In his book Think and Grow Rich— a must-read not just for creating monetary wealth but for living your best life—Napoleon Hill talks about faith and moving definitively towards your future. While the imagery he evokes of burning all bridges behind you so there’s no turning back to where you were before may seem aggressive, the general idea of moving on definitively is one I’ve tried to adopt. The more I talk and learn about the joy that is possible in sobriety, the more I see that it is also necessary to honor and then close the door on a lot of what was “before.” (Yes, this is part of the inspiration for the name AFTER.) Rather than the destruction of all bridges behind me, moving forward, to me, means sending a love note to the person I was and then trekking so far inland that there is no road back to the place from which I started.

This summer I took a step toward my future—one I’ve been looking forward to since April 2022 when I first had the idea for AFTER Magazine. After completing an amazing, fulfilling, and sometimes challenging design project that spanned the past two years, I’ve left my 22-year career in interior design behind. I am energized, full of ideas, and really grateful to devote 100% of my working—sometimes waking—hours to this magazine and the mission we are here to fulfill. I’m filled with gratitude daily for the people who tell me they are inspired by what we’re doing, for the advertisers who say they are reaching new markets through our work, and for the sense of excitement that surrounds every issue.

In my travels, I’ve talked to quite a few of you who are also working towards your next chapter—leaving careers to turn passion projects in the recovery and AF space into full-time jobs, and changing the world in the process. It took me two years to shut that door, but looking back it was the right timing. [Note: It’s always the right timing.] No one ever said dramatic shifts need to happen recklessly or at lightning speed. (I’ve learned that’s not my personality anyway.) I took my last few design jobs so that I could start this magazine, and then began a trek inland that has brought us here, our eighth issue, with so much more on the way. When it feels scary I remind myself that a leap of faith requires both the leap and the faith—they are equally important. This means dedicating yourself to a path, trusting the outcome, and continuing onward no matter what.

This issue is dedicated to both leaps and faith in a multitude of different ways. Mark LaFaro discusses his marriage and the decisions he had to make to move forward (The Relationship I Saved, p.22). Peggi Cooney allows her childhood to come to light with perspectives brought by years of healing and work (The Gold Band, p.34). We talk to the amazing LP O’Brien who took her own leap to compete on the Netflix show Drink Masters, which led to countless new opportunities (and rock star status in the NA world) over the past few years (Lauren Paylor O’Brien, p.24). Kelley Kitley discusses the epitome of faith: sending your kids out into the world and hoping you’ve done enough (Raising Teens as a Sober Parent, p.20). And Natalie Fannin shares how she found the courage to reach out for help in the midst of the cycle of gray-area drinking (Finding Community in Sobriety, p.12). In our NA beer section we learn how breweries have been committing their time and resources to creating NA beers—betting on the future of the alcohol-free market—much to all of our benefit (Taking the Plunge, p.18).

This fall we have created a free booklet, 30 Tips for Creating a Beautiful AF Life (and an accompanying workbook with even more to explore). We hope you’ll take a look. Each tip is a step on the journey inland. There is no schedule, no road map, and nothing wrong with who you were before—only the you you’re waiting for on the other side of the journey.    

Where will your next leap take you?