This isn't an easy topic, but it's super important. I knew it was time for me to take a good, hard look at my relationship with alcohol. AGAIN. But this time, something was different.
Four-ish years ago…I had become a shell of my former self. Despite all the great things happening in my life, I felt incredibly alone and isolated. I wanted to be healthier, feel amazing when I woke up, and be a great example for my daughter. But I was failing miserably at all of those things. And I knew, deep down, it had to do something with all the booze.
So, what was my wake-up call that made me decide to make a change? Not some dramatic rock bottom (thankfully). It was my wedding day. The happiest day of my life. Well the happiest half day of my life, because I only clearly remember half of it. Woof.
My daughter didn’t like when I drank. In an effort to be a "responsible parent," I sent my daughter away for the second half of the celebration, because I knew that was when people (cough, cough, me) would start getting rowdy. I thought I was doing the right thing. In reality, I chose partying over celebrating the beginning of a new family. When I saw the wedding photos, I was horrified. We got married on August 8, 2020, and I had my last drink on August 28, 2020.
I’m not saying that quitting drinking will solve all your problems. In fact, it forces you to face them head-on. So when I said booze was a reason I was feeling like shit, more specifically it was booze I was using to avoid dealing with things I needed to deal with that was making me feel like shit. Suddenly, I was staring down the barrel of all that "stuff" I was using booze to avoid. I realized that if something in your life has power over you (booze) and takes away your control (ability to cope and deal), it's time to rethink it and get that power back.
And let me tell you, reclaiming that power wouldn't have been possible without two things. One, educating myself on the science surrounding alcohol – the myths, the truths, the outright lies; and two (and most importantly), a phenomenal support system. Without my incredibly supportive family—I love you all so much – and the amazing women I connected with on the video chat app, this would be a very different conversation. You all were my pillars, my strength, my ladder, and my bridge. Being able to share my experiences with other women who were going through the same thing was a game-changer.
These are the video chat clips of my transformation from Day 1 through Day 1,340. Almost four years!
My video chat girls and I have shared the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. We've lifted each other up, dusted each other off, and celebrated every milestone along the way.
If you're feeling a nudge to re-evaluate your relationship with alcohol, check out Put It Down Lifestyle's program, The 25 Days. You don’t have to do this alone. It's a fantastic way to take a break from the booze (forever or not, that's totally up to you) and reclaim your power.
Here's the thing: I believe in you. You've got this, girl! Now let's go mix up some delicious mocktails and celebrate the amazing women who make our lives a little brighter (and a whole lot clearer). Cheers to that!
Do you have questions? Want to chat with Sarah? Contact us here to let us know how we can support you.
This is so awesome Sarah. You look fabulous