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“What is more, it is the only drug in the world where, when you stop taking it, you are seen as having a problem.”
Jason Vale, Kick the Drink…Easily
Is this for real?
Will you still be working in the beer industry? Didn’t you leave another industry for beer? What was the point of all the work and studying you’ve done? Don’t you have a blog that’s partially (called out 😂) dedicated to beer?
It’s true.
I recently decided to stop drinking alcohol.
Don’t worry though – this post isn’t meant to convince you to stop. Rather than tell you what to do, I’m going to share a synopsis of why I chose this path. Feel free to hang out if that interests you:
Before
“It wasn’t that there was always a reason to drink. It was just that there was never a reason not to.”
Annie Grace, This Naked Mind
If two weeks ago you had told me I’d stop drinking, I’d have laughed you out of the room. Maybe that’s how you’d react as well.
I mean, my consumption wasn’t all that worrying:
- I drank every day, but that’s fairly common – even healthy if you look for the right studies.
- I drank occasionally in the mornings, but that’s just work in the beer industry.
- I drank regularly during vacations, but I’m a beer writer and (self-proclaimed) connoisseur – that’s what I’m supposed to do.
My parents, both recovering alcoholics, have given me plenty of warnings over the years, but I was smarter, stronger, and better than them, right?
For some time I’ve wondered if my foray into the beer industry would come to an abrupt end. Thankfully it has – on my own terms rather than forced upon me.
During
“And the problem is less that we tell lies and more that we live them; we let false narratives about reality into our bodies, and they wreak havoc in our souls.”
John Mark Comer, Live No Lies
Books have been some of the biggest instigators of change in my life:
- Essentialism flipped my world upside down. What if my preconceptions about living are wrong?
- Goodbye, Things confirmed my path down the road of minimalism. It wasn’t just for eccentrics – it was for me.
- This Naked Mind convinced me to call it quits on alcohol.
From the moment I started This Naked Mind, I knew it was going to change my life. I didn’t want it to, but the change was inescapable.
What did I feel when faced with the impending change?
- Fear
- Nervousness
- Excitement
- Curiosity
- Sadness
- Joy
- Grief
- Freedom
I found tears coming to my eyes at unexpected times. This book hit hard.
It was as if someone had presented me with a crystal ball showing my future with alcohol. It wasn’t pretty. Rather than a world filled with energy and community through the beverage, I saw a fate of loneliness, brokenness, and poverty.
That made it an easy decision.
After
“It’s shocking to wake up in one world and find yourself in another by nightfall, but the situation isn’t actually all that unusual.”
Emily St. John Mandel, Sea of Tranquility
I stopped imbibing alcohol, I told those close to me, and I quit my job.
1) I stopped imbibing alcohol
That day, October 3rd, I didn’t drink beer with coworkers after work, with dinner, or before bed.
It was weird.
Here are some early observations about the experience:
- It felt like I had cataract surgery. The filter of alcohol was wiped away from my life.
- I didn’t undergo any noticeable withdrawal symptoms. Apart from a headache or two, my detox was low-key.
- I smelled alcohol differently. When I hung out with coworkers after work, the aroma was different than when I was previously drinking. It smelled stale – like how a bar smells when you’re a kid.
- As painful as it is to admit, some days it felt like I lost a close friend. Who knew I’d be bombarded by grief?
- The process of deconstructing deeply ingrained beliefs like “you need booze to have fun in social gatherings” has been hard. When you’ve believed something at a core level, it takes time to change the mental script – I imagine this won’t come quickly.
2) I told family/friends
I’m grateful that the majority of people have been supportive and understanding about the news.
As expected, a common theme is surprise.
Once the words leave my mouth, you can see the wheels spinning in their minds – perhaps considering how it affects them and our relationship.
It’s going to be interesting to see which friendships last through this change.
3) I quit my job
It crossed my mind to stay.
I’ve read about sober bartenders before, so what’s keeping me from being a non-drinking industry person?
While I’ve grown to enjoy my coworkers and work culture, I realized the moment was an opportunity to pursue something new. As such, I put in my notice and started applying for jobs once again.
What will change?
I’ve shared my experience, but you might be wondering what will change for you, the reader.
While I don’t plan to produce any more beer-related content for the blog or newsletter, my choice will have the positive impact of focusing my writing solely on minimalism/productivity.
I’ve known that having a smaller topic range would be beneficial, but I’ve avoided it until now – a selfish (and stupid?) decision.
Whether that draws you further into my writing or not, I deeply appreciate the support you’ve given!
…now to see where this leads.