Today makes exactly one year of me not drinking any alcohol. To be clear, my decision on January 14th, 2024 had nothing to do with me abusing alcohol or being addicted to it.

If it’s possible to naturally be the opposite of an alcoholic, I was surely it. I could never bring myself to the point of drinking so much alcohol that it would lead to me having a hangover.

Not even realizing it was a trend, I just happened to join the “Sober Curious” movement a year ago. So now I want to look back and assess what benefits I have personally discovered by making this change in my life.

I am consuming less empty calories. There’s no way around it- even the lowest calorie alcohol options are going to be close to 100 calories, assuming I only had one.

I can spend that money on other things. Just like with “spending” calories on alcohol, it’s interesting how much money I am not spending, over the course of a month, as I simply am now longer participating.

I am always the designated driver. For me, it’s one less thing to worry about; knowing that I am always “above the law” in a sense.

I am now feel more in control of any situation. Instead of letting my guard down, my guard is up; but in a proactive and healthy way.

I have evolved into a more masculine version of myself. The absence of any alcohol in my system means that any sense of bravery, ambition, and motivation is all my own. Instead of handing over control, I am taking control.

I no longer have anxiety. I now understand that each time I consumed alcohol, it actually took my body weeks to compensate and correct my hormone levels; including testosterone.

I feel happier now. My feeling of wellbeing is never attached to an upcoming event in which I can finally chill out, based on consuming alcohol. Instead, I simply feel good most of the time anyway.

I like myself better. As petty as it may sound, there is a sense of pride I have now in knowing that even though it’s the social norm to drink alcohol, I am an even more likeable person by not drinking any.

Now that I have easily survived on no alcohol for the past year, will I decide to go back to it? I think the best way to answer this question is to stay open-minded to the idea. I don’t want to paint myself in a corner by saying I will never drink alcohol again.

However, it is difficult for me to logically go back to alcohol again after I know firsthand my life is better without it, as opposed to with it.

And when given the choice between making a decision between logic and emotion, I have this habit of choosing logic.

Can you relate?