Exactly one day and one year ago, I gave up alcohol.
This isn't going to be a long story about addiction, but more about mental toughness and choices.
For many people, they struggle with addiction, and as we all know the first statement of an addict is “I can quit anytime I want.”
For those of you who have struggled with this addiction for years and have conquered it with the many programs that exist, I am encouraged by your commitment to self transformation.
For those of us who are on the journey maybe this will help.
Going into high school, I had to sign a contract with my parents that pretty much summed up the following points:
- No alcohol or drugs
- Buttons buttoned and zippers zipped (chastity)
- Respect curfew that is set
- Play 3 sports or get a job
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA
These are the points I remember and I am sure if you ask my mom or dad they will have a few extra to add to it.
However, that contract instilled me a commitment because the punishment was social suicide.
So I was a square in high school, I abided by the rules, and thankfully, they helped me develop strong moral character.
College, at first, followed the same trajectory as high school. I remember taking the position that alcohol was terrible for your brain and as an athlete and student that was the worst thing I could do — poison my body and limit my performance.
In fact, I remember writing a paper for my best friends to encourage them to avoid drinking because of the detriment it did to your brain. (peer pressure won in the long run). Somewhere my position changed and I was convinced that it was actually healthy.
I chose to start engaging in the party lifestyle and I am pretty sure I consumed enough Natural Light to help the Budweiser stock price change (the original influencers right?).
Regardless, after college we would live the typical American Dream.
Work Monday-Friday, and then have a few drinks on Friday and Saturday never really paying attention to the impact on our health.
The experts told us that a couple glasses of wine or a few beers would take the edge off and could be salutogenic (healthy).
And this was my life from roughly 2008 to 2016.
2016 was a change for what I would say is the worst. That was the year that Bourbon became a part of my life and I loved it.
That amber liquid flowing through my veins was gold nectar and I couldn't get enough of it. In fact, my entire life started to be consumed by it. I started a men's organization around it. I would follow rare releases. We would hunt bottles on weekends. I was utterly consumed and addicted.
That is until 2024.
In 2024, I would like to say that there was this point that everything changed and we had this magical moment like Saul’s encounter with God. But that is not the case. Instead this was a slow revelation that was nurtured through podcast, reading, and blood work.
For most of us, we are convinced that taking the edge off doesn't really hurt us — Like I said — salutogenic according to the experts — and I believed them.
However, at a yearly physical, I discovered that I had elevated Liver Enzymes and that could be correlated to my alcohol consumption habits. This was in January and I recall talking to my wife about it saying that I was going to use Lent to give up alcohol and see if the numbers changed.
During this time, I was heavily into podcasts such as Tucker Carlson, Shawn Ryan and Joe Rogan.
You know what they all have in common?
Every single one of them gave up alcohol in their life and had been sober for years.
Interesting right?
Then Andrew Hubermann came out with a 3 hour podcast on the impact of alcohol on human physiology.
The evidence was lining up.
However, it wasn't enough for me.
After Easter, I decided I had developed enough self control and I could entertain alcohol again in my life.
Many of you are probably chuckling at this point because you know how that goes — not good.
As I have said in the past — I am an all or nothing person and moderation really doesn't exist in my life. I was quickly back to where I was a short 46 days ago and that amber nectar was running my veins.
Until May 11, 2024.
Clear as day I remember coming home to celebrate Mothers Day and my oldest daughter, Josslyn, asked me.
“Dad, are you going to have any of that brown stuff over the fridge with dinner?”
That was it. That was God’s smack in the face. That was the moment when I was woken up and I looked at my wife and said I am done.
It has now been 366 days.
I don’t think I can ever go back to drinking again. Thankfully God has given me the strength to persevere in this commitment and a support network that encourages me to stay strong.
For many of you, this story may resonate. For others it won’t. Maybe you don’t have a problem with alcohol. Maybe you struggle with another addiction: anger, lust, lazy, lack of self control, lack of discipline, over consumption of sugar…you name it.
Every single one of us has something that needs to go.
Every single one of you can make that day 1 commitment today.
My encouragement to you : It is 100% worth it.
Remember, it is 4:45 on a Monday morning and I am out walking and praying for you. Today, I pray for those burdens that you have carried and that if you so choose, you can make this your very own Day 1.
Since I don’t make posts like this on social media ... if there's someone you know that would benefit from reading this, share it with them so they can start working on making their Monday great again.
