Acclaimed author, expert fitness trainer, and advocate Christine Lee provides guidance to others looking to better themselves through her multiple platforms and works, including her book 10 Years in a Bottle.
As a military veteran who has overcome alcoholism, how therapeutic was it for you to share your story in 10 years in a Bottle?
It felt like a weight was lifted off me. As I put the pen to paper, it felt like I was letting go of a pain that was deeply rooted from my childhood. As therapeutic as it may have been, my heart ached to revisit some of the hurtful incidents and explain the trauma and damage to the reader. I was terrified to put the book out because I was letting people know about a very vulnerable part of me, my pain! I knew publishing “10 Years in a Bottle” would help to set someone else free. When people send me feedback after reading it, I know I did the right thing.
What was your turning point that you to change the direction of your life?
My family was depending on me. My mother was living with me, I had a young daughter and later down the road I had a son. I knew if not for me, I had to do it for them. My love for them saved my life. I began to find value in myself but the love I had for them is what really made me push through. I was breaking their hearts but my poor decisions. I remember my mom pleading with me to change my ways. I was spiraling out of control. I couldn’t continue to hurt my family.
In what ways have you become an advocate for others?
I started a nonprofit called Sober Culture in 2018. I partnered with Natalian Johnson, who shared a similar story and together we would speak with the youth about addiction and alcohol abuse. We visited schools, had events, and launched a Sobriety Walk to honor those who overcame and loss the battle to addiction. I am very vocal on my social media platforms about my past and offer to help those in need who may need guidance. As time went on God led Natalian and I to other great movements so she has a nonprofit of her own and I wanted to take my vision a step further with helping be healthy from the inside out and that’s why I got serious about personal training and becoming the owner of Inside Out Health Wellness and Fitness and pursuing my degree in Kinesiology.
How do you incorporate being a fitness instructor in your altruistic efforts?
I absolutely love to help others. My heart has a specific soft spot for women and children. I work with various businesses locally and offer classes to the community promoting health and wellness. So many other things are boldly promoted to our community such as drugs and violence. I make it a point to be a light to my peers and my community by being a personal example to them by physically getting out there with them and helping them be the best version of themselves. To have classes for women and hear their testimonies about how they are shedding inches and feeling amazing makes my heart melt. Our children are also struggling these days with childhood obesity, so I also make it a point to help our children get back to being healthy and taking a step away from the electronics. Times are changing and technology is a dope thing, but we must have balance.
You are also pursuing a degree in Kinesiology. Expound on what that is and the ways it will help you serve others.
Kinesiology is the study of the body’s movement. To have knowledge of human physiology will allow me to be proficient in my service to women and children. Aside from being a personal trainer, I will be able to assist people recover from life changes incidents such as injury or childbirth and help them with mobility. I would love to explore physical therapy and occupational therapy.
How do you balance all your activities and parenting as a mother of two?
I have an amazing support system. If it weren’t for family, I don’t know what I would do. My children are blessed to have healthy and loving relationships with their family.
With the success of your book, do plan a follow up?
I want to touch on the subject about failing and getting off track. People may experience a victory and then get distracted or life kicks in and get off course. These things happen all the time to people. Some are devastated by failure and don’t know how to bounce back. I want to open up about failing and dusting yourself off. I’m not the first to fail and won’t be the last. I would like to help give people some tools and insight on life after failure.
Do you have advice for someone looking to change their life?
You must be intentional about wanting to change. The people around me had to change. If they didn’t support my efforts to do better, they had to go. If they were a distraction and didn’t uplift me, they had to go. I would also advise addressing what you are running from. For me, alcohol itself was not the root. I was hurting and needed to heal from some traumatic things in my life. I used alcohol to cope and drown my pain. When you can get to the root of your pain and heal, you can properly move on and change your life for the better. We must allow ourselves to feel our emotions. Get angry, cry, feel the sadness in a healthy manner. Learn ways to cope that are healthy and that is when you will begin to see your life turn around. I am a firm believer in law of attraction and that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Speak life over yourself and all that you love around you. It will truly blossom.
BE’N ORIGINAL
