Summer Happiness ☀️
Most of us have summer memories that include BBQ smells, lifeguarding, reading on the porch, campouts with friends, jumping in the water, boats, and, as adults, summer drinks by the pool or lake. Many of the summer memories evoke nostalgia, innocence, and happiness. We may have summer moments of having ‘too much fun’ and may look back with a bit of guilt or shame. June is here: summer break or summer vacation, long weekends, and the 4th of July, one of my personal favorite holidays; many of these things tend to revolve around alcohol. It's been almost 4 years since I removed alcohol from my life (yes, I still go to dive bars and watch my favorite teams, Go Knicks); the one thing that has stayed consistent since that decision is that I have little regret. I don’t worry about saying too much at a party or BBQ, embarrassing people I care about, taking unflattering pictures (which seemed like a good idea at the time), or reacting emotionally to events in a not-so-calm way. My anxiety is minimized, and I can be fully present with people that mean so much to me.
What I have noticed in the last four years is that I have gravitated back towards doing the things I loved to do as a kid, when we didn't need alcohol to have fun. Night swimming with my niece and nephew, going for walks with friends, jumping in the ocean, seeing live music on a crisp summer night. The other two life-changing things: I don’t miss waking up feeling terrible, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and I can show up fully for the people I love.
Removing alcohol is a personal decision, for me, one of the things I am most proud of. It is not an easy decision, and it is one of the most complicated relationships you may have. The 4th of July is one of the biggest drinking holidays in the States (especially for the 250th anniversary), and many people afterward take on Dry July, a global challenge aimed at a summer reset. I’d be happy to be your partner on that journey if you are looking for a summer reset; reach out, and we can get a plan together. Cheers to summertime belly flop competitions, flashlight tag, and catching lightning bugs kind of summer.
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- Moira coachmoira23@gmail.com
