Summer Time Gladdness

September 03, 2024

Summer Time Gladdness

Happy September, friends!

Even though summer isn't technically over just yet, I'm chalking this summer up as a WIN. I made it through all the summer festivities without a sip of alcohol!

With that being said, I still have a few "sober firsts" that are coming up and I'll keep you posted on those soon.

Looking back at where I was in my sobriety in the spring, I remember feeling very nervous about what summertime would be like without alcohol. In my head, I imagined feeling awkward or left out at every pool party, summer shindig, and BBQ, but it wasn't at all like what I imagined.

First off, summer was insanely busy. I work from home and having my two boys home with me kept me on my toes. Do you know how much two boys can eat? And do you know how to break-up fights when you're on a conference call? Wild times.

The kids have friends with pools, so sometimes I would run the boys back and forth to friends' houses. At other times, the kids were in summer sport camps where I'd be dropping them off or picking them up. Sobriety pays off when you become an unpaid Uber driver for the family.

But with summers before, the schedule always seemed to include a lot of activities that involved drinking. Yet, this summer, I said "no" a lot. Sometimes there would be an opportunity after a long day to go hang out at someone's house or meet up with friends somewhere, but by the time it came down to it, all I really wanted to do was cuddle up in bed with a book and go to bed early, or scroll TikTok until my eyes got heavy.

Don't get me wrong, I still very much enjoy getting to see friends and family, and I made sure to make time to do that, but it was on my terms. I always chose to drive as well, that way, I could leave when I felt it was time. When I was drinking, the later I stayed out, the worse the hangover. Without alcohol enticing me to chase a buzz hour after hour, for me, self-care often means going to bed early.

This summer wasn't really about attending things on the calendar, instead, it was more about me getting to know myself, what it is that I really enjoy, and what brings me peace. Going to bed at 9:30PM on Friday night in the middle of summer isn't a popular choice with many, but setting clear boundaries and creating habits that fuel a life that I love is what takes precedence.

With that being said, there were times of celebration, gatherings, and socializing and I'll share some of those pictures here. Otherwise, this summer was anything but awkward or lonely. It was so wonderful to be present and clear-minded. I love that all of my memories are vivid and not blurred by the haze of alcohol. And I truly enjoy getting to know myself more. I feel comfortable with who I am becoming and it's incredibly empowering, my self-confidence and confidence in my choice of sobriety have grown immensely this summer. On to the next season!