I decided to go 60 days without alcohol.
It wasn’t a challenge, a resolution, or a declaration that I would never drink again. It was a personal decision to better understand my habits, and to make sure my choices were still aligned with who I am.
I often talk about the importance of building authentic relationships with other people. But authentic connection has to begin with an honest relationship with yourself.
This was my opportunity to practice what I teach.
Why Did I Decide To Go 60 Days Without Alcohol?
For most of my adult life, I would have described myself as a social drinker.
A glass of wine at dinner. A cocktail at a party. Champagne for a celebration. Nothing about it felt particularly unusual or concerning.
But I became curious.
Was I choosing to drink because I truly wanted to—or because drinking was simply what I had always done in those situations?
So, quietly and without making it a big announcement, I decided to take a break.
What Happened When I Stopped Drinking?
I discovered that I didn’t need a glass of wine to enjoy myself.
I attended lively parties, celebrated special occasions, went on date nights, and made it through the entire festive season without alcohol.
And surprisingly, I didn’t miss it.
That realization was both simple and powerful. So many of our choices are influenced by the people, places, and routines around us. We can repeat a habit for years without ever stopping to ask whether it still serves us.
In December alone, I counted 18 occasions when I ordinarily would have had a drink.
Eighteen.
Seeing that number gave me a very different perspective on how frequently alcohol had become part of my social life, not because I was consciously choosing it each time, but because it was simply there.
Why Do Other People Notice When You Aren’t Drinking?
One of the most interesting parts of this experience was watching how other people reacted.
When you turn down a drink, people often become curious. Sometimes they ask questions. Sometimes they feel the need to explain their own choices.
Your decision can unintentionally become a mirror for someone else’s habits.
But what you choose to drink (or not drink) shouldn’t be about making other people comfortable. It should be about making a choice that feels right for you.
That is what authenticity looks like in practice.
It isn’t a performance. It is having enough self-awareness to recognize what you need and enough confidence to honor it.
What Changed During Those 60 Days?
The changes were noticeable.
I had richer conversations because I was completely present. My weekends felt more energetic. I slept better. My skin looked healthier. I felt clearer and more intentional.
I also learned that sparkling water in a beautiful glass can still make an ordinary evening feel special.
The glass was never what created the connection. The people around the table did.
Am I Giving Up Alcohol Forever?
I’m not making a forever declaration.
But my relationship with alcohol has fundamentally changed.
I am more aware of why I am reaching for a drink, how often I am doing it, and whether it is a choice I genuinely want to make.
That awareness is the real gift of this experience.
Strong relationships are built through intentional choices, and the relationship you have with yourself is no different.
So, here is the question I have been sitting with:
Are your habits still aligned with the person you are becoming, or are you repeating them simply because they are familiar?
Sometimes stepping away from something, even temporarily, gives you the clarity to see it differently.
And you may discover that what you thought you needed was never the thing creating the joy, confidence, or connection in the first place.
