Hi, I'm Teri.

Grit Chronicles is my open journal- a space rooted in honesty, growth, and lived experience.

I'm 56 years old, a mother of two, and someone who has lived through both extraordinary highs and devastating lows. My life has been shaped by struggle, loss, recovery, and rebuilding – and through it all I've learned the change as possible, even when it feels out of reach.

For many years, I struggled with alcoholism and addiction. My path wasn't linear, and it wasn't easy. There were consequences, repeated attempts at sobriety, and moments when Hope felt thin. What I know now is the recovery isn't about perfection. It's about persistence.

Today, I've been sober for 14 years. At the same time I lived with ongoing mental health challenges, including chronic depression. Sobriety did not erase life's difficult difficulties, but it gave me the clarity and grounding to face them honestly. Growth, for me, is still a daily practice.

Grit Chronicles exists to share the stories that shaped me – not as a blueprint, but as a reflection. These stories are about resilience, accountability, motherhood, recovery, and the long process of becoming they are not just about surviving, but about learning how to keep going.

This space is for anyone navigating change, rebuilding after setbacks, or trying to make sense of who they are becoming. If you ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of your next step, you're not alone here.

Hope may rise and fall. Grit remains. And growth continues.