Booze Free in Music City

Back when the pandemic started, I remember everything being so unprecedented and unlike anything we had ever seen before. I realized at that time that when there are lots of things outside of my control, I want to control the controllables. Instead of drinking at home, while the whole world was shutdown, I decided to take a break from drinking. This was my first time exploring an alcohol-free lifestyle. I experienced the first 6 months of the pandemic without alcohol.

Then on December 8^th, 2022, the day I found out about my mom’s breast cancer diagnosis, I knew I couldn’t drink at a Christmas party I was going to that evening. I don’t know how I didn’t look like I had been bawling my eyes out that entire day, but I remember my whole face and body felt hot, and the last thing I needed was to drink alcohol.

On April 1, 2024, I decided to take a 30-day break from alcohol… and that break from alcohol has now surpassed 2 years. During those 2 years, I’ve gone through some tough times- being a caregiver for my mom, wanting to leave – and then leaving- my job of 11 years, starting a new job, losing and leaving friendships and I’ve done it all without alcohol.

Reflecting on 2 years of being alcohol-free has made me realize something- I can do hard things sober. I still get sad, glad, mad, hurt, upset, etc- but I can feel those feelings without relying on alcohol to cope. Alcohol doesn’t have to be the solution to your problems. On the other side of drinking, I have found a strong support system.

And trust me- there are times when I don’t want to feel feelings anymore. During those particularly heavy times, I’ve leaned on guided meditations, talking to a therapist, floating in a salt water tank at Float Horizon, drinking a THC beverage before bed, and exercise. I also look forward to the small things- like having a cup of coffee first thing in the morning and watching the sunrise, going for a walk outside, feeding the birds, rabbits and squirrels in my backyard, and facetiming my Mom (so I can see her, plus our cats).

Life is full of happiness and heartaches, and I want to be there for all of those moments. I can do hard things sober.