The Best Things About Being Alcohol-Free

[Perriwinkles]

I thought a thread to remind us of what’s great about being AF might help motivate us. I’m only on Day 6 here but I already feel better! Let’s aim for 100 things (if there are more, even better); so if you’re replying, go from the next number on to the previous post.

I’ll get us started:

1. Clear-headed mornings.
2. Bright eyes
3. Remembering conversations from the night before.
4. Being able to consume calories from yummy food instead of alcohol.
5. Being able to drive anywhere at anytime.
6. Losing weight.
7. Less stomach discomfort.

(The next post can start from number 8. Let’s create an amazing, motivating list to remind us why we’re ditching the booze!). X

1. Less anxiety

1. Less guilt!

Less beer fear.

11. Being able to drive anywhere at anytime.

12. More disposable cash
13. No more drunken desire to smoke
14. No memory loss
15. No reckless / unsafe drunken behaviour

16. Not turning into abusive, drunken, arsehole parents, and breaking transgenerational trauma ☺️

17. Being able to be absolutely truthful on medical forms when asked the amount of alcohol consumed in the past week/month/year.

18. Being able to go out for a walk on a Friday night instead of just being plonked on the couch semi-conscious.

19. More energy
20. Being more present in life, with loved ones
21. Feeling proud of your accomplishment in being a healthier you

22. Stopping liver disease before it starts, progresses, or gets worse

23 Getting stopped in a routine police check on a Friday night and when they ask when you last had a drink you can say Boxing Day in the year 2000

24. Less tension with your partner

I’m the partner in this scenario, living with DH when he’s AF is wonderful. Well done everyone

25. Being able to remember the plot of what you watched on TV last night.

Apologies, I was the only person not to do a number for my post need to concentrate more. Ruined the look of the thread!

No 23 is awesome. Bet you felt well smug

26. Seeing someone sprawled on the couch hungover & being so grateful that it’s not you.

27. Clearer skin

28. The gain in mental space - Not having to worry where the next drink is coming from/ how quickly others are drinking/ how early you can start drinking

29. Limitless possibilities opening up for the rest of your life.

30. Being happy to meet a friend for coffee instead of a liquid lunch/endless session.

31. Having more control over what is said to other people in social settings.

32. Thinking of occasions and events in terms of people and fun rather than alcohol.

33. No more kidney infections

34. Knowing I’m/you’re no longer going over the recommended weekly amount of alcoholic units every single week…

35. No worrying if you might be over the limit to drive in the morning or if colleagues can smell it on your breath.

36. Knowing that my insides are healing a little more each day from (in my case almost 30 years) of drinking.

37. Knowing that your dcs will have memories that go beyond seeing mummy with a wine glass in her hand at bath time

38. Better mood regulation - alcohol is a depressant

39. Planting your own herb garden so you can go and pick your own fragrant mugful and look at the moon and live your Professor Sprout dreams when it’s time for a bedtime drink (lavender flowers, mint leaves, bee balm & lemon balm are lovely together).