“Leading an Alcohol-Free Life”
Written by Abby Gaudreau
Hi,
I’m Abby, and in 2023, I said goodbye to alcohol and hello to a sober lifestyle. I'm not here to tell you to follow in my footsteps and cut out alcohol from your life; I am simply sharing my story and the choices I made to lead a healthier lifestyle for myself.
In February 2023, I made the decision to cut alcohol out of my life. I had spent four years drinking in college and socially drank for the first year after graduating when I realized this wasn’t benefiting me, my goals, or the life I wanted to lead. When it came to alcohol, I had some unhealthy habits. The minute I was out and started drinking, I didn’t stop until I was home at the end of the night. I always felt like I had to have a drink in my hand, whether that was to feel included or because I didn’t know what to do with my hands without a drink. And when I was drinking, it was never casual. I never went to dinner and had one drink or went out with friends and told myself to stop after a certain number. I just kept going. Now, I know some of you might be thinking, “You were in college; that’s what you do, you drink till you can’t and regret the hangover in the morning.” But to me, it was more than that. I remember being so drunk I’d take half-empty drinks I found on tables and finish them. I’d tripped/slid down flights of stairs, I was always an emotional wreck, and I even had the beginning stages of alcohol poisoning one night. All these things jumbled together scared me, and I didn’t like the path I was heading down. So, in 2023, I decided it was time to be done completely and cut it out for good.
I am now two years without a drink, and I couldn’t be happier. I go out with friends and order fun mocktails (or just plain old water!). I wake up on the weekends feeling refreshed and not drained from the night before. I’ve built some of the best relationships with the people closest to me and have the most amazing support system because of it. My mental, emotional, and physical well-being have been forever changed since removing alcohol, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.
If you want more resources, please follow @soberflourish on Instagram. She is a great tool for people curious about a sober lifestyle, and her posts give you guidance on where to begin and how to take small steps to achieve your goal.