Today I got a pop-up on my phone saying I have not been drinking for half a year!!! Yay how cool is that 🙂 So I thought I´d have a deep think and share all the good things with you as well as the less fun bits since I stopped drinking alcohol (except on airplanes and airports – I still drink there. More about this decision in another post). So here the good and the bad of my journey to sobriety so far…
Let´s start with the not so great things I found out/realised:
Alcohol is everywhere
Alcohol is EVERYWHERE !! Literally every “fun” event/happening involves alcohol – kids birthdays parties, girls night out, adults dinner parties, long lunches in the weekend with friends, national celebrations like St Patricks Day & Kings Day, girl trips, summer holidays with friends, weddings, Xmas celebrations, éverything revolves around or at least involves alcohol. So to do all of these things suddenly without my beloved bubbly drink in hand wasn´t easy…
Sober firsts
Some of my sober firsts were quite hard, others easier. So far I’ve had a summer holiday away, a wedding, St Patricks Day and a few birthday/dinner parties, weekend lunches and girl nights out. And to be honest since I am more or less used to being the non-drinker amongst everyone else (I´m literally the only one in my social environment that doesn’t drink) it almost feels normal now. It doesn’t bother me that much (anymore).
Feeling like the odd one out
There´s just one thing: sometimes I feel left out a bit. Many of my close friends like to drink and smoke and since I stopped doing both these things I kind of feel like the odd one out. Most of them are on the exact same page drinking and smoking wise – as in… they just love it haha. And they have been since we all met. So since I’m the one that decided to change I just have to deal with this. Which is hard sometimes….
Like a late night cancellation from one of my friends for our next mornings coffee date cause they were getting drunk together and knew she was going to be hangovered the next day so didn’t feel like an early morning meet up. Or the times that people are getting rounds of drinks at events and don’t bother asking if I want anything as I don’t drink (alcohol!! I do drink other things…!). Or the occasions where spontaneous drinking sessions pop op and no one thinks to call/invite me, I assume cause I don’t drink/smoke anyway so what’s the point?
I also have a bit of FOHMO (fear of having missed out). Which is mostly due to the pictures made on nights out after I have left and are being shared the next morning. Up till the point I’m still there everything is calm and breezy but after I leave (which is usually around midnight, like Cinderella haha – By that time I´d have had enough fun for one night more often than not ;)) the night seems to shift. Into craziness & closeness. Obviously because the alcohol is starting to do its part… But really, sometimes it is like it is only possible to properly bond if you share the night getting drunk together.
But…
But… True friends will always be there. I know that. And if the only negative thing of not drinking is getting the feeling of being the odd one out at certain short moments in time then I will take those moments over drinking alcohol ánytime!
Love this post btw I saw on Instagram:
Now the good stuff
So, now onto the GOOD things of being sober:
- I feel quite clear in the head and can really see and appreciate the little things in life. Like the very clear, blue sky. Or a delicious cup of coffee…
- I can detect my feelings and guide them into the right direction. For instance when I feel sad I make myself think about the why and then reason myself out of that feeling. Or at least I realise it will pass. Also, I feel more balanced. People annoy me less easily, like in traffic and stuff. Although this also might have something to do with the fact that I started to take CBD oil in the morning haha. See a good one below ⤵️ But more on that another time.
- I have no hellish, weekend wasting hangovers anymore. After too many drinks I´d be so sick the next day I literally had to stay in bed all day (or on the couch on a “good” hangover day) and I was just wishing the day to end so I could go to sleep. And even days after the “fun night out” I would be down and depressed and feeling super insecure. Oh and did I mention having an amazing 10 year old daughter at home? Yeah, not a great rol model…
- I have way more energy than before and I get on with stuff, like starting this blog! I´m working out 5 days a week. I take moments to just sit and think about nothing in particular, which then brings up some innovative thoughts. Never happened while I was still drinking.
- I’m am proud to show my daughter that there are many ways in life to have fun for adults. That drinking alcohol is completely unnecessary to have the best of times. Plus my daughter can now njoy a mother who is happy and energetic and full of life, which is what every child deserves to have.
Result: I feel like I have definitely made the right decision to stop drinking alcohol and I look very much forward to the rest of my alcohol free life! I feel good. And… will never question the decision 😉
