Why I'm Giving Up Alcohol For A Year

New Year, New Obsession, Same Me.

Days sober: 05

My mission is simple: no alcohol for all of 2022. I refuse to entertain the idea of calling it a resolution because the only reason you make a New Year’s Resolution is to break it. Tell me I’m wrong (I’m not).

There are lots of reasons for kicking the sauce but the primary one is that, well, I’m not exactly where I want to be or who I want to be—physically, mentally or financially. I’ve managed to drink White Claw or Sauvignon Blanc (before you ask, no, I’m not one of those M0mMy nEeDs WiNe type-a hoes) almost every day this year and while it may have only been a drink or two or six, I know full well aspects of my life are mediocre due to alcohol. Maybe you feel the same way: curious and intrigued by the possibility of not feeling like shit all the time. That’s why I’m here… to do the hard work for both of us and report back honestly, candidly, and (hopefully) humorously.

Also, LOL @ me because when I started this essay Saturday morning,Jan. 1, I was drinking a White Claw (because apparently Jan. 1 doesn’t count and I needed to clear the house of all alcohol first?) even though I’ve started an entire CAMPAIGN to stop drinking. This is all you need to know about alcoholism.

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This being the inaugural first post and all, I suppose I should give you the deets of this whole deal:

WHO: Me, Allie Adams, age 33. A writer and photographer, professionally; and a mom, partner, and chef, domestically. Reformed Party Girl with a capital P, former stripper, and current wannabe person-that-has-their-life-together.

WHAT: Just an essay a week, chronicling my life without alcohol for the next year. I promise to keep them around 500 words. That’s a 3 minute read, because if I make it any longer I, myself, won’t even read it anymore.

WHEN: NOW! TODAY! ALL OF 2022!

WHERE: The Big Island of Hawai’i, a move I made in July. Not the worst place to be sober, I’ll give you that.

WHY: Because I want to get my fucking life together and do things I’ve been putting off for years. I want good credit and an organized Tupperware cabinet and the ability to run a business properly, and follow through to complete the things I say I’m going to. Alcohol derails all of this and makes me kind of a shitty person. I know this.

HOW: You mean besides the highly motivating pressure of public embarrassment and shame? I’m simply (and maybe stupidly) using what’s worked in the past: AA meetings, sticking to a schedule, and a reward system-which I’ll go into detail in the coming newsletters. It’s absolutely, unquestionably foolproof.

So, cheers-am I still allowed to say that? This is the beginning. If you’ve gotten this far, thank you for reading… even if only out of curiosity. It’s ok to lurk. I won’t tell.

PS: I’ll be documenting a lot of my journey on my Instagram. Follow along! I mean, like, if you want.