For a lot of people, today will be their first day sober. You could say, for them, today will be ‘Soberday One’. And on this Soberday One someone, somewhere in the world will make a resolve to give up drinking:
for a day
for a week
for a month (Month of Living Sober=MOLS)
for a year (Year of Living Sober=YOLS)
And maybe even…drum roll please…
…for a lifetime! (a lifetime of living sober=saving a truckload of cash, brain cells, and face: you’ll never have to say you’re sorry for throwing up in the back of a taxi again.)
It all starts today—the first day sober.
And though for others their life of either temporary or permanent teetotalism will start tomorrow, or next week maybe, whenever they do begin, they too will start a new life with Soberday One.
There’s no other way except one sober day at a time.
While ‘#soberday’ is one of the main hashtag handles I currently use to hook up with other Teetotaller (both temporary and permanent) Tweeters, however you refer to the first day of a sober life—and whether you are simply a big drinker taking a break, or an alcoholic finally committing to a booze-free life—the one thing connecting everyone who’s made a decision to accept their habit of alcohol consumption and make a go at changing it is: we all do it one sober day at a time.
Depending on our personal situation and personality we might be aiming for a week, a month, a year—or more—free from alcohol, but we all get to our goal one soberday after the next.
And why shouldn’t we encourage each other? No matter our various motivations for abstaining, or how long we’re each off the juice? After all, for one day at least, we’re all in the same booze-free boat.
Though I’ve never been to a 12-step meeting, from what I’ve heard, read and seen (Hollywood can be educative) I gather the idea you should focus only on the present is a big part of AA’s method of dealing with what could otherwise be an overwhelming thought of NEVER DRINKING AGAIN!
Sheesh!
“NEVER?”
For myself, that concept is too much at the moment. I can handle the idea of a year of living sober alright but contemplating NEVER DRINKING AGAIN sends me into all caps terror.
“BUT I LOVE DRINKING!”
“HOW WILL I CELEBRATE MY FOOTBALL TEAM WINNING?”
“WHAT IF I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATE AND NEED AN EXCUSE?”
As challenging as the thought of giving up booze forever is however, there is another thought which makes it a bit easier to contemplate:
I’m not alone.
Today marks the day when a whole bunch of regular folk—some younger, some older, but, in that they normally enjoy a drink or three, all just like me—are ‘trying on’ a life without any alcohol.
Especially Down Under.
As of today (1st of July), and for the next 31 days, many of us Antipodeans will be passing on the liquor. Pub-loads of people who’ve signed up to Dry July begin a month without drinking any alcohol: today they begin one month sober.
So, to all you Dry July-ers, may I wish you…
“Happy Soberday One!”
And while I am not officially part of Dry July (or either of the similar groups, Febfast and Hello Sunday Morning) I definitely share a close kinship with fellow alcohol lovers who partake in Temporary Teetotalism—periods of alcohol abstinence with increased mental, physical and spiritual health as the main goals.
I too have had my Soberday One.
Now, having gone 233 days without a drink, I’m looking forward to hearing from other former drinkers about how they’re going on their #MOLS (Month of Living Sober). If you’re doing Dry July I’d love to hear from you (either via a comment on this blog or send me an email). And I’ll be Twittering like a mad Twitterer (are there any other kind?) through all July.
And beyond. After Dry July it’s still three more months dry for me! I’m on my YOLS until 11/11/2012.
My name is Ben and I’m a dipsomaniac.
Today is Day 234 of my Year of Living Sober.
Little Booze Joke
A black sheep walks into a bar bar.
How about you? Have you ever had a month off the booze? Was your ‘Soberday One’ a long time ago? Love to get your comment.
Thanks so much for this blog!! Im starting my soberday one today, and actually started a blog last night about my decision to change! socialdrink.blogspot.co.uk
please read and share as I’d love to get some feedback from people and motivation from others to keep on track!
Well done on your journey!
x
Thanks for your comment, Louise.
Congratulations on your new blog! I took a quick look and will be back for more (off to sleep now!) soon. Writing about what is in many ways a very personal experience has been lots of fun for me, and I’ve particularly enjoyed the feedback and exchanges with other like— (and some, not so ‘like’) minded folk.
I’m looking forward to your perspective now too.
Have fun
I was an #MOLS then went two months, 60 day goal reached yesterday. Tonight I plan to enjoy a glass of wine. I have 3 reasons to celebrate – it’s Canada Day here, finishing up a big project (even though it’s a long weekend) and the 60 days.
I’m trusting my relationship to wine will be quite casual. It’s been fun taking a break, losing weight, feeling energized. Keep you posted.
Ahh, the old double-MOLS. Not very common with new teetotallers though the more adventurous have been known to try it straight off the regular boozing blocks. Congratulations on your double whammy, Deanne!
Intrigued about your ‘big project’ too. I love your blog so I imagine whatever else you have created is full of life and inspiration too.
Happy Canada/New Relationship With Wine Day
Thanks Ben. I celebrated with one glass of Pinot Gris. Which took me 1.5hrs to drink! It was fun, but almost “meh”. I can definitely say I achieved the goal of lowering my tolerance (tipsy after 3 sips), I can only imagine what a whole year off would do.
I’ve heard of Slow Food but Slow Wine? You might be starting a trend there!
I’m looking forward to seeing how my tolerance is too at the end of this YOLS. I imagine one shot glass—of beer—will be enough to have me giggly.
Thanks for your amusing blog. This is soberday one for me, following a gradual increase in drinking which has culminated in my waking in the night convinced my liver is begging me to give the poor guy a break (not exactly sure why my liver is male, but hey ho). Had an epiphany and am facing up to the fact that the booze is not entirely fun any more, but rather a chore.
If I’m being honest, I’m hoping it won’t be a completely booze free life from here on in, but I’m committing to 3 months and hoping that 90 days sober will be enough to reevaluate my friendship with Ms Chardonnay and Mr Cab Sav.
Raising a cup of tea to your health – cheers!
You’re welcome, Rachel. And congratulations on your Soberday One! I can relate to your story of the gradual increase, though to be honest, I pretty much floored it from my teens!
And like you, I’m not thinking I’m done with alcohol just yet. I will be having a drink at the end of my year off and then take it from there. Right now I’d like to think I will return to a more moderate consumption, but only time will tell.
I wouldn’t want to jinx myself with claims I’ll be a forever, completely changed man. But maybe I will be?
I’ve been thinking about doing something like this for awhile. A specific amount of time seems easier to get on board with. I guess today is as good as any day to start. Thanks for writing this and providing that knudge. Day 1.
You’re welcome, Bob. Thanks very much for your comment. If you’d like me to email you a free ‘Year of Living Sober’ calendar (it’s just a single A4 page you can print off and mark each soberday as you go) just drop me an email via the contact page HERE.
Personally, I don’t think it matters so much if you make the whole year in one go, but if you’re anything like me, having a visual record of progress can help motivate a bit. Even that one day is a little victory.
[...] 23. Is today your ‘Soberday One’? Temporary Teetotaller or Alcoholic, you’re not alone. [...]
I’ve been sober going on 6 years. I love reading about your journey! It is quite compelling and hilarious. Congrats on the 1 year commitment. It’s not easy.
Thanks G2BG! 6 years? Congrats to YOU
I am 235 days alcohol free. I had been having health problems (not alcohol related I may add) but decided as a New Years resolution that it would be in my best interest to stop consuming alcohol, well for as long as I thought I could. 235 sober days later and it’s going great.
As a 24 year old it is nigh on impossible to go out somewhere where they don’t serve alcohol, but that doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I can quite happily join my friends for a night out and stick to Pepsi all night.
However, I do find social drinkers to be a pain. They act as though it is torture for me not to drink alcohol, nothing could be further from the truth. If I went somewhere that was giving it away for free I still wouldn’t want it. The “Oh go on, just have one, you must be desperate” routine gets very tedious. If I wanted one I would go and get one!
Anyway, 235 days and at this point and I don’t see my will power weakening. At this point in time I reckon I could live the rest of my life alcohol free.
I find it intriguing reading stories of people who have decided to give it up, whether it be temporarily or whatever.
Congrats on 235 DOLS!
Your comment reminds me about how one of the main things you have to contend with when giving up alcohol (whether permanently or temporarily) is other people’s projections. I’m sure in my twenties I was guilty of asking the same kind of questions you mentioned of anyone not getting into the literal spirit of things, as I thought they should be. Because, at the time, I couldn’t imagine having a wild and crazy time without booze I couldn’t imagine anyone else wanting to party sober either.
I don’t think that way anymore.