DRINKING WINE USED TO BE FUN
I am a recently remarried mom and stepmom of 6 wonderful children – 3 daughters and 3 sons. As a social drinker for years I found myself starting happy hour earlier and earlier during the pandemic.
We had a houseful of young adults on lockdown off and on for months. I was sure to have the fridge stocked with everyone’s preferences at all times. As the pandemic was easing, it occurred to me that I remembered when drinking wine used to be fun. And I noticed that often it wasn’t anymore. When had that changed?
I knew my wine drinking had increased during the long and often chaotic disruption of a worldwide pandemic. Could this be a problem?
When drinking wine used to be fun
LITTLE PLEASURE AND SO MANY NEGATIVES (long after wine drinking used to be fun!)
Of course together with our family and friends, drinking wine was often still enjoyable. (But was this because of the people or the wine?) Hmmm… Most days, it was just me, sipping on my own, and the fun (the buzz) lasted maybe an hour. There was little pleasure and the next day, MANY negatives. I suffered from terrible hangovers, fitful sleep, zero energy, grumpy attitude, high anxiety, bloaty face and absolute, utter exhaustion.
On the outside, I got really good at pretending I was just fine. I was all business as usual – high functioning, active, perfectionist, hostess and fixer Mom. But on the inside, I was worn out and stuck in a vicious cycle. Drink, sleep, hangover, repeat. And I knew I needed to do something about it.
My journey started with reading about the science of alcohol and 2 books made a huge impact on me. This Naked Mind and Quit Like A Woman were a great place for me to start. These books explained what alcohol was doing to my brain and body. And I quickly began to understand why drinking wine used to be fun but just wasn’t anymore.
When drinking wine used to be fun
CELEBRATING ONE YEAR ALCOHOL FREE 09/07/22!!
I Never Thought I Would Write Again
I graduated from The University of Southern California in 1986 with a degree in Public Relations and Journalism. I loved my writing classes. My first job out of USC was with a Los Angeles Advertising Agency. I was responsible for copywriting our client’s TV and radio commercials as well as their advertising on billboards, in magazines and newspapers. Writing was something I did back then for fun AND for my career. I knew I was so lucky.
After spending 10 years at the ad agency, I decided to quit after my second daughter was born because I wanted to be a stay at home mom.
Then as I focused on raising our girls, I soon forgot about my desire to write. Life intervened and there was just no time. But I am forever grateful that I was lucky enough to have this time home and present for my daughters when they were little.
back when drinking used to be fun!
It took 15 years and removing alcohol from my life to bring back my desire and joy for writing and I am so excited about my next chapter of life.