Why I've Unofficially* Quit Drinking

*Unofficially being the key word here.

I come from a long line of drunks on both sides of my family.

However, by the time I came of memory-retaining age, both my parents had quit drinking.

Still, I heard the stories that had gotten them to that point ad nauseum...

Stories of Mom's bar fights, Dad's experience being hit by a drunk driver, nights cars had ended up on sidewalks with no recollection of going out OR coming home.

And stories of my forebearers' debauchery.

And I witnessed firsthand the effects of alcoholism on living relatives.

As a result, I never drank alcohol...That is, until I turned 21.

But until that point, I was convinced there was no way for me, given my seemingly cursed genetics, to have a relationship with the substance at all. Frankly, I had too much going for me to even risk it.

But then, after developing a relationship with cannabis and turning 21, I reexamined my beliefs.

I decided I would give myself the chance to experience alcohol's effects for myself. BUT I made myself a solemn promise: If it ever started to become ANY sort of problem at all, I would stop immediately.

What I had going for me was not worth losing.

I kept that promise, continuously checking in & assessing my alcohol consumption.

And I can objectively say I maintained a healthy relationship with it over the years.

I had exactly 2 hangovers ever, the last of which was bad enough to ensure I never repeated that mistake.

It was so common for me to go out & NOT order a drink-- opting for tea or coffee instead--that anytime I would, my friends were genuinely shocked I did.

But over time, I've found more & more that I don't like drinking.

A few months ago, I came to the conclusion that it just wasn't worth it, so I unofficially quit drinking.

I say UNOFFICIALLY because I made no specific promises to myself or grand public proclamations.

(And because I know I still enjoy the taste of a good craft beer or upper-shelf bourbon.)

I'm sure there'll come a time when I decide to indulge & celebrate with a glass of vintage champagne--especially when I make it back to France.

For now, though, I'm consciously choosing to NOT drink because it feels effing incredible, and I'm honoring the hell out of that.

In full disclosure though: I still have an active relationship with cannabis.

I use the same level of examination and reflection I've used for the last 14 years for my relationship with alcohol to continuously check in and assess how my relationship with cannabis is going. One of the things I've done in this regard over the last 3-4years is to participate in #soberoctober. No substances at all--alcohol or cannabis--for 31 conscious, deliberate, consecutive days.

I've made no big proclamations about it. I might mention it to my a few of the closest people in my circle. But other than that, I've just done it quietly on my own. Because I've seen the benefit of hitting the reset button in this way.

This year, though, I’ve decided to share about it. Because I don’t believe “all or nothing” is the only way to have a healthy relationship with substances.

And because I want to share this experience with others.

So, I'm inviting you to join me for my Sober October Challenge. 31 days to reset.

Wanna join me? Click the link above to sign up.

With Fierce Love,

Chazz