Kiley Ewing

Chief People Officer at McGuire Sponsel

When did you commit to an alcohol-free lifestyle?

After a hungover July 4th weekend in 2021, I decided it was time to take a break. I was miserable and felt like I had no control over my body. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired…because I was living for the weekends and suffering as a result.

Name some unexpected joys since going alcohol-free.

Having absolute clarity is the best part about living an AF life. As my husband, Chris, always says, “Have the story. Don’t be the story.” I love being completely present in everything I do. It has made me a much more grateful person. I now have a life I don’t want to escape from. As a bonus, I dropped like 20 pounds in the first month. It’s wild how much inflammation is caused by alcohol!

Name a hard part about being alcohol-free.

When I first stopped drinking, the sugar cravings were pretty serious. Beyond that, the social anxiety became crippling. I’m an extrovert, but I had to relearn how to function in social situations just being me…without liquid courage. I felt very exposed and self-conscious about it. I thought people would judge me. And truthfully, some did. I quickly realized those people were really just judging themselves, and I was shining a light on something they were insecure about. I also realized those were no longer my people. You go through a people purge because you’re no longer aligned with the party people you once were close with. Those connections are held together by booze. The friends I have now are people who help me grow and challenge me to get better. Those are the people I want to surround myself with now.

Favorite social media accounts, podcasts, or books about sober living

This Naked Mind helped me understand how much social influence has created a drinking culture. After reading that, I was like, “I stood no chance.” It made me realize how “normal” drinking was, and because of that, I never questioned it until I did.

Favorite alcohol-free drinks!

Brez and Noughty Red are a couple of my faves!

Advice for anyone considering going alcohol-free:

Just start. Don’t look at it like AF is a punishment. The clarity is a gift. It’s there for you to open whenever you’re ready for it. Talk to people who have done it - that really helped me. The one trend I noticed: they all were happy, healthy, and didn’t miss drinking. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to talk!

I’m so grateful for Orangily and other NA trailblazers who are building this sober community and raising awareness. They’re making the world a better place. 🍊💕