🍷 Soul Snacks

2 min read

Dear Snackers,

If everything goes according to plan, I will be on an airplane to Miami when this hits your inbox. I love Miami. It’s got a lot of New York vibes – fantastic restaurants, active days, amazing night life, gritty, hardworking people – but in COLOR. The flight is under three hours and, when you land, Miami beach is a mere 25 minutes from the airport. It is the most convenient, sunny getaway and I’m on my fucking way! Also, thank fuck Halloween is over and God bless the husbands of my college friends who are dealing with all the kids the morning after Halloween. 

To be honest, I was a little nervous about this weekend, but it had nothing to do with leaving my kids. After the summer, my husband and I took a reset from alcohol - nothing major, just a couple weeks off the sauce, but it had an effect on my mindset. Summer is always full of social gatherings and opportunities to have a drink and, almost always, my husband takes vacation the last couple weeks before school starts. We usually love having drinks together during his time off from work, since we never do that in real life unless it is a weekend, or we have plans. It feels so decadent to pour that beverage on a Tuesday or Wednesday and relax. The cumulative effect of having alcohol every day, however, even if just a drink, was wearing on us. A big part of that feeling is our age, too. It’s just much harder to bounce back after 40, especially when you’re up early with kids. Having drinks started feeling like a chore more than a celebration, and you’d think you’d just abstain if you were feeling that way, but in so many of these “summer fun” scenarios, drinking is sort of part of the drill. After school started, I’d gone back to my alcohol-free weekdays, but we went out with friends and had drinks that first weekend, and felt like shit the next day. I knew I wanted a break, and really wanted to challenge myself and our weekend habits. 

I am not going to lie, I was nervous about skipping drinks on a weekend – I thought I might find it really difficult to forego my end of week “rewards”. We didn’t make any plans though, and we were in it together, which made it monumentally easier. We planned to have some great desserts, and I focused on thinking about delicious, non foggy coffee in the morning. Friday night was a breeze because felt like a fun change of pace, but when 5pm approached on Saturday, we both were fighting the urge, chuckling a bit at our weakness. We each had a non-alcoholic Athletic Brew, which was a fantastic alternative and took the edge off and, after that, it was basically smooth sailing. The following Saturday, after 13 days, we attended a wedding where we both opted to have couple of drinks but, since then, there have been several more dry weekend nights in the mix, which has felt fantastic. There have also been a few opportunities like our anniversary, a fun night out with my cousin, and a Halloween party last weekend where I have had drinks and really enjoyed it.  

I love alcohol, I do. It is my drug of choice, and indeed, I want it to be just that….a choice. If it’s not exceedingly obvious by watching me on IG, it’s quite easy for me to let my hair down and be free with or without alcohol, I don’t need it for that. I like drinking to relax or celebrate (and sometimes it does end in a dance party), but mindlessly imbibing out of habit was getting old. I feel better knowing I can skip a weekend or even an occasion if I’m not in the mood to drink. Fast forward to Miami (I’ll be at a pool soon)….I am planning to have several drinks and a blast with my college girlfriends. I may also very well roll into another extended alcohol free period when I get back because, well, I know I love doing that now, too.

To some people this will be highly relatable, and to others who are not drinkers, it will sound kind of crazy. As a rule, I have a healthy fear of alcohol because I have seen it do horrible things to people, and I know anyone is susceptible. Alcohol free and sober curious are definitely in vogue right now, and I can see why it is the better option for people in many, many instances. A lot of people are also opting for micro-dosed THC or mushrooms to get a little high, without the next day effects of alcohol – I think that’s super if it jives for you.

My small but mighty reset was a great reminder of the satisfaction and benefits that come with more restraint - eliminating alcohol gives you a lot of time back, it is unquestionably the healthier option, and the anxious nut in me loves knowing I have more control. I  must confess though, if you can still swim, it’s a lot of fucking fun every now and again to dive in.

Caitlin

PS - I’d like to disclaim this is just my personal experience and should not be taken as advice or influence, one way or another. Happy weekending whether you’re drinking, sober, getting high, whatever the fuck you choose, I don’t care as long as it’s good for you!

• READ: Here’s an article that highlights the rise in the "sober curious" movement.

• LISTEN: Found this playlist for some great beachside listening in Miami. I suggest lying in a sunny spot on your floor with your eyes closed and listening to it if you’re not going to be on a beach this weekend. Just pretend. Let the music take you there.