Thank you Emily for this brave and vulnerable post. I gave up alcohol in 2021 and life is so much better without it. It is a shame drinking is seen as so glamorous and acceptable by society. It takes courage to step away - thank you for this post 🌻✨
Thank you so much Clare, that is very kind of you. I found it really comforting and inspiring reading other peoples stories and experiences living alcohol free, so I was determined to put a more vulnerable piece out there!
Give thanks for this vulnerable and transparent article, Emily. I let go of drinking in 2017 and had a lot of the same experiences as you! Not drinking alcohol is simply my normal now (wow, it will be 8 years this November! 😳) and I am grateful that I made this change in my life. I stand with you in solidarity. 🫂🩵
Thank you for being so kind. It is so precious to me to have a place where I can share and be met with such kindness and generosity - so thank you Deanna!!! Congratulations on your nearly 8 years ! It is a wonderful new normal. 💕
Congratulations Emily, one year is a fantastic achievement! I loved reading about all the positives of giving up alcohol and found myself nodding as I was making my way down the list. I'm not completely sober, but I rarely drink nowadays. Perhaps once or twice a month, maybe a glass of wine or two at the most. Like you, I hate that groggy feeling in the morning. It feels like such a waste of a day doesn't it.
Thank you Debbie. I think just reducing to start with really helped me, it was the little by little approach that gave me the confidence to keep going - and then finally I just wanted to be free of it.
Congratulations Emily on your 1 year sober anniversary x I have a love/hate relationship with alcohol, since entering midlife I have definitely drunk less. I have participated in dry January for the past couple of years and really enjoy it! I drink alcohol twice a week but sometimes I think I could only drink on special occasions as that would be even less! Always curious about other people’s relationship with alcohol.
Thank you Jo! I definitely found cutting down helped me with my confidence, but also my belief that I could do it! I learnt a lot reading others stories too. I am always here too Jo.
Emily congratulations on this huge milestone and for sharing it with us.
We conversed a little back in January- I recovered from flu and went straight back to drinking 4-5 nights out of 7. Never to excess, I get up early and don’t have hangovers but it feels like a dependence, the same kind I have on tea and coffee. I’m clearly sober contemplative and you’ve reignited this, you, along with me reading that Stephen Graham is teetotal. Thank you Emily have a lovely day xxxx
Thank you Maria. I have often wondered how you were getting on! I think following your curiosity is the best first step, don't put too much pressure on yourself. x
So interesting to read this. In a strange sort of way, I had the opposite experience in that I didn’t drink alcohol at all until my mid-30s because I think I was scared of what I’d seen it do to other people, and all the negativity which came with that. I built a relationship from scratch in the other direction, but even then, I’m not bothered either way. I can take it or leave it.
It is very impressive to abstain until your thirties, I am so happy for you that this helped your pave your own way with drinking and that you have found a good balance for you. Thank you so much for sharing your experience David.
Congratulations Emily! I celebrated 4 years of no alcohol this past November and I definitely agree with all the positives you listed about choosing not to drink 💗
Thank you so much Holly, and thank you for reading! This all unfolded for me slowly throughout the year - I guess I will learn more during year two! I hope you are well - lovely to hear from you here too. ☺️
I have very similar feelings around alcohol, other the last few years I’ve experimented with extended periods without drinking but always end up going back to it. As you mentioned, that inner dialogue of shall I drink/how much should I drink/what should I drink is exhausting and the mental space that’s created during my alcohol free times is liberating. Lately I keep hearing whispers in my mind of ‘I think I’m done’, so maybe this is it for me, time to listen to those whispers and stay sober for good. Congratulations Emily xx
Thank you Rachel. I guess my biggest take away on the whole sober curious, alcohol free journey (for want of a better word) is to truly listen to your mind, body and soul - follow your curiosity, try and tune into that inner gut/intuition and follow that path until you start to feel it all click. It is most certainly different for everyone... good luck to you, and I am here if you ever want to talk or need some words of encouragement!
Thank you Emily for this brave and vulnerable post. I gave up alcohol in 2021 and life is so much better without it. It is a shame drinking is seen as so glamorous and acceptable by society. It takes courage to step away - thank you for this post 🌻✨
Thank you so much Clare, that is very kind of you. I found it really comforting and inspiring reading other peoples stories and experiences living alcohol free, so I was determined to put a more vulnerable piece out there!
Give thanks for this vulnerable and transparent article, Emily. I let go of drinking in 2017 and had a lot of the same experiences as you! Not drinking alcohol is simply my normal now (wow, it will be 8 years this November! 😳) and I am grateful that I made this change in my life. I stand with you in solidarity. 🫂🩵
Thank you for being so kind. It is so precious to me to have a place where I can share and be met with such kindness and generosity - so thank you Deanna!!! Congratulations on your nearly 8 years ! It is a wonderful new normal. 💕
Wow this was a post I didn't expect, but this is so wonderful for you Emily, congratulations. 💛✨️
Thank you Hayley 🙏 I am rather proud of myself!
Good for you, Em x
Thank you James 😊
Congratulations Emily! Loved reading your experience. It only gets better from here...✨
Thank you Molly. I really feel a difference stepping into my second year.
Congratulations Emily, one year is a fantastic achievement! I loved reading about all the positives of giving up alcohol and found myself nodding as I was making my way down the list. I'm not completely sober, but I rarely drink nowadays. Perhaps once or twice a month, maybe a glass of wine or two at the most. Like you, I hate that groggy feeling in the morning. It feels like such a waste of a day doesn't it.
Thank you Debbie. I think just reducing to start with really helped me, it was the little by little approach that gave me the confidence to keep going - and then finally I just wanted to be free of it.
Congratulations Emily on your 1 year sober anniversary x I have a love/hate relationship with alcohol, since entering midlife I have definitely drunk less. I have participated in dry January for the past couple of years and really enjoy it! I drink alcohol twice a week but sometimes I think I could only drink on special occasions as that would be even less! Always curious about other people’s relationship with alcohol.
Thank you Jo! I definitely found cutting down helped me with my confidence, but also my belief that I could do it! I learnt a lot reading others stories too. I am always here too Jo.
Emily congratulations on this huge milestone and for sharing it with us.
We conversed a little back in January- I recovered from flu and went straight back to drinking 4-5 nights out of 7. Never to excess, I get up early and don’t have hangovers but it feels like a dependence, the same kind I have on tea and coffee. I’m clearly sober contemplative and you’ve reignited this, you, along with me reading that Stephen Graham is teetotal. Thank you Emily have a lovely day xxxx
Thank you Maria. I have often wondered how you were getting on! I think following your curiosity is the best first step, don't put too much pressure on yourself. x
Thank you Emily, I’m looking at the month of April to start, trying the month and see how I go. Xxx
So interesting to read this. In a strange sort of way, I had the opposite experience in that I didn’t drink alcohol at all until my mid-30s because I think I was scared of what I’d seen it do to other people, and all the negativity which came with that. I built a relationship from scratch in the other direction, but even then, I’m not bothered either way. I can take it or leave it.
It is very impressive to abstain until your thirties, I am so happy for you that this helped your pave your own way with drinking and that you have found a good balance for you. Thank you so much for sharing your experience David.
Kudos to you and congratulations on your 365 days and counting! It's not always an easy choice, I'm 3 years in and counting. 💞
Thank you Dawn ! 3 years, that's amazing 🙏
Congratulations Emily! I celebrated 4 years of no alcohol this past November and I definitely agree with all the positives you listed about choosing not to drink 💗
Thank you Mackenzie, there certainly seems to be a wealth of positives ! 🙌
Loved reading this. So many head nods of agreement and also a whole bunch of new perspectives. Thank you for sharing and inspiring ☺️
Thank you so much Holly, and thank you for reading! This all unfolded for me slowly throughout the year - I guess I will learn more during year two! I hope you are well - lovely to hear from you here too. ☺️
I have very similar feelings around alcohol, other the last few years I’ve experimented with extended periods without drinking but always end up going back to it. As you mentioned, that inner dialogue of shall I drink/how much should I drink/what should I drink is exhausting and the mental space that’s created during my alcohol free times is liberating. Lately I keep hearing whispers in my mind of ‘I think I’m done’, so maybe this is it for me, time to listen to those whispers and stay sober for good. Congratulations Emily xx
Thank you Rachel. I guess my biggest take away on the whole sober curious, alcohol free journey (for want of a better word) is to truly listen to your mind, body and soul - follow your curiosity, try and tune into that inner gut/intuition and follow that path until you start to feel it all click. It is most certainly different for everyone... good luck to you, and I am here if you ever want to talk or need some words of encouragement!
Thanks Emily, I really appreciate that! Xx
Congrats and thanks for sharing, Emily! 💗
Thank you Brittany.
Congratulazioni Emily! 👏
Thank you so much Lara!