Hayley ~ 398 days

“When I first decided to stop drinking, I didn’t realise how much of my social life was built around alcohol. So many of my friendships were centred on nights in the pub and at the start, it felt hard. I worried that without a glass in my hand, I wouldn’t fit in, or worse ~ that I’d lose connections I valued.

But as time passed, something beautiful started to happen. I began discovering other ways to spend my time ~ new experiences, new adventures, and new memories that weren’t blurred by alcohol. I found joy in mornings without hangovers, in evenings where I remembered every laugh and in living fully present.

What started as a 3-week break slowly grew into months… and now, over 2 years later, I’m still alcohol-free. I honestly don’t think I’ll ever drink again ~ but I’ll also never say never. What I do know is that I don’t miss it. I don’t miss the hangovers or the way alcohol intensified things like my peri menopausal hot flushes. I feel like I feel life on a deeper level, without sounding too woo woo.

Instead, I feel clearer, lighter, more me. And I love that my life now revolves around experiences and not excuses.

This isn’t about judging anyone else’s choices. It’s simply about honouring mine. And if my story inspires even one person to rethink their relationship with alcohol, then sharing it will have been worth it.”