Future Trippin’

The first step is admitting you are powerless over alcohol. Well, my friend, I admitted that one a while ago. The hard part is accepting the reality of never having a drink ever again. With my fun, outgoing, fast paced lifestyle that I ENJOY, this seems impossible. But the truth is, believe it or not, you CAN have fun in AA!!! I even loved Rehab! It was like summer camp; you cry and are so resistant to be there at first, but when it was time to leave I was so sad to say goodbye to all of my new friends and daily activities.

I am human, the thoughts of vacationing with no booze cruise, no mimosas at bottomless brunch, no confidence cocktails on the dance floor, no vino at the book club, and don’t get me started on martinis with date night! These thoughts are absolutely normal, but I have noticed with time, and with the overly said saying “one day at a time” it can be done! And mastered! Hundreds of others before me have decided to put down the drink and pick up the truth; AA is fun! So why not quit future tripping and trust them?

Our society revolves around drinking subliminally pushed in your face. With my clear mind and sober eyes I spot this out constantly now! Commercials of a group of friends on the beach with Coronas, Sex and the City movie with gal pals sippin the martinis, music videos of rock concerts and a few beers, simply walking out my downtown door as trucks drive by delivering their liquid supply to all the stores with big neon signs that read “BAR”. We are constantly reminded of the fun you believe to have while getting intoxicated. I can’t even open a menu without a cocktail list sliding out first. It is how you DEAL with it, that matters. I don’t plan to lock myself inside or run away to no man’s land from something so small and simple to easily “say no”. I am embracing these feelings head on. No FOMO for this sassy girl. Just take it one day at a time.

keep reading to see how!!! 👇

Personally for me, I like to plan my day the night before. Visualizing it and putting it onto paper with an hourly concrete plan works for me. I pencil in an aa meeting, a yoga class, some me time, work, and yes, you CAN go out to restaurants or events eventually.

I then send a grateful list to my fellow friends of 5-10 simple things I am grateful for! Because I enjoy writing mine tend to be detailed but it can be as easy as “today I am grateful for electricity and a roof over my head.” Do you! What are you grateful for today?

Then I continue onto a daily reflection, I will post some of my favorite books also for these simple one or two minute reads to get your head clear and mind ready to seize the day.

Hand out those digits!!! Start exchanging phone numbers, Facebook accounts, and network in the sober family. You are not alone in this! Since my newfound sobriety, I have already made a coffee discussion group after a meeting, experienced a sober pool party, plan to go camping at the Sober Camping Conference next month, yoga retreats, action park outings, ice skating, and other hobbies I always said I wanted to do but didn’t because I was lazy and hungover. And I promise you, others will want to join you on fun adventures. Or give you great ideas!

I made a list of local tourist traps and state parks to visit! Getting out and about and involved in your community is great. I enjoy paddle boarding and kayaking all over south Florida hidden gem waterways, a simple car ride to the Art District makes for a great afternoon in Fort Lauderdale or the wild Wynwood Walls in Miami. Map out somewhere that interests you and plan to go with a friend on your next day off. This also boosts knowledge of your home town and makes for great Instagram photos!

We are not boring, people! We probably do MORE than the average person because we are happy, healthy, and grateful for this awesome new way of living.

So let’s face it, this is a journey, but embrace it! And have FUN while doing it. No more future tripping. You are not a fortune teller, you do not know what tomorrow brings so don’t worry about the toast at your cousins wedding next summer, or those concert tickets to Tortuga next month, or your next kickass birthday party, just worry about today and have confidence in yourself to not order that first drink. Deal with the rest as it comes. Today focus on changing it up and broadening your hobbies and interests.