KeepingUp

I did it! Ok, this was actually my second sober wedding, but the first was super small, outdoors and we didn't stay long (COVID wedding). But over the weekend I went to a regular size and length wedding, full of dancing, food, family and fun! I had a great time and was so relieved to be able to go to bed late and still wake up early for my flight home the next day. Another guest, similar age (he might be late 20's), was on the same flight home at 6:20am the next day. Saw him stumble off the shuttle back at the hotel, couldn't remember if he had his suit jacket and didn't know how he'd get up in time to get an Uber and get his flight on time. He DID make it, but when we met up with him at the airport he was def worse for the wear, jokingly said he was having one of those "questioning all his life decisions" kind of mornings. I don't know him to know if has trouble with drinking, but I'll assume the best and that he does not, was just swept up as many guests were with the fun and fancy. Still, I was so grateful to think I don't need to have THOSE mornings any more! I was tired, but with my anxiety around flying to begin with, I'd probably have been sick the whole flight home and still feeling the after affects these days later. So glad I was able to enjoy a great time without alcohol and an even better time in the days that followed by not having the physical and mental health after effects.

948 days sober and counting!

fishkiller

👍👍
love it!

Mummyto2

FlyingDutchMan

That’s a succes story I loved reading!

Anna

Thanks for the great post.

Hevyn

It's so great when we realize there is life after alcohol.
Nice work, KeepingUp!

KeepingUp

Thanks guys! To add on, some of my sober highlights were:
- Enjoying the food! I'd always been too buzzed by dinner to care about eating, but this time I was ready to enjoy all the delicious food they had (and it WAS delicious!)
- Dancing without making a fool of myself. Even though I think I look better dancing when I'm drunk, I realize that is almost definitely not the case and I can't say I've never fallen while dancing at a wedding before. Not this time!
- Being present. Besides a few little photo shoots, I kept my phone away and was really able to be present with the event and my family who I hadn't seen in a while.
- Leaving at a reasonable time. We didn't leave early, but we didn't stay until the wee hours either. Based on the photos I saw, we didn't miss anything I needed to be a part of!

So for anyone else struggling with upcoming social engagements sober, hang in there. The first few times without booze can be awkward, but keep a seltzer in your hand, leave early if you're feeling uneasy and know that you'll have many, MANY more opportunities to really enjoy your sober partying! It does get easier with practice and you get learn what you actually enjoy at these events when it's not all masked with alcohol.

Hodd

Whenever I read about someone’s weekend or day without booze, it always sounds great 👍

A year or two back someone posted about going with their partner to a Polish delicatessen, buying all sorts of cheeses and meats and pigging out at home. A simple pleasure perhaps, but it sounded like great fun and didn’t need alcohol to make it work.

I feel the pain of that other passenger, though. Been there too many times ☹️

Thanks KU

BackandScared

Such a nice share. The clarity of the mornings, when any doubt about the benefits of not drinking seem totally ridiculous.

DriGuy

Oddly, one of my fears (excuses) against total abstinence, was the case for special occasions. I always used the example of weddings, although I could probably count the number of weddings I've been to in my life. In retrospect, the case for weddings was a classic example of a red herring. About a year into sobriety, I went to a wedding, and alcohol hardly crossed my mind. What did cross my mind was what a dumb excuse weddings were for NOT dealing with my alcoholism. It also surprised me that not everyone there was drinking, and nobody else seemed to care.

Dee74

Awesome, keeping up

D