I also quit drinking in 2022… and you’re spot on. Alcohol is so woven into the very fabric of our lives its use is only questioned when it’s not being used.. messed up right?? And sorry for the buzz kill but there technically is no safe amount of alcohol.. it is a poison ☠️ Alcohol wreaked its havoc throughout my life in fits and starts.. nothing major, nothing extraordinary.. but I finally realized every time there was dysfunction in family matters, yes, alcohol was flowing freely. So I decided I had enough and never looked back. Best decision ever! It’s okay to not drink!!
I’m not sure I want to go completely alcohol free, but I could make a few days a week alcohol free. I had about 5 drinks today and started having waves of anxiety wash over me. Not cool. I’m 57 years old. I can do better.
Really appreciate this perspective—both as someone nearly five years sober and as someone committed to living authentically. Alcohol is the easy way to speak our mind and feign confidence but it’s a tool that quickly starts to lose its power and come at a cost. The hard work is waking up and willing ourselves to take the steps needed to live the life we want.
So appreciate you bringing light to this! I’ll also be writing about my sobriety journey in the coming weeks and would love to get your thoughts!
Congrats! That's amazing. You're definitely right. Being intentional about living a better life starts with removing the things that are holding us back.
And I'd love to read it. Share it when it's ready!
Andy, I really admire your courage in admitting to your readers your hellish experience with alcohol. And it's gratifying to see that you've replaced the frivolity --> black-out --> hangover
--> anxiety cycle with meditation, visualization and the like. You're an inspiration.
Thanks for sharing this, Andy. You highlight so many important aspects of how we frame alcohol in our culture. I’m really glad you’re sober and living a life that feels aligned with who you are.
Congratulations, Andy! Everything you said resonated with me. I think it's GREAT that you didn't wait as long as I did to discover the many benefits of "going against the grain." (Did you intend that pun, by the way?) I was 54 (:-O) when I stumbled into sobriety, but I'm so grateful to say that 15 years later, I'm still sober. Thank you so much for sharing, and congratulations again.
I am so proud of you and grateful that you are sober…you have no idea. Love you!
Thanks, Mom! ❤️
This story was important. A sincere thank you for sharing it.
Also, you clearly have a mom that loves and cares about your well-being. Hope you appreciate that! 😉
And thank you so much
I do very much! 😄
I also quit drinking in 2022… and you’re spot on. Alcohol is so woven into the very fabric of our lives its use is only questioned when it’s not being used.. messed up right?? And sorry for the buzz kill but there technically is no safe amount of alcohol.. it is a poison ☠️ Alcohol wreaked its havoc throughout my life in fits and starts.. nothing major, nothing extraordinary.. but I finally realized every time there was dysfunction in family matters, yes, alcohol was flowing freely. So I decided I had enough and never looked back. Best decision ever! It’s okay to not drink!!
Congratulations!!
I’m not sure I want to go completely alcohol free, but I could make a few days a week alcohol free. I had about 5 drinks today and started having waves of anxiety wash over me. Not cool. I’m 57 years old. I can do better.
Yea it’s everybody’s own decision to make. I wish I could just have one drink. I’d still be safely drinking if that was the case.
But congrats on recognizing it. Many don’t. The self awareness is huge.
Thanks! I have a friend who has a serious problem with alcohol. She cannot stop at one. At least I can do that. It’s a choice I can make.
Yep absolutely!
Really appreciate this perspective—both as someone nearly five years sober and as someone committed to living authentically. Alcohol is the easy way to speak our mind and feign confidence but it’s a tool that quickly starts to lose its power and come at a cost. The hard work is waking up and willing ourselves to take the steps needed to live the life we want.
So appreciate you bringing light to this! I’ll also be writing about my sobriety journey in the coming weeks and would love to get your thoughts!
Congrats! That's amazing. You're definitely right. Being intentional about living a better life starts with removing the things that are holding us back.
And I'd love to read it. Share it when it's ready!
Andy, I really admire your courage in admitting to your readers your hellish experience with alcohol. And it's gratifying to see that you've replaced the frivolity --> black-out --> hangover
--> anxiety cycle with meditation, visualization and the like. You're an inspiration.
Thank you, Larry! 🙏🏻
Thanks for sharing this, Andy. You highlight so many important aspects of how we frame alcohol in our culture. I’m really glad you’re sober and living a life that feels aligned with who you are.
Thank you so much! I am very glad, too.
Congratulations, Andy! Everything you said resonated with me. I think it's GREAT that you didn't wait as long as I did to discover the many benefits of "going against the grain." (Did you intend that pun, by the way?) I was 54 (:-O) when I stumbled into sobriety, but I'm so grateful to say that 15 years later, I'm still sober. Thank you so much for sharing, and congratulations again.
Thank you so much, Deanne. And no, no pun intended!
And congrats to you as well! Better late than never.