My Worst Thanksgiving Ever

And How It Saved My Life ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ On Thanksgiving Day 2007, I woke up on the couch in the lobby of a rural hotel. I was wrapped in an unfamiliar coat and had no idea whose it was or how I'd gotten there. I sheepishly approached the front desk attendant, handed him the coat, and slinked out of the hotel. I got in my car and drove home, but I couldn't bring myself to go inside. Instead, I drove along the rural back roads for hours while drinking the remainder of the wine I'd bought the day before. It occurred to me that it was Thanksgiving and that I was supposed to be celebrating with my family, but I pushed that thought aside. By the time I managed to drive myself home that night, I hadn't been in contact with my family for more than 24 hours. Their initial relief at seeing me quickly turned to justifiable anger, and all I could do was retreat to my room and pass out again. The next morning, I woke to an empty house. There was a note for me on the kitchen counter in my husband's handwriting, bearing only the name "Jeremy" and a phone number. Shaking, I picked up the phone, dialed the number, and Jeremy answered. He told me he was the admissions officer at a rehab facility called The Ark. Then I said the eight hardest words for any addict to say: "I have a problem, and I need help." 78 long days later, I graduated from treatment for alcoholism. I wish I could tell you that the weeks and months that followed were easy or that I never again stumbled and had another drink, but neither of those things is true. But the hard work and difficult days were more than worth it. When I was in treatment, my counselors taught me many important things, but one that was crucial for me was that I needed to find my passion and pursue it! They didn't just say it was a good idea; they said that for me, it was mandatory if I wanted to stay sober. That advice led me to start my blog, [One Good Thing by Jillee](. Every day, I wrote down "one good thing" in the hope that I would read my own words as gospel and have the will to overcome the demons. ⁣ That passion got feedback, gratitude, and support as my readers bolstered my courage and often told me their own stories. When I realized that there were others just like me out there, I knew I wanted One Good Thing to become something for them to hold on to as well. As I healed, others healed along with me. In 2019, I had the opportunity to fulfill a long-time dream and launch the [By Jillee Shop](. The shop has given me another way to connect with incredible people and touch lives in ways I never imagined. A few months ago, I read this review for my [Restore Essential Oil Blend]( from a customer named Laura: "This is magic in a bottle! I am recovering from brain cancer, and this blend of oils has brought me so much relief. I have a lot of tension in my head and neck, and I've tried everything from over-the-counter to narcotics, and nothing worked. This has been a Godsend! My husband even uses it on his arthritic fingers. It has definitely changed my life. Thank you, Jillee!!" My jaw about hit the floor. I knew that Restore was a great product but could hardly fathom someone saying that one of my products had changed her life. If you had told me all those years ago that today I would not only be sober, but I would be running a business that is literally changing people's lives, I would have laughed in your face. My alcoholism had blinded me to any future past my next drink. Luckily, my family saw a tiny sliver of light at the end of my dark tunnel of addiction and got me the help I needed. So now you know why Thanksgiving is more than just another holiday to me. While those demons from my past may never fade entirely, they certainly are a powerful reminder of how much I have to be grateful for. Wishing you a safe and happy Thanksgiving,  P.S. If you're doing any Christmas shopping today, my whole store is 30% off! [Click here to check out the sale.]( No longer want to receive these emails? [Unsubscribe](. One Good Thing by Jillee, LLC 629 E 500 N Heber City, UT 84032