Touchdown in Sobriety: A Sober Journey to Ann Arbor and the Wolverines

Before I decided to quit drinking, vacations always included alcohol.  In fact, most vacations I have taken as an adult meant drinking every single day of the trip.  This trip to Michigan to see our beloved Wolverines take the field was a "sober first" for me.

Planning for this trip with sobriety in mind meant knowing that I would inevitably be around some pretty big triggers, for example, the airport, dining out often, and the stadium atmosphere.  Fun fact: This is the first year alcohol is being sold at Michigan Stadium, what are the odds? Preparing myself to be around alcohol gets easier as time progresses, but it doesn't mean that I still don't sometimes romanticize alcohol. Even with nearly 11 months of sobriety under my belt triggers can often catch us by surprise so planning ahead is important.

The easiest way to prepare myself for being around a big drinking atmosphere is to remember why I don't want to drink in the first place.  Having my kids with me made this very clear.

But one very practical way to plan ahead is knowing what you will drink.  Have a drink in your hand or one that's near so that when you do feel that urge to want to drink, you'll have something else readily available, whether that's an ice-cold soda or a refreshing bottle of water, just having something is better than having nothing. Also, because I'm not drinking, I feel zero guilt when it comes to indulging in something else, pass the popcorn, please!

This trip to the Michigan Stadium to watch the football game was absolutely incredible!  I am so glad I didn't let alcohol steal any of the moments that I experienced.  Seeing the crowd of 110,251 people fill the stadium, hearing the roar of the fans, and being so close to the action on the field was amazing.  But some of the best parts of the experience were the small moments that alcohol often takes away from.  Whether it's because I would have been waiting in a long line for a beer or using the bathroom for the 5th time, I would have missed so much.  Like when the kids got to fist bump some of the players, or my oldest son made it on the Jumbotron.  These moments matter and they will last a lifetime.  Compare that to the temporary effect of alcohol, and that beer just seems so worthless.

Also, had I been hungover, I would have regretted a lot of my choices and that would have led to the shame cycle that can bring you down faster than a 330lb lineman.

What I really want you to know is that the feeling of not only "getting through" the game or the entire vacation but actually realizing you enjoyed yourself more than you ever thought you could without alcohol is one of the best feelings of being sober.  It gives you a sense of pride and empowerment that can only come from doing something that most people can't.

And with that being said, I think it's totally normal and okay if it feels difficult.  Until now, I have only ever associated vacations with binge drinking.  So now that I'm doing something different, it is important to acknowledge that I can do hard things.  So can you.  Even if you miss drinking, even if you're feeling cravings, even if you romanticize alcohol, you can still choose to be sober.  Two things can be true at once:  it's difficult, but it's also possible.

And once you do get through it sober, the sense of accomplishment is a high all on its own. You can feel the joy of your accomplishment and everything you experienced rather than focusing on missing out on anything.

JOMO > FOMO

The bottom line is that you are never missing out when you are sober, clear-minded, and present.