Instagram: @the.sober.upcycler

My sober date is 01/01/22

Hi I’m Sam , The Sober Upcycler.

My sober story may seem quite unremarkable to some, but that’s why it’s so important to tell. It’s probably the same story for a lot of people out there.

I left home at 15. I had my ups and downs on the way to finding my husband and the comfortable life we live now. I found alcohol at an early age, like many and it helped me feel I fit in.

I’ve always worked and on the surface life was pretty good.

I’m a runner, I’ve completed ultra runs over the age of 40, even with scoliosis, so even my fitness looked good.

However, I was a wine drinker. I drank wine on Wednesday night as didn’t work Thursdays. I then continued through to Sunday, unless I had a run on over the weekend.

I found I didn’t have an off button when out and could always have a story to tell. 

However as I got older this became less fun, drinking at home became more of a routine. I tried stopping, I did the dry January’s only to be back on it Feb 1st.

I started upcycling last year abit before Christmas. I was going to craft fairs and realising that sore heads and wine breath were holding me back from talking to new people and building my side hustle.

I was now developing anxiety over my drinking, mix in perimenopause and the recipe was starting to add up to disaster:

Don’t get me wrong. When I told people I wasn’t drinking anymore, I got a lot of comments along the lines of but why? You don’t drink that much.

Being high functioning I can hide a lot. Also society and advertising makes alcohol dependency seem normal.

So last New Year’s Day, I put down the wine and so far haven’t picked it up again.

I’m happier, I know my own mind more, I feel free, I’m in control and not worrying about when I can have the next glass, how slow I have to drink in public, if anyone can smell last nights drink on me.

I’m actually probably a little slower in life now, I used to jump out of bed and go for a run to prove a point. Now I can sip my coffee guilt free and get ready for the day.

I never thought I would be doing this if you asked me a year ago. 

If you’re sober curious, give it a try, follow the sober community on insta, reach out. You don’t need a rock bottom to stop poisoning yourself, I’m living proof.