In December 2017, I found myself at a crossroads. I was working in an environment steeped in drinking culture, while also carrying the weight of several personal traumas. The stars aligned in the worst possible way, and I knew I was in trouble. That month, I made the decision to get myself to meetings, reach out to the few people I knew in recovery, and begin the uncomfortable, messy, but always-worth-it work of sobriety.

It remains one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever given myself. Today, I get to live each day with clarity, presence, and a genuine zest for life.

One of the greatest joys of my recovery is waking up every morning fresh and clear-headed. It’s empowering—and it’s made me a believer in fresh starts of every kind. A new day, a new season, a new milestone… it all feels like possibility and potential.

I’ve also discovered something else: I’m a lot of fun without alcohol. Being out with friends—especially when traveling—is infinitely more enjoyable sober. The adventures I find myself in now are endless, and I love that.

One of the more difficult parts of being alcohol-free isn’t saying “no thanks” to a drink—it’s how that “no” is received. Often, the resistance I encounter has little to do with me and everything to do with the other person wrestling with their own relationship to alcohol or their own social anxiety.

So while it’s not necessarily hard for me to decline, it can be challenging to watch others process that—consciously or not. Over time, I’ve learned to respect that their path is their own, and it isn’t mine to carry.

I’m a proud supporter of @hopeacademyrhs, a recovery high school right here in Indianapolis—and one of only a few like it in the entire country. The work they do is so important, and I’m grateful our community has this kind of resource and hope for young people in recovery.

I'm a big fan of Three Spirit Nightcap, Lyre's Orange and Pink London Spirit, and the Win Tempranillo.

Your relationship with alcohol is yours alone—which means only you can take the meaningful steps to change it, or not. And that doesn’t always have to mean giving it up entirely.

That’s one of the reasons I love the sober curious movement: it gives people permission to step outside of social pressures and recognize that you don’t have to drink just because of the setting, the company, or the time of year.

If you're considering it, give it a go! And if you're in a spot where you need support to go alcohol-free, there are a lot of amazing resources in the area to help you. For me, Alcoholics Anonymous and 12 Steps Yoga were so helpful.

You've got this!

I’m so grateful to the Orangily team! From day one, they’ve made me feel at home in their stores and have opened my eyes to a whole new world of creativity and possibility in the alcohol-free beverage space!