The Sober Diaries

Alcohol. Why do we love it so much? Evidently, it makes us feel a little more alive, a little more comfortable in our skin, makes us dance, hug, sing, yell, jump and fist pump. It also very often makes us cry and vomit. But we ignore the bad for the almost instant buzz, that little jolt of pure ease. It is the silent guest at each and every party, game, lunch, brunch and get together. It’s an automatic. “What are we drinking tonight?” “It feels like a wine night” “SHOTS.” “These eggs would taste much better with a Caesar” “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere!” “No. I CANNOT do tequila tonight. OK only one.”

When I first heard of Sobruary (Sober February), I was instantly confused and appalled. WHY on earth would someone torture themselves in that way? At the time, I was in my prime years of University, spending countless nights at the campus bar (with the nuts, might I add) and the concept of omitting alcohol from the equation seemed completely foreign to me. Now that I live in the big city, work long hours and have legitimate responsibilities, I completely get it. That’s why I spent the last 28 days alcohol-free. Coming from a household of religious Caesar drinkers and wine connoisseurs, this came as quite a shock to family and friends. Many believed I could not POSSIBLY make it.

Surprisingly enough, it really wasn’t all that difficult. I was most tempted on occasions that found me eating delicious meals that only felt right accompanied by a good wine, like Valentine’s Day, or those events that go hand-in-hand with beer consumption, like the Super Bowl. It felt a bit odd to sit with my girlfriends and enjoy a pot of tea as they consumed a bottle of red, but hey, I was on a mission. Two weekend trips, one to Blue Mountain for skiing and cottaging and one to my home in Montreal also presented a challenge to mine, as visiting with family often involves a restaurant visit or two and a few late nights lounging, glass-in-hand. Interestingly enough, I found myself announcing to each and every server that I was on this month-long hiatus, to which they replied with disbelief and a pinch of support. For some odd reason I couldn’t allow them to think I was just…not a drinker. The horror!

Many have asked if I feel healthier overall and possess a clearer mind, but I have to say the most notable times I felt an overwhelming joy for the cause, was on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I would wake up fresh as can be and accomplish so much in little time, when normally I would be pacing around slowly, sipping coffee and on the odd occasion, popping Advil. Right now I can’t say I’ll do it again on my own will…but who knows, next February I may be craving  a little break from the booze once again.

What I learnt from my month off is that if you can’t surprise yourself every once in a while, even surprise the people around you, then you’re doing yourself a huge disservice. When the routine sets in and you find yourself forgetting to take a minute to breathe and refresh, change could be just the thing you need. It could be something as little as giving up booze for a few weeks, or it could be a major career move, a change of scenery, a new activity or an exciting commitment. Life is what you make it and there’s nothing stopping you from shaking things up …in a nutshell.