2013 The End and New Beginnings

Sydney, Australia

I'm nearing the end of my year without alcohol and I've had so much fun without it that I'm feeling reluctant to start drinking again.  Even big events such as New Year's Eve turned out to be better without alcohol.  In fact, it was one of my top New Year Celebrations of all time!  I was working either side of New Year, yet I was able to fly up to Sydney for the night, celebrate with an amazing group of people by the fireworks of the Harbour Bridge and finish up on the beach at 5am.  After a few hours sleep I enjoyed Bondi Beach on New Year's day and flew home to Melbourne in time for work feeling fresh as a daisy!  I don't think I would have been able to do this if I was drinking, or at least, it would have been extremely painful.  I'm not trying to brag about what a great time I had, I just want to illustrate that we don't need alcohol to enhance celebrations or our lives, in fact, sober celebrations can be more enjoyable.

Sydney Harbour Bridge New Year Fireworks 2013

The reality that has become clear over the last (almost) year is the way our energy ebbs and flows.  It rises up and passes away.  I've taken notice of how much our lives are effected by what we put into our bodies.  We are constantly changing and the chemical reaction of alcohol in our body interfere's with our natural rhythm.  I'm so happy bouncing around early on Saturday and Sunday mornings and I just don't know if I have tolerance for hangovers anymore.  I can't get back those precious weekend hours that were spent hungover (so many in my 20's!) and I don't want to lose any more.  That's how I'm feeling now.  I guess only time will tell...

If you would like to support this cause you can recommend this page below or donate via this link: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Dress-up's

Sober silliness

My year without alcohol seems like a game of dress up's compared to what some people go through with alcohol and drugs.  Most of us are lucky enough to be born to healthy parents who's biggest mistake might be smothering us with too much love, while for some, alcohol and drug abuse is part of their childhood.  When we consider how many of us can become dependent on alcohol purely from a social perspective, struggling to have just a couple of months of abstinence, we can only begin to understand how difficult it must be for those who have serious alcohol and drug problems to abstain completely.  My hat goes off to the residents of Odyssey House who are brave enough to admit they need help, face their problems head on and work so hard to create new lives for themselves regardless of traumatic upbringings or experiences.  

More alcohol free fun!

I visited Odyssey House myself and saw first hand the amazing work they are doing to help those with serious alcohol and drug dependency re-build their lives, self-esteem and health.   There are less than 2 months left to donate to Odyssey House and help them give those affected by drug and alcohol abuse a fresh start.  If you would like to donate, you can do so via this link: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

Alternatively, you can show support by doing your own alcohol abstinence for 3, 6 months or a year!  Sign up to Hello Sunday Morning today and join the community that is working toward changing our drinking culture hellosundaymorning.org - Hello Sunday Morning