It tells you that life without it will be boring, lonely, and empty.

So you stay quiet.
You keep pretending everything is fine.
You keep thinking, “I’ll figure it out on my own.”

The truth is, the scariest part isn’t getting help. The scariest part is the moment you realize you can’t keep living the way you have been.

For me, asking for help felt like stepping off a cliff without knowing if there was anything to catch me.

But what I found on the other side wasn’t judgment. It wasn’t shame.

It was freedom.

It was waking up clear headed.
It was real relationships.
It was peace in my own mind for the first time in a very long time.

Today I’m 21 months sober, and I can honestly say that asking for help was the bravest and best decision I’ve ever made.

If you’re struggling right now, please hear this from someone who has been there: you are not weak for asking for help.

You are strong enough to change your life.

And trust me… the life waiting for you on the other side is far better than the one alcohol keeps you trapped in.

If you’re thinking about getting help but don’t know where to start, you’re not alone. Feel free to reach out to me privately. I’m always happy to talk, share my experience, and help point you in the right direction. There are meetings, treatment programs, support groups, and people who truly care and want to see you succeed.

Sometimes the first step is simply telling someone the truth about how you’re feeling. That one step can change everything. 💛

03/07/2026

A Simple Mindset Shift That Changed Everything ❤️

There was a time in my life when everything about sobriety felt like “I have to.”

I have to stay away from alcohol.
I have to say no at parties.
I have to avoid certain places.
I have to rebuild the life I nearly destroyed.

When you look at it that way, sobriety can feel heavy… like a punishment.

But something powerful happened when my mindset shifted from “I have to” to “I get to.”

I get to wake up clear-headed.
I get to remember every conversation.
I get to rebuild trust with the people I love.
I get to chase purpose instead of running from pain.
I get to experience life the way it was meant to be lived.

Sobriety stopped feeling like a cage and started feeling like freedom.

That one small shift in language changed everything.
Because the truth is… millions of people are still trapped in addiction wishing they could say “I get to be sober today.”

And today, by the grace of God and a lot of hard work, I get to.

If you’re in recovery, try this little shift in mindset.
You might realize that the very thing you thought you were being forced to do… is actually the greatest gift you’ve ever been given.

One day at a time. 🙏

03/06/2026

Today is Black Balloon Day. 🎈🖤

A day to remember the lives lost to overdose.
A day to honor the people who should still be here.
A day to remind the world that addiction is not a moral failure… it’s a human struggle that too many families know all too well.

Behind every overdose statistic is a person who was deeply loved.
A son or daughter.
A brother or sister.
A parent.
A best friend.

They were people with laughter, dreams, talents, and stories that mattered.

Today I’m thinking about the families who carry that loss every single day. The empty seats at dinner tables. The birthdays that feel different. The memories that hurt and heal at the same time.

Addiction does not discriminate. It touches every community, every background, every family. And the truth is, many people who struggle with addiction are not weak. They are hurting, overwhelmed, or trying to escape pain that most people never see.

As someone who is walking the road of recovery myself, this day hits close to my heart. I know how powerful addiction can be. I also know how powerful hope, treatment, and support can be.

If you are struggling right now, please hear this:
Your story is not over.
Your life still matters.
Help exists and people care more than you know.

And to the families remembering someone they lost today, please know that their lives mattered and they are not forgotten.

Today we remember them.
Today we speak their names.
Today we send love to every family carrying this grief.

🎈🖤

If you’re comfortable, feel free to share the name of someone you’re remembering today so their light continues to shine.

03/05/2026

Every once in a while a drug comes along that changes everything.
Fentanyl is that drug.

This isn’t like the drugs people experimented with 10 or 20 years ago. Fentanyl is so powerful that just a few grains, about the size of salt, can stop a person’s breathing.

What makes it even more terrifying is that many of the people dying never intended to take fentanyl at all.

It’s being found in:
• Counterfeit pain pills
• Xanax and other fake prescription pills
• Co***ne
• M**h
• He**in

Someone can think they’re taking a pill from a friend… something they believe is “safe”… and within minutes they’re in respiratory failure.

Parents are burying their children.
Friends are losing friends.
Families are being shattered overnight.

This is why awareness matters.

Talk to your kids.
Talk to your friends.
Talk to the people you care about.

Make sure they understand that one pill can kill if it contains fentanyl.

And if you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, please know this: there is help and there is hope. Recovery is possible, and there are people who genuinely care and want to help you stay alive long enough to find it.

This isn’t about judgment.
This is about saving lives.

Please share this. It might reach someone who needs to see it today. 🚨

03/04/2026

There’s a new substance quietly showing up in smoke shops and online called 7-OH.

Many people think it’s just another herbal product or a safer version of kratom. The truth is much more concerning.

7-OH (short for 7-hydroxymitragynine) is an extremely powerful compound derived from kratom that acts on the same receptors in the brain as opioids. In fact, in concentrated forms it can be far more potent than people realize.

And now it’s being sold in tablets, powders, and liquid shots that are heavily concentrated.

I’m starting to hear more and more stories from people in recovery who tried it thinking it was harmless… only to find themselves dealing with cravings, dependence, and withdrawal that looks very similar to opioid withdrawal.

This isn’t about judging anyone. It’s about awareness.

Many of these products are:
• Unregulated
• Highly concentrated
• Easy to buy
• Marketed as “natural” or “safe”

But natural doesn’t always mean safe.

If you’re in recovery or thinking about getting sober, please be careful with anything marketed as a shortcut or a harmless alternative. Sometimes it’s just another trap wearing a different label.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substances, please know you’re not alone. There are people who care and resources that can help.

And if you ever need someone to talk to, you can always reach out to me.

Let’s keep looking out for each other. ❤️

03/04/2026

There were so many moments in early sobriety where I thought I was doing it wrong.

Everything felt uncomfortable.
My mind was loud.
My emotions were all over the place.
Life without alcohol felt… unfamiliar.

I kept thinking, “If this is what sobriety feels like, maybe I’m just not built for it.”

But what I didn’t understand at the time was this:

I wasn’t failing.
I was just at the part where most people quit.

The part where your brain is relearning how to live.
The part where you have to sit with feelings instead of numbing them.
The part where growth feels messy and uncomfortable.

Recovery isn’t a straight road. It’s more like learning how to walk again after years of leaning on something that was slowly destroying you.

The truth is, the hardest days of my sobriety were also the most important ones. They were the days that built the foundation for the life I have today.

So if you’re in that place right now where everything feels hard and you’re questioning whether you’re doing it right…

You’re not doing it wrong.

You’re just in the part where most people quit.

Keep going.
It gets better. I promise.

And if you ever need someone to talk to about getting sober, my inbox is always open. ❤️

03/03/2026

Becoming the best version of yourself comes with a lot of goodbyes.

I’ve learned that the hard way.

Sometimes it’s obvious what you have to let go of. For me, alcohol had to go. The chaos had to go. The excuses had to go. That part was clear.

But what I didn’t expect were the quieter goodbyes.

Goodbye to certain relationships that only worked when I was unhealthy.
Goodbye to being the “fun one” at the expense of my peace.
Goodbye to numbing out instead of feeling things.
Goodbye to environments that kept me small.

Growth isn’t just adding better habits. It’s subtracting what’s slowly killing you.

And if I’m being honest, some of those goodbyes hurt. Some still do. But every time I let go of something that no longer aligns with who I’m becoming, I make room for something better. Peace. Clarity. Purpose. Real connection.

The best version of you will cost you.
Old patterns. Old comfort zones. Old identities.

But what you gain on the other side is worth every goodbye.

If you’re in a season of letting go, I see you. Keep going. 🌱

03/03/2026

Fresh Start Addiction And Recovery Consultants is an amazing local  organization with many resources for people struggling with addiction. Please consider them the next time you need help or guidance. ❤️

There’s a moment that doesn’t look dramatic from the outside.

No flashing lights.
No breaking news headline.
Just a quiet realization that something isn’t working anymore.

For many individuals and families facing substance use or mental health challenges, that moment can feel overwhelming. Questions rush in. Fear creeps up. Pride and uncertainty wrestle for control. And often the hardest part isn’t deciding to get help… it’s knowing where to start.

That’s where Fresh Start Recovery Consultants comes in.

They provide professional recovery support and guidance for individuals and families navigating addiction and related struggles. This isn’t about judgment. It isn’t about pressure. It’s about informed options, practical next steps, and walking alongside people during one of the most vulnerable seasons of their lives.

Here’s what that can look like:

• Personalized recovery planning
• Family support coaching
• Help navigating treatment options
• Sober transportation to treatment
• Ongoing accountability and support
• Confidential, compassionate communication

Education is powerful in recovery. Understanding withdrawal, treatment levels of care, relapse prevention, and family dynamics can reduce fear and increase clarity. Having an experienced professional help you sort through those pieces can make all the difference.

Most importantly, when someone reaches out, they are met with empathy and real support.

If you or someone you love is struggling and unsure what to do next, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

You can call or text Jamie directly at 913-636-3559
Or email Jamie.Felton@outlook.com

Reaching out isn’t weakness. It’s courage in motion. And sometimes that quiet step is the one that changes everything. .

03/02/2026

Some people don’t actually want to see you fail.
They just need you to fail so they can feel safer.

When someone roots for your downfall, it usually says more about their internal weather than your forecast. 🌩️

Here’s what it often reveals:

1. Your growth highlights their stagnation.
When you change, build, heal, or succeed, it quietly asks them a question: “Why am I not doing that?” Not everyone wants to answer that.

2. They benefited from the old version of you.
If you’ve gotten sober, set boundaries, started a business, or raised your standards, some people preferred you smaller. Easier. Less threatening. Growth rearranges relationships.

3. They confuse competition with connection.
Instead of being inspired, they feel compared. Instead of collaborating, they compete. It’s scarcity thinking wearing a human mask.

4. They project their own fear.
If they’ve quit on themselves before, watching you persist can sting. It’s easier to say, “He’ll fail,” than to risk believing change is possible.

And here’s the quiet truth:

People who are building something meaningful rarely sit around hoping others crash. They’re too busy constructing their own lives brick by brick. 🧱

Wanting someone to fail usually signals insecurity, unresolved hurt, or a fixed mindset. It does not signal your worth, your trajectory, or your potential.

If anything, it’s often confirmation that you’re moving.

Because no one throws stones at parked cars. 🚗

Keep going.

03/02/2026

Alcoholism is a selfish disease. 💔

Not because alcoholics are selfish people… but because the disease quietly convinces you that your only job is to protect the next drink.

I used to think I was just “coping.”
Coping with stress.
Coping with heartbreak.
Coping with the heaviness of animal rescue and the things I saw that most people don’t.

But the truth?

Alcohol slowly shrank my world down to one thing: me and the bottle.

It didn’t matter who I hurt.
It didn’t matter who I disappointed.
It didn’t matter how many great relationships I sabotaged.

If drinking was on the table, everything else got pushed off.

I chose alcohol over some of the best relationships I ever had.
I chose alcohol over peace.
I chose alcohol over the man I actually wanted to become.

That’s the part that’s hard to admit.

Addiction doesn’t just damage the person drinking. It drains the people who love them. It makes you unreliable. It makes you defensive. It makes you justify things you once swore you’d never do.

And here’s the twist…

Getting sober forced me to learn the opposite of selfishness.

• Listening instead of reacting
• Showing up when I say I will
• Making amends without excuses
• Putting my recovery ahead of my ego
• Asking for help instead of pretending I’ve got it all together

Sobriety didn’t just remove alcohol. It rebuilt my character.

I’m not proud of who I was when I was drinking.
But I am proud that I was willing to change.

If you’re in it right now and you feel stuck, ashamed, or defensive… I get it. I lived there.

But you are not a selfish person.
You are likely a person trapped in a disease that is lying to you.

And if you ever need someone to talk to, someone who won’t judge you, someone who will tell you the truth with compassion…

My inbox is open. ❤️