One of the first things I noticed when I quit drinking alcohol was its ubiquitous presence. Strangely, I'd never realized how frequently the theme of alcohol arose in my daily life. And by my daily life, I mean yours, too. It's in radio commercials, TV shows, movies, social media posts even Hallmark stores for God's sake. Can't cope with life? Have a drink. Boss sucks? Have a drink. It's noon somewhere in the world... Have a drink.  Continue reading

When I first decided to quit drinking, I had to go through several iterations of "the quit" before it finally stuck. Even though my common sense told me that drinking did more harm than good, it could not override my desire to drink. Continue reading

I had a reason to celebrate. On this particular day,  I'd received news that the editor job I'd applied for was mine for the taking. Truly, a dream job. I'd been writing for a local newspaper for a couple years and my contract was ending in a few weeks. I had no job lined up. And, skill-wise, I was best suited for a writing or editing gig,  Continue reading

Today is exactly 15 months sober for me. I have not had a sip of alcohol since December 3, 2018. I've become so accustomed to not drinking anymore, that it almost seems like no big deal. But it is. Three years ago today, I could barely get through a night without a glass of wine, picking up a bottle of wine any day of the week to replenish a dwindling supply. Continue reading

Once you quit drinking, for good, you're going to get to know your triggers. You won't like them at first, and certainly won't recognize them. That's because before quitting, a trigger would be imperceptible to your mind. Almost as quickly as it would arise, you would reach for that glass of wine. Continue reading

When you choose to quit drinking alcohol, don't expect much support. Unless you're an alcoholic. At least, that has been my experience so far. People get it if you quit because you're an alcoholic and your life is a hot mess, as a result. They support you and encourage you. That doesn't happen if you're a social drinker who has decided to quit.  Continue reading