"Before I met Debs, I thought about cutting down my drinking frequently. I had lots of rules including no drinking during the week, water between every wine and no opening wine until 8pm. If I had a work event, I spent ages thinking about the number of drinks I could have and at what time. It was exhausting but as a busy working mum of teenagers, my wine was my treat and no one was taking it away from me. I always broke my rules and when I felt rotten, I made myself feel worse by beating myself up for not being able to drink normally. 

 

If you had said to me 9 months ago that I would stop drinking for longer than I have ever done since I was 16, I would not believe you (I had 2 glasses of wine a week during both if my pregnancies). If you told me that I would be happier than I have ever been without alcohol, I would have thought you were crazy. Don’t me wrong, its not all easy as I still get an urge for a glass of rose in the sun (which would turn into a bottle). Its also being hard getting to know myself and experience a lot of sober firsts like dancing which you think everyone is watching but actually people notice less if you are not almost falling over drunk when trying to dance! 

 

The problem is that I had always thought what I would lose not drinking and not what I would gain. I’ve always been the loud, party girl surrounded by family and friends and I was worried about losing myself. Debs help me to reframe everything and last week I went out 3 times with work (1 evening was just a drink and the beauty of not drinking is that it was only 1!), went to Abba Voyage and a 50th karaoke party as well as yoga and helping teenage daughter through angst, showing a technophobe father in law how to use his phone in addition to holding down a job. I sung my heart out, danced away and took lots of photos at the party which were really appreciated. I also some really nice conversations at the work events no longer distracted by drinking or measuring how I am drinking compared to everyone else. I am a better wife, friend and definitely a better mum. 

 

I managed to get Taylor Swift tickets today and it is going to be different from her 2018 concert when I enjoyed the hospitality package too much and can’t remember much of it. 

My only regret is that I did not do it sooner and I wish I met Debs years ago. I now embrace every experience and seize each day as I no longer need to factor in hangover time. I also have much more money and recently treated myself to a lovely necklace as I deserve it. Drinking makes the good times go too quickly and the more routine work days go too slowly with a hangover. Holidays now last a decent amount of time and I am definitely not going back to my old ways. There were fun times but the first happy hour of drinking is not worth the next 6,12 or even 24 hours."