Mocktail Mondays
I went alcohol-free this summer as a challenge, and now it’s going on four months strong.
I feel fantastic, and honestly, I think there’s a really high chance I may never go back to drinking again. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t condone drinking; I just don’t love the brain fog that takes over the day after… anymore. There was a time in my life when I was extremely reliant on drinking to help me overcome my social anxiety in uncomfortable settings, and it became a crutch that I couldn’t let go of for years. From high levels of anxiety to work-related stress, sometimes I felt like I couldn't go a single day without reaching for the bottle, and I realized there was a problem. Fast forward to May 2023, I told myself I needed to do something or I'd permanently injure my health, so I underwent an alcohol cleanse and I'm so glad I stayed mentally strong.
Has it been easy peasy lemon squeezy? Heck no - I've had to sit in my discomfort in large social gatherings and I just had to learn how to get over how awkward I felt at certain times or how strange it’d be to reject a drink and opt for a soda instead. But through it all, I’ve managed to find fun work-arounds that have worked quite well for me.
So, one thing I can attest to is that the "vibe" is a big component of drinking, sometimes not so much the inebriation itself. Most of the time, we as humans simply want to feel like we are on the same wavelength as those around us, and drinking is a common activity that has been normalized to help us feel like we are. Mocktails and non-alcoholic beer have become fantastic choices for me in these situations because they make me feel like I'm a part of the festivities while also not requiring me to declare that I'm not drinking alcoholic beverages to those around me. And, while I'm becoming better at just sitting with my feelings and taking in the scene with practice, nothing surpasses the energy I feel the following day when I don't drink the night before, and this has become my motivation to turn a blind eye when alcohol is offered. Ka-Ching.
I've been having a lot of fun creating non-alcoholic takes on speciality drinks that I've enjoyed in various locations while traveling, and I can't wait to share them with you all. Cheers to Mocktail Mondays :)
Author: Leslie Lung 