I loved this essay, especially your lines about the first twenty minutes being "a mini holiday from everything" and being "too loopy to create anything more complicated than a grilled cheese." I might have written a similar essay but substituted "Running" for "Writing" in the headline. I'm in my mid-50s, a dedicated athlete since my mid-20s and for a while a coach, and heavy drinking (half a bottle of wine per night split with my husband, plus a beer or two) sabotaged my training as well as my sleep, thinking, and everything else. When I look back on my training journal, so many mornings I wrote "detox run" as I suffered through a run to sweat out all the damage I did the night prior. My over-drinking and ruined sleep came to head in 2019 in terms of recognizing I did indeed have a problem, and I accomplished a Dry January, but the pandemic undid that good month. Attempts at moderation and more Dry Januarys followed. Finally, this year, I extended Dry January through the whole year. I no longer drink at home—it's just not an option, and not part of my life now. I do, however, allow myself a pint of beer on rare occasions when we go out. But I've sworn off wine; it pickles my brain, and I never feel satisfied with less than three glasses. I feel like a new person, and yes, my writing and amount of reading have reached new levels of productivity and satisfaction. I'm so happy to be over the nightly bargaining of "I'll only have two glasses tonight" and overthinking when to have them, then feeling failure at a third or fourth. I'm done! and better for it! Thank you for sharing your story and reaffirming my change.
Thanks for sharing your story. I related in so many ways., especially since I love to run in an amateur way. Drinking just took up so much space in my head!
Thank you for this thoughtful reflection. I stopped drinking and started keeping my writing and other promises to myself a while ago. I’m a late bloomer but now have a few short stories, poems, and a novel published— and a life that feels like me. Before I put it down, alcohol was forever stepping in between my newest brilliant idea and the actual writing. I was a “someday I’ll finish/publish it” writer. Now things continue to come into reality. And while there are always ups and downs, I am happy — such a sweet, simple feeling. One that was mostly missing in my wine-tinted days.
Yes—- I feel really lucky to have escaped when I did! Congrats again and thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. Alcohol is still so glorified by so much of the culture—
I had to stop drinking about a year ago because suddenly my body could not tolerate it (autoimmune issues after radiation treatments sparked it). Like you, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how much more I do in creative work now. When I’m out I order cranberry juice, no ice, in a wineglass. It fools my brain enough to feel like I’m not missing anything.
Thanks for sharing your story. I hope others can benefit from it.
Thank you! I order a Shirley Temple at my old watering hole and they make it so special with the good cherries, and I’ve become such a sparkling water connoisseur.
Great article. I'm glad you experienced such incredible rewards. Increased clarity and productivity, there's nothing better!
A great decision for me and thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this 💕❤️
You are most welcome!
I loved this essay, especially your lines about the first twenty minutes being "a mini holiday from everything" and being "too loopy to create anything more complicated than a grilled cheese." I might have written a similar essay but substituted "Running" for "Writing" in the headline. I'm in my mid-50s, a dedicated athlete since my mid-20s and for a while a coach, and heavy drinking (half a bottle of wine per night split with my husband, plus a beer or two) sabotaged my training as well as my sleep, thinking, and everything else. When I look back on my training journal, so many mornings I wrote "detox run" as I suffered through a run to sweat out all the damage I did the night prior. My over-drinking and ruined sleep came to head in 2019 in terms of recognizing I did indeed have a problem, and I accomplished a Dry January, but the pandemic undid that good month. Attempts at moderation and more Dry Januarys followed. Finally, this year, I extended Dry January through the whole year. I no longer drink at home—it's just not an option, and not part of my life now. I do, however, allow myself a pint of beer on rare occasions when we go out. But I've sworn off wine; it pickles my brain, and I never feel satisfied with less than three glasses. I feel like a new person, and yes, my writing and amount of reading have reached new levels of productivity and satisfaction. I'm so happy to be over the nightly bargaining of "I'll only have two glasses tonight" and overthinking when to have them, then feeling failure at a third or fourth. I'm done! and better for it! Thank you for sharing your story and reaffirming my change.
Thanks for sharing your story. I related in so many ways., especially since I love to run in an amateur way. Drinking just took up so much space in my head!
Thank you for sharing your experience. I have a feeling it will resonate with many.
You’re welcome.
Thank you for this thoughtful reflection. I stopped drinking and started keeping my writing and other promises to myself a while ago. I’m a late bloomer but now have a few short stories, poems, and a novel published— and a life that feels like me. Before I put it down, alcohol was forever stepping in between my newest brilliant idea and the actual writing. I was a “someday I’ll finish/publish it” writer. Now things continue to come into reality. And while there are always ups and downs, I am happy — such a sweet, simple feeling. One that was mostly missing in my wine-tinted days.
Yes! More happiness, more agency. Love the "wine-tinted" days. Exactly how they felt.
Yes—- I feel really lucky to have escaped when I did! Congrats again and thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. Alcohol is still so glorified by so much of the culture—
Thank you for sharing and for your vulnerability! I’m glad you have found a lot of happiness through this decision.
I had to stop drinking about a year ago because suddenly my body could not tolerate it (autoimmune issues after radiation treatments sparked it). Like you, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how much more I do in creative work now. When I’m out I order cranberry juice, no ice, in a wineglass. It fools my brain enough to feel like I’m not missing anything.
Thanks for sharing your story. I hope others can benefit from it.
Thank you! I order a Shirley Temple at my old watering hole and they make it so special with the good cherries, and I’ve become such a sparkling water connoisseur.