There was a time when I believed my life would always be defined by brokenness. Addiction had taken so much from me, my peace, my confidence, my relationships, and most importantly, my sense of self. I carried shame everywhere I went, convinced that my mistakes would forever outweigh my worth. I was hopeless and knew I would never stop using drugs. But recovery taught me something different: healing does not happen all at once, and transformation rarely looks perfect.
That is the heart behind “Scattered Pink – A Diary of Woman in Recovery”, a deeply personal diary-style journey through addiction, recovery, motherhood, marriage, trauma, healing, and hope.
The Power of Telling the Truth
When you read “Scattered Pink”, you are not reading a polished version of recovery. You are stepping into real moments. These moments were filled with fear, grief, resilience, and growth. I wrote this book because I wanted women to know they are not alone in their struggles.
So many people battling substance use disorders feel trapped behind silence and stigma. You may look around and think everyone else has it together while you are quietly falling apart. I know that feeling. I lived it. But recovery begins when you stop hiding and start telling the truth.
In the pages of “Scattered Pink”, I share the messy parts most people avoid talking about guilt, trauma, parenting & marriage struggles, self-doubt, and learning how to rebuild a life from the ground up. Recovery is not a straight line, and healing is not always pretty. Sometimes it feels scattered. Sometimes it feels fragile. Yet even scattered pieces can come together to create something beautiful.
Recovery Changed More Than My Sobriety
One of the biggest lessons I learned is that recovery is about far more than simply not using substances. Recovery changes the way you see yourself. It changes how you love people, how you show up for your children, how you lead, and how you dream.
When I entered recovery on May 27, 2007, I could not have imagined the life waiting for me. Today, I serve as the CEO of The McShin Foundation a nationally recognized peer-to-peer recovery community organization helping individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders. I have had the privilege of speaking across the country, coaching women, advocating for recovery, and helping others believe in themselves again. But none of that happened overnight. It happened one day at a time.
That is why “Scattered Pink” resonates with so many readers. It reminds people that you do not need to have everything figured out to begin healing. You just need the willingness to keep going.
Why Women Connect with This Story
Women often carry invisible burdens. We try to be strong for everyone else while quietly neglecting ourselves. We carry shame over our past, pressure to be perfect, and fear of judgment if we admit we are struggling. This book gives women permission to be honest.
You may see parts of yourself in these pages, even if your story looks different from mine. Maybe you are recovering from addiction. Maybe you are rebuilding after heartbreak, trauma, burnout, or loss. Maybe you are simply trying to remember who you are underneath the pain. Healing begins when you realize your story still matters.
I wanted readers to walk away from this book with hope. Not surface-level inspiration, but real hope, the kind that says, “If she can survive that and rebuild her life, maybe I can too.”
You Are More Than Your Past
One of the most important messages in “Scattered Pink” is this: your past does not disqualify you from a meaningful future.
Too often, people define themselves by their worst moments. Recovery taught me to stop seeing myself only through the lens of shame. Instead, I began learning how to extend grace to myself and recognize the strength it took to survive.
You are allowed to grow beyond the version of yourself that once struggled. You are allowed to heal. You are allowed to dream again.
And sometimes, the very experiences that nearly broke you become the foundation for helping someone else heal.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are in recovery yourself, love someone who is struggling, or simply need encouragement during a difficult season, this book offers a message many people desperately need to hear: you are not alone, and your story is not over.
What part of your story are you finally ready to stop hiding?
By Honesty Liller
About the Author
Honesty Liller has been in recovery from SUD since May 27, 2007, and is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in Virginia. She is the CEO of a nationally accredited Recovery Community Organization supporting individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders. Honesty is mom, wife, a motivational speaker, recovery advocate, and the best-selling author of “Scattered Pink”. She is also a Transformational Life Coach with Honesty Liller Coaching, LLC transforming women’s lives.
I just read it the other day and couldn’t stop until I finished. It was very inspiring.