Why I'm Glad I Don't Drink in 2026

For episode 81, I talk about approaching my three-year anniversary of “alcohol retirement” and how proud I am that this is the longest I’ve ever gone without drinking. I reflect on the many times in my life that I swore off alcohol, only to convince myself I could handle it differently, and I share a couple of embarrassing and dangerous stories from my drinking years—including drunkenly peeing in a closet and once passing out and hitting my head in my office. I discuss how, even though the end of 2025 and beginning of 2026 have been rough professionally as I face losing a major client, I’m grateful I’m facing it sober rather than making things worse by drinking. I talk about missing the taste and romanticized idea of alcohol, but not the chaos and damage that came with it, and how being sober has improved my health, my outlook, and my ability to weather difficult times. I close by encouraging anyone on a similar journey to reach out, because while I may not have used a formal support group, maybe this podcast—and the people listening—have become mine.