December is upon us again and once again ’tis the season of alcohol and holidays. If you are trying to stop drinking because you find that more often than not you drink too much, or if you stopped drinking recently and are trying to stay sober, December can be a blur of alcohol-related stress.

The question for most of us is

If drinking is no longer giving me more than it takes why can’t I just stop?

I always told myself I drank because I liked to drink. So then, why couldn’t I stop drinking when I no longer liked to do it? Why would I feel terrible about drinking so much only to turn around and drink more? Why did pressure (both from friends/family and myself) to stop drinking drive me straight to the bottom of a case of beer? The answer to all of those questions is the same: because I had spent so many years drinking to cope with my emotions that it was the only coping mechanism I had. But it doesn’t have to be that way!

Come join us at BOOM Rethink the Drink for a December you CAN remember. A December you’ll WANT to remember. Don’t wait until January 1st, hoping to catch onto the momentum of Dry January and the new year. We’re here now and talking about what you’re thinking about 24/7 around the world. Get a jump start on loving your life today.

Here is a look back at our first week of “A December you Can Remember” in 2021:

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You could pretty much get drunk off the fumes in the air at this time of year. Whether you’re on the beach in the sweltering heat in Australia or bundled up in the snow in the north, the booze is wrapped in gold paper with a bow on top and it’s most likely 25% off “such a deal!”

NOTHING sells like booze in December. 

Most of us thought we were feeding our rebellious spirit with booze when we drank but NOT DRINKING this month is a pure act of rebellion against the status quo.

Sober is the best way to win the war against the mundane.

I was afraid of giving up drinking. It felt like a shield from my stressful bad days … and also my gateway to fun on good days. I was afraid I couldn’t actually do sobriety long term. But now I realize I am fun without wine, and even more fun since I am present … not hungover, sleep deprived, anxious or guilty. So far, sobriety gives me a glimmer of courage that I can actually do this.

Quote taken from this post Find Your Sober Courage

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Alcohol-Free is Empowering.

Alcohol-Free is…Finally living my best life❤

Alcohol-free is light and refreshing, full of clarity and intention!

Alcohol -Free is the Life you thought you’d lost

I’m feeling so very grateful to be sober and sharing this path with some of the smartest, funniest, warmest, most sensitive, brave, honest, and talented people on the planet. This is the Club I want to be a part of forever.

I’ve been training all year for the Sober Olympics. I have not been 100% sober in 2021 (though I’m nearing 4 alcohol-free months now!) but I have been dealing with most of these things recently without drinking. Now it’s all the things at the same time, but I’m going to keep using the skills I’ve learned and the sober muscle I’ve been building

Quote taken from Opening Ceremonies for the Sober Olympics found at this link Starting the Sober Holiday Season with Great Intentions and a Solid Plan

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Christmas will happen
With presents & stuff
I’m staying calm
I know this much
After all it’s
just another day
No need to stress
This is enough 

Poem by Floss

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Note to Self :

I am Allowed to Cry.

I am Allowed to scream.

BUT,

I am not Allowed to Give Up!

It will all get done somehow

Just Breath.
I’m a work in progress and will be until I take my last breath. But it excites me to know that change is possible! And sometimes we can’t even see or believe change will come. What I mean is, last year I couldn’t imagine myself being sober this year. BUT I AM and that’s Exciting!! Staying sober makes me look so forward to the future! That Mommy’s Wine Time routine that is supposed to ease the stress? Drinking to calm the loneliness of raising my son with my husband away in service? That was not the solution. It created the problem.

from It’s Ok to Not be Ok – Breaking the Bond of Mommy’s Wine Time

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If anyone pressures you to drink
Tell em no thanks it’s ok
It’s not their fault
If they think you’re missing out
They don’t know the secret anyway
That alcohol-free is what it’s about
And sober
You can still play 

Poem by Floss

Since I stopped drinking I have been gifted with

Health

Sober I feel so much better. My stomach is not burning every day. My skin has lost its “fire truck” red hue. That suspicious tenderness in my upper right side has disappeared. I don’t get tired going up stairs and I have lost 14 pounds.

Since I stopped drinking I have been gifted with

Self-esteem

This one has surprised me the most. My shame vanished practically overnight when I stopped drinking. I feel compassion for myself for the first time since I can remember. I’ve started to feel pride again. Pride about the way I handle things and slowly pride about the way I look.

Since I stopped drinking I have been gifted with

Resilience

Sober I feel strong again. Not always and not every day, but there is a deep underlying well of strength that I can access now which hasn’t been sucked dry by alcohol. I didn’t realize that that weakness I felt, both physically and emotionally, was a side effect of the alcohol. I just thought I had become a weak person. I thought it was about aging and life was just wearing me down. Turns out, no, I am a strong person who survived continuous poisoning.

Since I stopped drinking I have been gifted with

Stability

Sober I am a much better and more stable parent and partner. I am present for my family and my emotions are more even-keeled. At the same time, I am better at verbalizing my boundaries and needs with them. I am better at my job by not being crippled by hangovers or by being preoccupied the whole day with the thought of just holding on until work is over and I can finally drink.

Since I stopped drinking I have been gifted with

Freedom 

This one I have only really started to feel lately.  Sometimes I get into bed and it occurs to me that I didn’t think about alcohol all day. Alcohol is not ruling my life anymore and the obsession is fading. It lurks sometimes, but a couple of stern words or simply ignoring it, and it disappears again. It is a huge relief. I really want to know what it feels like to be completely free, and I hope I get there.

It seems so simple. Just don’t drink, no matter what. Making the decision WAS that simple. Standing by that decision and dedicating everything to that decision isn’t quite as simple, but is completely and utterly worth it. I just needed to stop drinking and continue to stop every single day.

from 5 Gifts of Sobriety – Celebrating Sober With Thoughts on How to Stop Drinking

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M Moods are authentic
O Our personality is free to play &
R Really being present means our
E Experiences are enriched

There’s just more to life than ethanol
And if you’re not careful
Alcohol takes it all
We deserve a life well lived
Not paying much more than you can afford to give

Sober treats could be just what you need
To fill your emotional bucket
When you want to just say fcuk it
Look at what you need emotionally
To help you enjoy your life fully, alcohol free?

Poem by Floss

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Because we kinda
make our own rules 
I feel I’m at
Sober Badass School 

BOOM! Rethink the Drink !

We’ve lots of resources 
Numerous sources 
Of wit and
wisdom too

I mean
I know in the end
it comes down to you
But a site like this?
I’m so glad 
When I was feeling bad and sad
I didn’t miss the chance to sign up
‘Cos it’s helping my life to pick up
Or at least not veer badly off track 

On here 
It’s even becoming clear 
People are getting their life back
With their sobriety plan of attack 

At Sober Badass school
we continually learn 
How not to give in
So booze won’t win

If we happen to slip
We try again 
Instead of taking
another dip 

And my friend?
If we continue to sail
We cannot fail!

So, join us!
what are you waiting for?
Why not open the
sobriety door 

You never know 
You could become a Sober Badass Warrior
And it could really show

Poem by Floss

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F FOMO is
O One of the unhelpful
M Mindsets that
O Often steals our happiness

F Forget what
O Others are doing sometimes &
M Manage your
O Own happiness and fun

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If you’re “sober curious” … If you are drinking too much too often and want to stop or take a break…or if you have stopped drinking and are trying to stick to sober! Talk to Us.  

We are an independent, anonymous and private community who share resources, support and talk it through every day. It helps to have a community behind you in a world where alcohol is the only addictive drug that people will question you for NOT using

You can read more about us Here And join  Here

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Don’t let the shame of the stigma keep you from saying

“I think I have a problem with drinking”