“Dear alcohol, we had a deal where you’d make me funnier, smarter, and a better dancer… I saw the video, we need to talk.”
In a room full of people clinking wine glasses, pouring beer, or swirling cocktails, I’m the one quietly holding a glass of water.
Not because I’m in recovery.
Not because I’m trying to quit.
Not because I’ve cut back.
But because I never started drinking in the first place.
For years, people have asked me why. Why not have a glass? Why not just be a “social drinker”? Why say no to something so normalized, so expected, and so deeply embedded in our culture?
“Alcohol doesn’t serve me. It never has.”
And the answer is simple: alcohol doesn’t serve me. It never has. And as I watched friends nurse hangovers, make decisions they regretted, or numb themselves just to get through the day, I realized something — the real rebellion isn’t in drinking too much… it’s in not drinking at all.
A Culture Obsessed
We live in a world where alcohol is everywhere. It’s in brunch plans, first dates, networking events, baby showers, and even doctor’s offices. It’s wrapped in mommy-juice memes, self-care hashtags, and subtle pressures like “just one glass won’t hurt.”
You’re expected to drink to be fun.
Drink to be sexy.
Drink to fit in.
Drink to tolerate your kids, your job, your anxiety, your emotions.
But when you don’t drink?
You’re questioned. Side-eyed. Sometimes even resented.
I’m not here to shame people who do drink. I’m here to challenge the idea that we have to.
Rebellion Looks Like Clarity
For me, staying sober is an act of rebellion. Not against people, but against systems — systems that profit off escapism, addiction, and the lie that we’re more lovable, funnier, or more confident with a drink in our hand.
“I like being fully present…that’s where growth happens.“
I like waking up clear-headed. I like showing up to life without a crutch. I like being fully present, even when things are messy or hard. That’s where growth happens.
Saying no to alcohol is how I say yes to myself.
You Can Say No, Too
If you’re reading this and feeling even the slightest dissonance about your relationship with alcohol, know that you’re not alone. You don’t need to wait for a rock-bottom moment. You don’t need a dramatic story. You can choose something different right now, today — a quieter, clearer, more conscious path.
“This isn’t about perfection. It’s about freedom.“
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about freedom.
So here’s to the rebels.
The water drinkers.
The brunchers with soda water.
The ones who question, who choose clarity, and who dare to say:
“No thanks, I’m good.”
