Thank you for your vulnerability Kendall! When I wrote about quitting drinking, I also hesitated to hit publish. It was so helpful though to myself and others. What I really like about your piece is that you were in AA and you also drink now differently, both can be true. I think society is moving away from the binary thinking of sobriety, but even when I quit five years ago, it was hard to explain to people why when I hadn’t don’t a program like AA (I read “how to control your drinking” by Allen Carr for anyone who needs a great resource). There are so many different feelings and layers to quitting, and I’m happy to hear you found a partner and friend group that were so easy going about it. Great essay!
Thank you for reading, Michelle! I really appreciated reading your story too. People get so uncomfortable when you aren't drinking that sometimes it was helpful to say "I'm in AA / I'm an alcoholic" because they are less likely to argue with that. But that also felt SO extreme/didn't sit right with my lived experience. It felt like the tides turned culturally for me when Chrissy Teigen shared about reading "Quit Like a Woman." I always loved "quit lit" since 2014 but I felt way less ashamed once Chrissy shared that she wanted to quit. I agree that it's becoming less of a binary choice, which is such a relief to me. I drank socially from 2016 - 2023. Then I got pregnant in November 2023 and I haven't drank since. I am not ruling it out forever but I don't miss it. I wish I could tell my 22 year old self that it didn't have to be so black and white.
Kendall!! Thank you so much for including me in your story. This is beautiful and honest and I love hearing about different experiences with sobriety and how it fits into your life now. <3
Thank you for reading Sarah and for sharing your story! I feel the same way. I love hearing about different alcohol relationship journeys. Your vulnerability has inspired me and I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Thanks for sharing this! I didn't know! It's truly impressive that, whether or not you were "really" an alcoholic, at such a young age you had the initiative to take major steps to change what wasn't feeling right for you. That's incredible. Most people in their 20's (and beyond) would not have that thought process, let alone the action to follow it up.
I'm at a point where I've had ~2-4 drinks a year for a few years, for a few reasons ranging from sadness at the damage it causes so many people, as well just feeling like I can't afford to add any setbacks to my health/energy levels. Also my social scenes changed so much, such that I don't find myself in alcohol-centric environments anymore, and I spend a lot of my free time composing, recording, and writing, which IMO are tasks better performed sober. But your writing did remind me of so many fun times in and after college, including visiting you in Berkeley! I think we were drunk already on the bus on our way to the parties.
I've noticed that more and more people around me don't drink or don't drink often, seems to be becoming less popular.
Something I admire in you is how reflective you are, and your curiosity about life and new experiences, including a willingness to try AA and cut out alcohol, including your willingness to add it back and reassess.
Thank you for reading and for your support, as always, Sara! I do feel proud of my younger self for being brave enough to try something hard when I didn't like the direction my life was heading.
I feel the same way about energy levels. I just don't have the energy to lose to hangovers! Your life of composing, recording, and writing sounds so generative, and that you can do it all sober is a testament to your creative talents! [lol but yes we did have fun being young and dumb and drunk lol!]
I echo the admiration, Sara! I'm so grateful that we've reconnected - I love hearing your perspective and hope life in CO is going well! <333
Thank you for your vulnerability Kendall! When I wrote about quitting drinking, I also hesitated to hit publish. It was so helpful though to myself and others. What I really like about your piece is that you were in AA and you also drink now differently, both can be true. I think society is moving away from the binary thinking of sobriety, but even when I quit five years ago, it was hard to explain to people why when I hadn’t don’t a program like AA (I read “how to control your drinking” by Allen Carr for anyone who needs a great resource). There are so many different feelings and layers to quitting, and I’m happy to hear you found a partner and friend group that were so easy going about it. Great essay!
Thank you for reading, Michelle! I really appreciated reading your story too. People get so uncomfortable when you aren't drinking that sometimes it was helpful to say "I'm in AA / I'm an alcoholic" because they are less likely to argue with that. But that also felt SO extreme/didn't sit right with my lived experience. It felt like the tides turned culturally for me when Chrissy Teigen shared about reading "Quit Like a Woman." I always loved "quit lit" since 2014 but I felt way less ashamed once Chrissy shared that she wanted to quit. I agree that it's becoming less of a binary choice, which is such a relief to me. I drank socially from 2016 - 2023. Then I got pregnant in November 2023 and I haven't drank since. I am not ruling it out forever but I don't miss it. I wish I could tell my 22 year old self that it didn't have to be so black and white.
I still can't believe anyone shamed you for publishing the first part of your story. Thank you for sharing part two.
You defended me in the comments and it truly meant SO MUCH to me <333. Thank you for reading and for your insight. I am so grateful!
Kendall!! Thank you so much for including me in your story. This is beautiful and honest and I love hearing about different experiences with sobriety and how it fits into your life now. <3
Thank you for reading Sarah and for sharing your story! I feel the same way. I love hearing about different alcohol relationship journeys. Your vulnerability has inspired me and I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Thanks for sharing this! I didn't know! It's truly impressive that, whether or not you were "really" an alcoholic, at such a young age you had the initiative to take major steps to change what wasn't feeling right for you. That's incredible. Most people in their 20's (and beyond) would not have that thought process, let alone the action to follow it up.
I'm at a point where I've had ~2-4 drinks a year for a few years, for a few reasons ranging from sadness at the damage it causes so many people, as well just feeling like I can't afford to add any setbacks to my health/energy levels. Also my social scenes changed so much, such that I don't find myself in alcohol-centric environments anymore, and I spend a lot of my free time composing, recording, and writing, which IMO are tasks better performed sober. But your writing did remind me of so many fun times in and after college, including visiting you in Berkeley! I think we were drunk already on the bus on our way to the parties.
I've noticed that more and more people around me don't drink or don't drink often, seems to be becoming less popular.
Something I admire in you is how reflective you are, and your curiosity about life and new experiences, including a willingness to try AA and cut out alcohol, including your willingness to add it back and reassess.
Sending love to you and your fam <3
Thank you for reading and for your support, as always, Sara! I do feel proud of my younger self for being brave enough to try something hard when I didn't like the direction my life was heading.
I feel the same way about energy levels. I just don't have the energy to lose to hangovers! Your life of composing, recording, and writing sounds so generative, and that you can do it all sober is a testament to your creative talents! [lol but yes we did have fun being young and dumb and drunk lol!]
I echo the admiration, Sara! I'm so grateful that we've reconnected - I love hearing your perspective and hope life in CO is going well! <333