Three Years.

Today marks three years since my last drink.

When I first made the decision to take a break from alcohol on the morning of February 23rd, 2018, I was hesitant, anxious and fearful of what lay ahead. In my mind it wasn’t necessarily a permanent breakup, although I openly said it was, but was more a trial separation, one that would allow me an opportunity to challenge many of the beliefs I had about drinking and it’s place in my life.

Those first few months were HARD. I was flying without a net. If not for the unwavering support of my family and a few close friends, I doubt I would have come through them unscathed. My first sober St. Patrick’s Day in three decades. My first time watching my favorite hockey and basketball teams disappointing me in the playoffs (again!) without a drink in my hand to drown my sorrows. My first live concerts without drinking when most of my friends were. And my first summer at the family cottage without beer in almost a quarter century.

But as the weeks and months passed, I began to gain traction and I started to discover I had more energy and excitement about the future than I had in years. I took a mountain bike off the wall of the garage and hit the local trails. I joined a gym and began working out with a trainer. And most importantly, I picked up and read This Naked Mind, by Annie Grace. It changed everything for me. It’s amazing to think that one book can change your life, but it’s not a stretch to say that was the case for me.

From reading her book, to appearing on Annie’s podcast to tell my story in October 2018, to becoming a Certified TNM Coach in August 2019 and coaching in several TNM programs, to having my story appear in Annie’s latest book, it’s been an amazing ride. I have met so many incredible individuals on my journey, both fellow coaches and the amazing people I’ve had the pleasure to work with in my various roles with TNM and in my own 1-on-1 coaching with Trailblazer Life. I admire and am inspired by each and every one of the people that I have crossed paths with over the last three years.

But it hasn’t been all positive. There have also been many challenges along the way. Losing two close friends to cancer. Losing my dad suddenly as I approached my one-year sober milestone, and subsequently having to deal with the settling of his estate and selling of our family home. Throw in a year-long (and counting) global pandemic that has turned our world upside down for good measure and it hasn’t been smooth sailing by any means.

But here we are. 1096 days. Alcohol is just a sign in my rearview mirror now. I don’t wake up each morning thinking about it, nor does it bother me to see ads and commercials for it or to have other people consuming it around me. I don’t consider myself to be in recovery, or to have recovered from anything. Rather, I have been able to simply reset my brain to it’s factory default (i.e. non-drinking) setting. Remember that 15-16 year old brain? Yeah, that one.

Alcohol will always exist, such is the hold it has on our society. If any of you or those around you may be thinking that you might like to drink a little bit less and take a look behind the curtain, feel free to reach out to me and book a Discovery Call. I’m always willing to talk. If I can do it, anyone can do it.