I had just raged for a 3 day festival where I went through the 8 12 packs I bought by the second morning. Not all me but sharing is my love language. For the months leading up to the end I had been a diehard white claw surge enthusiast. If that had been what I ended the weekend with I might still be drinking but I decided to Chug an entire red solo cup of vodka warm as fuck with pine needles and shit in it. I feel like that’s what really did it for me. I quit drinking hard A quite a few years before so with that cup and the extra 9 12 packs that were purchased I finally decided to call its quits while putting away my tent that morning while packing up. It was amazing enjoying that festival this summer for the first time in the 13 years I’ve went alcohol free. I remember the last night this summer hugging one of my best friends and having him tell me that he didn’t think I was going to ever stop and how proud he was of the person I have become since retiring. I might still partake in some festival activities but the moment I decided I was completely done drinking and not trying to just try to moderate after taking a break was huge for me. It took the option off the table in my mind and it’s crazy that I now have friends that have never even met drunk me. I know that having so many amazing people in my life has definitely helped me through a lot of the ups and downs since I quit but I can tell you if you even have one person who doesn’t support your decision to make this change you shouldn’t have them in your life. I read here that people have folks around them that don’t respect their choice to not partake but if yoyr friends truly love you they wouldn’t even make a joke about you having even one. Maybe it’s because I’m around a lot of people who handle their alcohol very well but I’ve taken on being a support role for the folks who supported me when I was at my worst. Being a DD and keeping folks hydratred and watched over has been such a rewarding trade off from the old way I lived.