Wow. I am so proud of you and your continued choice not to drink alcohol. I remember when you began and I thought "I wonder will Michaela continue after a month" And you did. I know of others who have made this life shift and that it is all for the better for them. I have never been interested in drinking alcohol much at all so feel 'blessed'. My parents drank socially and it was part of my growing up in 1960s but it did not catch for me.
Thank you so much, Denyse. I am so happy I decided to continue after a month. In many ways I think the benefits come after a good six months. I have always envied people who can "take it or leave it". It's great you were never interested in it. My parents drank wine with every dinner (my Dad still does). It was such a big part of my upbringing and was seen as "sophisticated". We were encouraged to try wine. My parents even had a winery for 8 years. Our wine label was called "Five Daughters Estate". Not gonna lie, that was a very fun time! Thanks for your support, always. Michaela x
Thanks for your vulnerability and congratulations on 580 days without alcohol. That's huge, especially coming from the Australian culture, as you say, that really makes alcohol the main event. I find as I age that I have to choose between drinking alcohol or sleeping because if I drink, my sleep is negatively impacted. I've also looked for low and non-alcoholic wines to see if. that will help lose the temptation to raise a glass.
Thanks Kylie. I really appreciate your lovely words. You are totally right about sleep. And that was another big motivator for me. Alcohol wreaks havoc with sleep quality. So not only do you feel rubbish the next day, lack of sleep can also contributes to dementia risk, and as I mentioned I am quite worried about that! And honestly, how vital is sleep in this midlife stage?! I have found a good alcohol free gin so I can feel like I am preparing a "drink" on weekends. I like the ritual of this.
Have just listened to the podcast. Congratulations on making this life changing decision for yourself and your family. The ability to recognise the consequences and complexity of alcohol consumption isn’t easy and is certainly a process. I was chatting to my husband about the drinking culture the other day and how our adult sons do not drink anywhere near the amounts that he did at their age. He said he felt societal pressure to drink at sporting clubs and work
functions and it made him feel relaxed and part of the scene. Our boys say they don’t feel that pressure, which I am so pleased about, they make their own choices (they are heavily involved in high level sport - how things have changed). I am and have always been a very moderate drinker - always the sensible one, the designated driver and have often felt judged for being that way. Societal expectations are very powerful wherever you sit. Well done.
Jane, thank you so much for your lovely words. Yes, for Gen X'ers I think the societal pressure to drink is huge. It's wonderful that your sons don't drink as much as we did at their age. I love that their generation don't feel the pressure and don't actually have the desire to drink. I can imagine you have felt judged for not drinking. It's a sad reflection of our society. I am sure I have judged non drinkers in the past. Not proud of that. Now I am experiencing it and finding it hard to justify sometimes. How silly that we feel the need to justify it. Thanks again for reading and taking the time to comment.
I am so proud of you mum 🥰
Thanks for your encouragement and support.
Wow. I am so proud of you and your continued choice not to drink alcohol. I remember when you began and I thought "I wonder will Michaela continue after a month" And you did. I know of others who have made this life shift and that it is all for the better for them. I have never been interested in drinking alcohol much at all so feel 'blessed'. My parents drank socially and it was part of my growing up in 1960s but it did not catch for me.
Well done again my friend.
Denyse x
Thank you so much, Denyse. I am so happy I decided to continue after a month. In many ways I think the benefits come after a good six months. I have always envied people who can "take it or leave it". It's great you were never interested in it. My parents drank wine with every dinner (my Dad still does). It was such a big part of my upbringing and was seen as "sophisticated". We were encouraged to try wine. My parents even had a winery for 8 years. Our wine label was called "Five Daughters Estate". Not gonna lie, that was a very fun time! Thanks for your support, always. Michaela x
Thanks for your vulnerability and congratulations on 580 days without alcohol. That's huge, especially coming from the Australian culture, as you say, that really makes alcohol the main event. I find as I age that I have to choose between drinking alcohol or sleeping because if I drink, my sleep is negatively impacted. I've also looked for low and non-alcoholic wines to see if. that will help lose the temptation to raise a glass.
Thanks Kylie. I really appreciate your lovely words. You are totally right about sleep. And that was another big motivator for me. Alcohol wreaks havoc with sleep quality. So not only do you feel rubbish the next day, lack of sleep can also contributes to dementia risk, and as I mentioned I am quite worried about that! And honestly, how vital is sleep in this midlife stage?! I have found a good alcohol free gin so I can feel like I am preparing a "drink" on weekends. I like the ritual of this.
Have just listened to the podcast. Congratulations on making this life changing decision for yourself and your family. The ability to recognise the consequences and complexity of alcohol consumption isn’t easy and is certainly a process. I was chatting to my husband about the drinking culture the other day and how our adult sons do not drink anywhere near the amounts that he did at their age. He said he felt societal pressure to drink at sporting clubs and work
functions and it made him feel relaxed and part of the scene. Our boys say they don’t feel that pressure, which I am so pleased about, they make their own choices (they are heavily involved in high level sport - how things have changed). I am and have always been a very moderate drinker - always the sensible one, the designated driver and have often felt judged for being that way. Societal expectations are very powerful wherever you sit. Well done.
Jane, thank you so much for your lovely words. Yes, for Gen X'ers I think the societal pressure to drink is huge. It's wonderful that your sons don't drink as much as we did at their age. I love that their generation don't feel the pressure and don't actually have the desire to drink. I can imagine you have felt judged for not drinking. It's a sad reflection of our society. I am sure I have judged non drinkers in the past. Not proud of that. Now I am experiencing it and finding it hard to justify sometimes. How silly that we feel the need to justify it. Thanks again for reading and taking the time to comment.
I am so proud of you mum 🥰
I am so proud of you mum 🥰