Can’t stop thinking about your realization of the magnitude of your job. I’m a school administrator and while drinking (for decades) I maybe chose to minimize the heartache of seeing daily the lives some kids have to lead through drinking wine and ignoring it? I’m over a year sober and find myself lately reading academic articles and realizing the great influence I have on so many humans. It’s such a responsibility and I drank for years as a boundary to not bring it home. Many public servants do this (hello medical practitioners as well). Anyway I have a lot to process in my journal about this--thank you for highlighting.
What you learned / are learning about yourself resonates deeply. I’m in therapy and only 2ish years into my sober journey, and whenever I feel like shit, I remember something my therapist helped me realize: that being able to feel EVERYTHING is part of being connected (to life, to people). Alcohol created this illusion that I can just escape feeling the shitty / painful parts of life, and it’s still easy to hope that one day I’ll just never feel anxious or sad ever again, if I just work on myself enough. And then I realize it’s the same ol’ trap lol
Your piece made me remember it’s vulnerable (and the full spectrum of emotions) to be human. And it’s a beautiful AND painful experience. To be connected means to feel it all, and the self-improvement is better focused on learning how to navigate it more and more skillfully.
I love your writing so much ❤️ and I’m grateful for the internet lol
Love every single word of this! Today marks my 1 year of being alcohol free and your IG account was the first to help me see that life would be beautiful if I made this choice. ❤️ Thank you, thank you!
Mia - Have you touched on social anxiety in the beginning stages before? Unsure if that is something you even experienced, but curious to hear how you and/or other’s have navigated.
I have briefly with regards to perimenopause. But it's definitely something I could dig into. May I recommend the book Between Breaths by Elizabeth Vargas. Her book really opened my eyes to anxiety and how it presents. XX mia
Oh my gosh, I talked about quitting alcohol nearly the same amount of time that I drank alcohol. I always wanted to be a non-drinker. It just took 20 some years :)
I don't know if we ever find the end result. We are all constantly changing and ideally evolving. Enjoy the process of it all. I am still in awe when I choose a positive behavior/outlook as opposed to being uber reactive, etc. I feel adult-esk :)
Can’t stop thinking about your realization of the magnitude of your job. I’m a school administrator and while drinking (for decades) I maybe chose to minimize the heartache of seeing daily the lives some kids have to lead through drinking wine and ignoring it? I’m over a year sober and find myself lately reading academic articles and realizing the great influence I have on so many humans. It’s such a responsibility and I drank for years as a boundary to not bring it home. Many public servants do this (hello medical practitioners as well). Anyway I have a lot to process in my journal about this--thank you for highlighting.
What you learned / are learning about yourself resonates deeply. I’m in therapy and only 2ish years into my sober journey, and whenever I feel like shit, I remember something my therapist helped me realize: that being able to feel EVERYTHING is part of being connected (to life, to people). Alcohol created this illusion that I can just escape feeling the shitty / painful parts of life, and it’s still easy to hope that one day I’ll just never feel anxious or sad ever again, if I just work on myself enough. And then I realize it’s the same ol’ trap lol
Your piece made me remember it’s vulnerable (and the full spectrum of emotions) to be human. And it’s a beautiful AND painful experience. To be connected means to feel it all, and the self-improvement is better focused on learning how to navigate it more and more skillfully.
I love your writing so much ❤️ and I’m grateful for the internet lol
Yes yes yes and thank you! XX mia
YES to ALL of this!! This resonates so much. This is exactly where I am on my alcohol-free journey. Thank you for putting it so eloquently! 💕
Thank you always Mia :) XX Mia :)
Love every single word of this! Today marks my 1 year of being alcohol free and your IG account was the first to help me see that life would be beautiful if I made this choice. ❤️ Thank you, thank you!
Congrats Sarah! that is such a huge milestone! I hope you are celebrating yourself and this new way of life. It is not for the weak :) XX, M
Wow, thank you. I am going to share this article. Discovering who I am not, before who I really am, is a huge takeaway for me.
Thank you always, xx M
I wasn’t aware you attempted to quit prior. I appreciate the reminder to not count myself out or to feel ashamed for trying again. ❤️
Mia - Have you touched on social anxiety in the beginning stages before? Unsure if that is something you even experienced, but curious to hear how you and/or other’s have navigated.
I have briefly with regards to perimenopause. But it's definitely something I could dig into. May I recommend the book Between Breaths by Elizabeth Vargas. Her book really opened my eyes to anxiety and how it presents. XX mia
That would be wonderful! Thanks for the book reco... I’m actually midway through Drinking, A Love Story as we speak. :)
Oh my gosh, I talked about quitting alcohol nearly the same amount of time that I drank alcohol. I always wanted to be a non-drinker. It just took 20 some years :)
Thank you for being here!! XX M
I don't know if we ever find the end result. We are all constantly changing and ideally evolving. Enjoy the process of it all. I am still in awe when I choose a positive behavior/outlook as opposed to being uber reactive, etc. I feel adult-esk :)