What I've Learned After One Month Sober 🍷
My god… I never knew this day would come (actually, I did I just didn't think I'd make it this far to witness it).
I completed the entire month of Dry January. 🤯
Now, if you're like, “Pffft, no alcoholic beverages for 30 days? Easy," then I need you to pause and listen to this podcast episode because I tell you how not-sober I'm accustomed to being.
Committing to Dry January is a close second to quitting vaping when it comes to kicking habits that have consumed me.
Let me be so clear – I know without a doubt, I'm not an alcoholic. I know this because I have loved ones who do struggle with alcoholism, and I know that my perceived “addiction” was really just a daily habit and literal identity trait that I let get out of hand.
Prior to this month, there were two occasions when I went over a few days without having *multiple* drinks: 1) when I was 9 months pregnant four years ago 🤰 and 2) when I had a three week stint of the rona in 2021.
So as you can imagine, this is a quick view of my liver after these past four years of drinking like prohibition is on the horizon ⤵️
Needless to say, Dry January wasn't about “quitting” alcohol – it was about giving my body a chance to mend itself, reset, and get to a place where alcohol was something to enjoy, not a necessity at every meal. (I'm looking at you, Bloody Mary's @ brunch 🥴)
Not only did all of the above happen, but my perspective has completely shifted around habit-changing and consumption (not just with alcohol but with just about anything). What's that old saying, “A little too much of a good thing can be a bad thing?"
But before I share the massive revelation I had after being clear-minded and 30 days sober, I have to paint the before picture going into this month 👇🎨
Shockingly enough, day one of Dry January I was hungover enough to even cringe at the thought of alcohol. So day two was the day the existence of my habitual drinking was ready to get back to center stage. (little attention whore)
4PM on day two roles around, and I am ready for a glass of wine – all those gorgeous, delicious bottles I got as a Christmas gift (12 bottles to be exact 🥲) staring at me. Begging me to open them. An array of California reds, a few Italian reds in there, and not to be forgotten, I bubbly (and pricey) bottle of champagne.
I wanted to hear the cork pop and the soft guzzling as it landed in my very gorgeous, very expensive Crate & Barrel oversized red wine glass. The swirl. The smells. The stem. My whole existence was like, “Why aren't we drinking? It's 4PM. We're late.”
At one point I even lifted the cork of an open bottle just to get the full aroma to satiate my senses. Psycho, I know.
Spoiler alert: I obviously didn't drink anything on day two… or day three, or twenty-two, or even now. The urge slowly faded, and I replaced the urge with healthier habits (me and the kombucha section at the grocery store are very well acquainted now). I came to the realization of how many things in my daily life were just a little different since I was choosing to reset from alcohol. Let me explain:
I'm the friend you buy champagne/liquor as a gift for. I'm the family member who hosts the best parties because of our blessing of an open bar. I'm the girlfriend who is absolutely not the cheap date because the amount of Manhattans I have been known to order at one dinner. I'm the one with bartending experience, so I'm always making people drinks. Drinking is even layered into my brand for goodness sake. 🙃
Point blank – drinking is not just a habit for me. It became a part of the way people perceived me, and it wasn't that I was ashamed of that or felt embarrassed. But after a few days of replacing alcohol with other things in these nooks and crannies in my life, I realized I wanted to explore what it would look like if drinking wasn't a personality trait and instead was just maybe an occasional, social indulgence (like getting the Uber Black instead of the XL on girl's night 😉).
Do you want to know what I learned First name / babe, when I explored this new side of me? It's not what you'd expect…
Of course I felt lighter, and my skin looks like a poor version of Hailey Bieber's right now, and I have more energy, and my sex-drive is higher, and I feel GOOD.
But what I really learned that has nothing to do with the alcohol and everything to do with us is that: we have the power to change anything about ourselves at any time. We control the narrative that is our life. All those unique quirky things that make up you when people think about you? You get to decide all of that.
And the even better part is that we can change our minds, whenever we want to.
Yes, Dry January is over and today is Feb. 1 and I could have a drink. But I don't have a reason to so I probably won't. But if I change my mind, that's ok. If I decide to stay sober. That's ok too.
You are a unique, changing, evolving human being. And no matter how old you are, where you're at in life, or what you've done in your past, you have the permission to change your mind. You have the discipline within you to change your habits.
To put it simply, if you want to be different, go out there and do it. ❤️
And while you're doing that, I'll be over here making “kombucha-obsessed” my next identity trait 🤟
LISTEN
The Truth About Starting a VA Business
Last week's podcast episode was the most detailed I've gotten into business topics in a hot minute! I talked all things virtual assistance – how it changed my life, why I started it, how I got into it, and the most important things I would tell you to do before starting a VA business.
LEARN
The CRM Specialist Academy
My 6-week, high-level group program for VAs & OBMs who want to become Dubsado pros makes its infamous return next month! CSA gives you the roadmap, tools, and knowledge to become a workflow wizard and sell high-ticket Dubsado setup offers. Early bird enrollment for round 5.0 opens next week 👀 Hop on the waitlist to get notified.
EXPERT SPOTLIGHT
Moon Advisory Group
TAX SEASON IS HERE! (We can all collectively groan in unison). Bless women like Tenille Moon of Moon Advisory Group who handle your tax season with professionalism and care. Tenille is a powerhouse business owner, and I can attest that her advisory & tax experiences are top tier (hint: I helped elevate the client-facing side 😉)
RECENTLY ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB 👀
COHO FANS – I literally just shit my pants with this headline. BLAKE LIVELY?!??! YESSSS!!!!! 🤩
Jay Shetty's new book , 8 Rules of Love, dropped yesterday. I had it pre-ordered after watching his episode on Call Her Daddy. Can't wait to read this one!
2023 is going to be wild for music – Lil Wayne just announced his North American tour, Beyonce is going on a WORLD tour, and Madonna makes her comeback. 🎉
Show yourself some love today, babe.
YOU'VE EARNED IT.
As always,
Taylor