HOLIDAY CHEER– WITHOUT THE BOOZE!
The holidays will soon be upon us and I am already embracing holiday cheer. We have our lights and decorations up, our advent calendars are ready to go, we’ve planned lots of fun family events, and I’ve started my holiday baking.
For most of my adult years my Christmas tradition included a huge leap in my liquor consumption. During the year I would usually drink a few times a week, but around the holidays I would drink 2-3 glasses of wine, EVERY SINGLE DAY. Even on evenings when I knew I had to work at 6 am the next day, or before the kids’ Christmas concert. If I was out for dinner or at a party I would polish off a full bottle (or two). On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day I would start drinking around noon and I wouldn’t stop until 10 pm. In the morning I’d have a mimosa or a Baileys and coffee and start all over again! Even when I was pregnant, I would still enjoy a small glass of wine with my special dinners.
A new chapter…
But this Christmas will be different: I am now almost 11 months sober and this will be my first Christmas without any wine (or liquor of any kind). I’m at peace with my decision to completely cut out alcohol (instead of trying to cut back—which never worked), but I know I will be tempted. The holiday music, the darker nights, and the parties make me automatically think about having a glass of wine.
Me– last year around Christmas. No need for a glass as I would polish the whole bottle no problem.
Some people have questioned why I am still abstaining from alcohol even after my body has healed from the nasty stomach parasite that precipitated my first steps towards total sobriety, and I’ve wondered the same thing myself. Now I see that alcohol consumption is out of alignment with my core values, so when I indulged I felt guilty and ashamed. Here I am trying to guide women on their transformation towards their happiest and healthiest selves and I wasn’t following my own advice.
It isn’t that I think alcohol is bad—it’s just that I know alcohol is bad for me.
Over the next month there will be times when it will be difficult for me to stay on my own path, especially when the wine is flowing like water and booze-filled cocktails are everywhere, but I know that, with the support of my family and my friends, I can do it. Plus, I’m motivated by how amazing I am going to feel: NO hangovers, great digestion, and plenty of energy to make this Christmas special.
If you’re facing challenges this holiday season, I hope you will be able to find the support you need to do things differently.
And please know that you can always reach out to me!