Day One: Done

Well, I did it. My first full day as a person who doesn’t drink alcohol.

And honestly? It wasn’t as hard as I feared it would be. That doesn’t mean it was effortless, but I realized something pretty big today: a lot of the fear I’ve been carrying around… wasn’t mine. It was the alcohol talking. The dopamine hijack. The deeply ingrained belief that I needed a drink to relax, cope, celebrate, survive dinner prep, wind down after bedtime, or insert any of life’s stressors here.

That was a lie. A very convincing lie.

In the past 24 hours, I’ve seen a couple of friends share their stories how they gave up drinking for totally different reasons. We’ve all got our own path, our own wake-up calls, our own “last calls.” Mine might look nothing like theirs, and that’s okay. What matters is that we all had the courage to stop and ask: “Is this really helping me?” And then listen to the answer.

One thing I’m learning quickly is that alcohol isn’t just an emotional habit, it’s biological. When you start to understand the science behind how alcohol manipulates your brain and your body, it’s a lot harder to romanticize it. And a lot easier to reclaim your power.

Today I feel strong. I feel clear. I feel proud.

Because today, I didn’t drink.

And tomorrow, I don’t plan to either.

I just don’t use alcohol anymore.

On to Day Two.

Cheers to clarity, courage, and whatever comes next. 🖤

—Casey