Kristi’s Journey to Sobriety and Purpose

At Leaving Mayhem, we’re fueled by stories of resilience and transformation.

Stories like Kristi’s remind us of the strength within every individual to overcome the chaos of addiction and create a life of purpose and peace.

         

Kristi is now over five years sober and owns a non-alcoholic bottle shop in Middleton, Wisconsin.

But her path to this fulfilling life wasn’t easy, and it didn’t happen overnight.

Kristi’s relationship with alcohol started like it does for many—an escape from feelings she didn’t want to face.

Drinking more frequently, earlier in the day, and alone became her norm.

“I didn’t realize how quickly I had become dependent,” she recalls. 

The effects were devastating.

She lost weight, made reckless choices, and found herself battling depression and anger.

She even drove under the influence, risking everything.

“I was using alcohol to avoid my life, to numb myself from what I was feeling,” Kristi says.

But deep down, she knew she couldn’t keep living that way.

What followed was one of the hardest, but most transformative, decisions of her life: to stop drinking.

Making that choice didn’t mean everything got easier right away.

“I was terrified,” she says.

“I was a single mom to four kids under 7 during a pandemic, with almost no support."

"I didn’t know how I was going to get through it.”

But Kristi leaned into her sobriety one day at a time.

Each step forward helped her heal, rebuild her life, and learn to trust the unknown road ahead. 

That road eventually led her to a place she couldn’t have imagined back then—owning her non-alcoholic bottle shop, a space where people in recovery can feel seen and supported.

Kristi’s shop offers a wide range of non-alcoholic options, from mocktails to NA wines, spirits, and beers, but it’s more than just a store.

It’s a safe haven where people share their stories, celebrate their wins, and feel empowered in their sobriety.

“Every day, I get to be part of other people’s success in sobriety,” she says.

“That’s a gift I’ll never take for granted.”

For Kristi, sobriety has been about more than just giving up alcohol.

It’s been a process of learning to face life head-on, without needing to escape.

“I’ve accepted the truth about myself, my relationships, and my addictive relationship with alcohol,” she shares.

“I’ve learned there’s nothing I can’t handle sober. Peace is waiting on the other side of discomfort.”

Her journey hasn’t been without challenges.

Kristi stayed sober through incredibly difficult, life-altering events—moments she once would have drowned out with alcohol.

“Sobriety gave me strength I didn’t know I had,” she says.

“No one can take my sobriety away from me, and that’s empowering.”

One of the most profound lessons Kristi has learned is the importance of doing the work for herself.

“Other people can want you to get sober as much as they want, and you can want to get sober for them, but until you find your own reason, it won’t stick."

"You have to want it for you.”

Kristi’s advice for others on the path to recovery is simple yet powerful: “Know yourself authentically. Trust yourself completely. Be yourself freely.”

She believes sobriety is the ultimate superpower, especially as a parent.

“Being 100% present for my kids is the greatest gift sobriety has given me,” she says.

Her story is a testament to what’s possible when you leave the mayhem behind.

Sobriety isn’t just about quitting—it’s about creating a life you wouldn’t trade for anything.

For Kristi, that life includes being a role model for her children, supporting others in recovery, and showing that peace is always worth fighting for.