One Year Alcohol-Free in These Foolish Things

It feels weird to call it my Soberversary because I don’t feel like I was an alcoholic.

But maybe I was? In a way? I mean, I did use alcohol as a means to cope and escape. It was something much more than pleasure. Alcohol was more than something I enjoyed with friends. I’d give up other things to make sure I had a good supply of bubbly in the house (even when unemployed) - I’d forego healthy habits so I could maintain at least a small stash. I’d panic when I was running low.

So maybe I was an alcohol abuser? I don’t know! I guess I don’t need to define it.

The thing is, I finally decided to give up alcohol for good in the middle of the 75 Hard Challenge I started at the beginning of 2024. One of the rules of 75 Hard is that you have to stick to a diet – no cheat days…and NO ALCOHOL!

It wasn’t the easiest, but I seem to love to follow rules.

Actually, I’ve been saying that I love rules, but what I really love are the RESULTS!!

And once I realized that giving up alcohol was part of a better me AND that I felt like I wasn’t suffering - in fact, I was feeling better and looking better than ever before - I realized that I didn’t even WANT alcohol any more!

It doesn’t hurt that it’s kinda trendy right now to be alcohol-free. Most restaurants now have a little alc-free menu and there are alc-free bars and other establishments that cater to a crowd that is either sober or “sober-curious”

And there are now cutesy names associated with giving up alcohol for a while: Dry January, Sober October, etc.

And my job is incredibly low-stress right now.

It almost feels like everything aligned to make it easy for me to give up alcohol.

Or maybe I made way to make it happen.

Regardless, here I am: one year alcohol free!

And I couldn’t be more proud of myself for that. And I have ZERO desire to ever drink again.

Now on to the next challenge!
xox,
GS