I never danced when I went out. No matter the amount of drinks I guzzled down in hopes that movement would magically feel a little less embarrassing, the dancing never came. In fact, it seemed like with each drink, I became less willing to do much of anything (besides have another drink). Alcohol is a tricky substance that can cause you to lose sight of the fun at hand or of the actual event you’re attending.
Have you ever noticed how going out, even to something as exciting as a concert or a show, can quickly start to revolve around alcohol? I attended an Alabama Shakes concert last night at the Hollywood Bowl, and although it’s taken me a while in my sobriety journey, I felt so free not “needing” to partake in the alcohol aspects of the evening. From a removed perspective, alcohol now appears to me as an unwanted and heavy anchor, one that keeps your brain focused on the next pour of wine versus actually engaging with life. Not to mention, choosing not to drink at somewhere like a concert will likely have you feeling more refreshed and energized by the end of the night compared to your counterparts who had a few brews.
It’s interesting how this works: alcohol has the ‘life of the party’ reputation that convinces humans they need it in order to have fun and be fun, yet when we take a closer look, this is not the case. I started this post with the notion that I never had the courage to dance when I was drinking. Fun fact: I started dancing when I got sober, and let me tell you- that shit feels good.
So here’s to another sober event, one that I will actually remember for a long time to come. If you’re sober curious, may this be your sign that life is good on the other side, and let me offer you a word of encouragement: YOU CAN DO THIS.
With love and gentleness,
Bri
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