I stopped drinking on vacation in Nicaragua with my family. It took time to get used to being social again.

The author of this article ceased consuming alcohol two and a half years ago during a family vacation in Nicaragua. He abandoned drinking over a piña colada on a beach in San Juan del Sur, questioning its effectiveness in enhancing his enjoyment of the day. Since quitting, his life has evolved positively but adapting to social situations without alcohol proved challenging.

He vividly recalls his last drink, emphasizing how it felt absurd for a Canadian to spend $10 USD on such a drink. The turning point occurred when he reflected on why he chose to numb himself with alcohol during a beautiful beach outing with his family. He realized that the drink was merely softening the edges of his days without genuine benefit.

Upon putting the drink down, he never resumed consuming alcohol. The shift was more gradual than he anticipated, resulting in a steady improvement in various aspects of his life. Notably, his sleep quality enhanced, his energy levels increased, and his cravings for unhealthy foods diminished. However, the most significant change was his improved mood.

While he still exhibits occasional irritability, he is considerably less impulsive compared to his previous state. The social aspect of quitting alcohol presented the greatest obstacle. Traditional social events often involved drinking, and without the prop of alcohol, he had to confront his inability to be comfortable in such scenarios.

Contrary to his initial assumption, he discovered that he could be comfortable without alcohol and even found himself more authentic in social situations. The author and his wife now recognize that the time spent drinking was wasted, as hours would vanish during social gatherings, leaving them tired and unproductive. Instead, he now prioritizes activities like lifting, running, writing a book, and working two jobs, valuing each hour of his day.

While he doesn't publicly announce his decision to quit drinking, he encourages individuals contemplating giving up alcohol to abstain for 30 days and observe the impact on their well-being. He believes that the fear of losing the drinking habit was unwarranted, as the real loss was the version of oneself that required alcohol to function adequately.