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Grace Lozada

The Life of an Adult Child of an Alcoholic

Grace with Duran Duran wallpaper

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Goodreads – What I’m Reading

gracelozada1970

aka Kiki
ACoA, Blogger, & Photographer
Author of Evolving to Grace, a Memoir
~HOPE, INSPIRE, LOVE~

Photographs are everything. They are the quiet wit

Photographs are everything.
They are the quiet witnesses to our lives, holding moments long after memory begins to fade. They hold what remains as years pass, when details slip away, when stories become harder to reach.
Photographs take us back to versions of ourselves we cannot recall, before we knew fear, before life grew heavy, before we learned what loss felt like. They reveal who we were, who we became, and who we loved.
Some images hold joy and danger in the same frame. Others carry grief, resilience, freedom, or the echo of people who are no longer here. Not all photographs are easy to look at, but all of them tell the truth. They are proof that a moment existed, that a life was lived.
Photography is memory.
Photography is history.
Photography is life.

A few 2016 throwbacks. Seeing the Go-Go’s and fir

A few 2016 throwbacks.
Seeing the Go-Go’s and first time seeing New Order with the one and only.
Outside Lands for the first time to go see DD.

Santa Barbara—one of my favorite places, always.

My memoir, Evolving to Grace had just gone #1 in two categories on Amazon.

My son was still home, going to UCLA, so I got to see him every single day.

A year filled with music and love.
I didn’t know then how much would change.
But I knew I was living it fully.
And that’s something I’ll always carry.

#2016memories #thenandnow #personalarchive #reflection

As this year comes to a close, I’ve been spending

As this year comes to a close, I’ve been spending time reflecting on work, loss, resilience, and how perspective is shaped by circumstance.
Link in Bio to read full post.

https://gracelozada.com/2025/12/26/as-this-year-comes-to-a-close/

✨ Big news! ✨ My new photography website for buyin

✨ Big news! ✨
My new photography website for buying prints is finally live!
I’ve poured my heart into this — capturing the tiny details of flowers, the serenity of landscapes or aggressive waters during a storm, and the beauty of animals through my lens.

You can now explore (and even purchase) my favorite shots directly from the site. Every photo is digitally signed and made with love 💛

Take a peek here -Go to @kikipolophotography and check out link in bio.

Your support, kind words, and shares mean the world! 🤗

#Photography #naturephotographylover #MacroPhotography #flowerphotos #landscapephoto #KikiPoloPhotography #natureprints #macroart #floralart #wildlifeprints #artcollector #homedecor #NatureArt #FineArtPhotography

My mom’s legacy. I had to point this out to her wh

My mom’s legacy. I had to point this out to her when I gave her own private art show in her hospice center a few weeks before she passed. This is her legacy.

Photos by me. @kikipolophotography

#acoa #aca #adultchildrenofalcoholics #breakthecycle #empath #emotionalabuse #endthestigma #loss #healingjourney #iamenough #innerchildhealing #inspirational #inspire #grieving #mentalhealth #personalgrowth #recoveryjourney #recoveryispossible #selflovejourney #selfhealers #singlemom #spiritualgrowth #spiritualpath #survivor

She was complicated. I could put a lot of adjectiv

She was complicated.
I could put a lot of adjectives to describe her.
Some more bad than good.
But for now, I will sit with all the good moments and memories I had with her and the good things I learned from her and how she influenced my life.
Some things are like my love for the beach and the ocean. She also had a love for flowers and especially roses. And have I mentioned before, she was a photographer? She loved photography, and loved filming, capturing special moments. She was also influenced by her parents. She always had cameras and used to take us to the camera store so that she could have her film developed and she wanted to see and test out the latest products.
Just these two things have really influenced my photography. You can see it in my photography (Kiki Polo Photography) and she was delighted in her last few weeks to get her own private art show of a lot of my landscape and nature photography prints that included my macro photography of flowers and roses. She loved to shoot macro photography back in the day!
Travel is also in the blood. She traveled a lot around the world with her family prior to getting married. Even after she got married, there was a couple of small trips to Europe and obviously to New York and Atlantic City, where her family had property. And, the people really close to me know how much I yearn to just to travel and photograph.
She loved all kinds of art. She came from a family that was very cultured. She also loved museums, fashion, music, the ballet, travel, movies, making desserts from around the world, cake decorating, and she was a foodie before that was even a term. Those are some of the things that are important to me, too! I even have a Bachelors Degree in Art with a minor in Photography because like her, I am also an artist at heart.
She may have had her imperfections that affected me, also. But I have chosen to nurture the parts of myself shaped by her, to honor the qualities I loved, and to cherish the bond we share through them.
And I’ll always think of her when I’m at the Rose Garden.
RIP, mom.
(7/3/36-8/29/25)

Roses. They were my mom’s favorite. Mine, too. 🎥/

Roses. They were my mom’s favorite. Mine, too.

🎥/Photography by: @kikipolophotography

This was long overdue. But, it wasn’t until recent

This was long overdue. But, it wasn’t until recently that I was able to come to conclusion on how to wrap up this letter to my deadbeat. He’s not my deadbeat, but he’s the deadbeat parent that has been affecting my life for the last 30+ years. And just like that, 30 years has flown by. I wish that nobody has to deal with a situation like mine regarding Child Support, but I hope if anyone finds himself in a situation where they’re dealing with a deadbeat, don’t give up! You might feel exhausted at times, you might feel defeated at times, but I’m here to tell you justice sometimes prevails! And, you’ll find in the end you are more stronger than you would’ve ever imagined!

To read about my journey with this deadbeat parent, see the link in the bio or go to my website and go to the blog post.

#singlemom #singlemoms #breakthecycle #emotionalabuse #singleparents #deadbeat #childsupporthelp #healingjourney #iamenough #inspirational #inspire

It’s been a stressful last 5 months. I’ve been sic

It’s been a stressful last 5 months. I’ve been sick three times, I’ve been to court three times and had a knee injury. The last court case went well. Deadbeat offered to up monthly child support payments to resolve his balance within a year. But, I think he walked away from that court hearing wondering how he was tricked into that. So far, one day pass his deadline, and he has not paid. I wish this matter could get resolved. As most of you guys know, I never received child support when my son was a minor. The CS case started when my son was 13, after I found deadbeat and took him to court. I only started receiving child support when my son was 22. He is now 28. My life and my son’s life has been affected, altered, by someone who just does not care and is morally bankrupt. What is a woman to do!?!
For the next few days, I guess for now I will start by going back to the gym since I finally got over the flu. A perfect way to work out stress and anger. Then maybe I’ll meditate and journal. And, then I’ll tackle whatever needs to be done about this next week.
*Full post/blog on GraceLozada.com
•See link in bio.

#acoa #aca #adultchildrenofalcoholics #breakthecycle #endthestigma #healing #healingjourney #iamenough #innerchildhealing #inspirational #inspire #loveyourselffirst #mentalhealth #personalgrowth #recoveryjourney #recoveryispossible #selflovejourney #selfworth #selfhealers #singlemom #spiritualgrowth #spiritualpath #survivor #traumarecovery #youareenough #youarenotalone #urnotalone #warrior #authorsofinstagram

Goodbye to 2022. Some of the highlights I’ve had t

Goodbye to 2022. Some of the highlights I’ve had this year are going to Florida and getting scuba certified, doing a road trip and finally seeing Key West, taking a leap and going to go to a huge photo event or the first time in Jamaica and meeting all the talented people there.
I’ve learned new things about myself. I’ve discovered things that have held me back and now that I know I have the power to change these old habits.
I’ve navigated through, trying to learn new techniques for photography and testing out what else I like to photograph, hopefully incorporating that into growing my business.
I’ve continued with my other love - cycling, going back to why I loved it in the first place.
I’ve met a lot of new fabulous people whether it be through cycling, photography, or traveling that I hope to see more of in the years to come.
I’m excited for 2023! I can’t wait to dive in and do all the things that bring me joy, happiness, and just help me evolve as a human.
Here’s to the past, I’ll remember you fondly and here’s to the future, I welcome you with an open heart.

#acoa #adultchildrenofalcoholics #breakthecycle #empath #endthestigma #enlightened #healing #healingjourney #iamenough #inspirational #inspire #loveyourselffirst #mentalhealth #personalgrowth #recoveryjourney #recoveryispossible #selflovejourney #selfhealers #selflove #spiritualpath #survivor #traumarecovery #youareenough #youarenotalone #urnotalone #warrior #author #blogger #kindlebook

Replaced old scars that no longer serve me from my

Replaced old scars that no longer serve me from my life I no longer live. Just got two tattoos that remind me of my resilience and love. 💗

#acoa #adultchildrenofalcoholics #healing #healingjourney #innerchildhealing #mentalhealth #personalgrowth #recoveryispossible #selflovejourney #survivor #youarenotalone #urnotalone

Goodreads is having a giveaway of the e-book versi

Goodreads is having a giveaway of the e-book version of my memoir, Evolving to Grace.
And, what you need to do to read it is download the free Kindle app so that you can be able to read from your computer, your iPhone, Android device.
You’ve got until Aug. 15th to enter!

This story is about my journey of how I was going to fight with every fiber of my being, so that I would not follow in the footsteps of others. From very dark times as a teenager where I believed suicide was the only option to later entertaining times in my early 20’s living in the City of Angels, hobnobbing with professional athletes and entertainers. I could be labeled many things: illegal, ACoA (Adult Child of an Alcoholic), domestic violence survivor, excessive alcohol and drug user, rape victim, assault victim, hitchhiker, high school dropout, call girl, and single mother on welfare. But, these are just situations I ended up in when I was lost and broken. I've learned from my past and I am evolving to find my grace in this beautiful thing we call life. I write to share my experiences with others with the hope that no one, despite whatever situation they may be going through, will never give up. You can change your destiny, your path.

#acoa #adultchildrenofalcoholics #breakthecycle #empath #endthestigma #enlightened #healing #healingjourney #iamenough #innerchildhealing #inspirational #inspire #mentalhealth ##selfworth #selfhealers #spiritualgrowth #selflove #spiritualpath #survivor #traumarecovery #youareenough #youarenotalone #urnotalone #summerread #ebook #kindlebook #goodreads

The e-book version of my memoir, Evolving to Grace

The e-book version of my memoir, Evolving to Grace, is going to be free for the next four days on Amazon.com.
And, you don’t need a Kindle to read it or get your free copy!
Just download the free Kindle app at the App Store or on Amazon, so that you can be able to read it on your computer, iPhone, or Android device.

#acoa #adultchildrenofalcoholics #breakthecycle #endthestigma #healingjourney #iamenough #innerchildhealing #inspirational #inspire #mentalhealth #recoveryjourney #recoveryispossible #selflovejourney #selfhealers #spiritualgrowth #selflove #spiritualpath #survivor #traumarecovery #youareenough #youarenotalone #urnotalone #warrior #author #freebook #bookgiveaway #reading #summerread #ebook #kindlebook

Life’s choices are funny. On the daily, we are pre

Life’s choices are funny. On the daily, we are presented with choices. It took me a long time to be aware of that. We can sometimes be on auto pilot and do what we’ve always done in the past. And for some, that’s worked well. But for others, it takes a lot of effort to not do the same thing over and over and over again. Breaking old habits and old patterns, making different choices, creates evolution. Evolving to who you want to become it’s a choice and a good one at that!

Hello. It’s been a while. I just wanted to say hel

I just finally started reading this. I’ve had it f

I just finally started reading this. I’ve had it for a few years. If there’s any behavior or bad habit that you keep finding you’re doing that you want to change, I highly recommend this!
Last year, I finally realized a pattern I was doing for over 30 years with men. During a session with my therapist, I had this breakthrough as I was breaking down. I gravitate and fall more deeply towards men that didn’t want anything serious and once it ends, most of the time, I fall into a desperate state. The despair was so intense last year when I found myself in the same situation, but a lightbulb went off on what I was doing and why! I almost couldn’t believe it. The pattern was in front of me the whole time, but it just never clicked on why I was doing it and once it did I knew I had to tackle to change my behavior and stop the habit.
Now, in my lifetime, I’ve changed a lot of bad habits. Some have come really easy and some just took a lot of practice and we’re changed over weeks, months, years. I don’t know why some are easier to change and why some are so much more deep rooted and you’re not even aware of it happening. I use to say, “I have a bad picker” when it came to men. Maybe sometimes things evolve into your self awareness only when you are ready to tackle them.
Whatever be the case, when it shows up, just being aware of something won’t stop the behavior from happening, but it is the first step. I highly suggest therapy, discipline to not repeat the pattern, and maybe to read some books on it. Pop Your Patterns by, Seth (yes, I personally know him), is an easy, straightforward read, as I’m finding out. Check it out! I believe it’s available on Amazon.

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abuse ACOA addiction adultchildofalcoholic AdultChildrenofAlcoholics Adult Children of Alcoholics Al-AnonWSO alanon alcoholism amazon Book broken hearts challenges COA compassion death depression domestic violence evolve evolvingtograce Evolving to Grace family GraceLozada grace lozada gratitude grief happiness healing hope inspiration inspire Keeping Secrets Life loss Love Memoir nacoa poetry positivity rape recovery struggle suicidepevention survivor understanding

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