It’s not what I gave up, but what I gained that matters.
My birthday was at the end of June and marked another great trip around the sun. However, there’s a more important milestone that’s worth noting. I’m celebrating 10 years since I stopped drinking.
Nothing big happened to cause this shift. And I’m not holding this up as a major achievement.
Drinking was never a big problem for me. But it never did me much good either. Plus, there had been some issues with alcohol in my family. Simply put, the disincentives were stronger than any appeal.
10 Years! I know the date simply because it was my 38th birthday when a guest came to dinner with a nice bottle of red wine. I’d already decided that I wasn’t going to drink anymore but I felt compelled to share a glass. So, I drank it and then no more.
I’ve gained a lot from making this decision.
For one, the health impacts are positive. For another, I’ve since navigated difficult times in my life without using alcohol as a crutch. I’m grateful I took that option off the table, otherwise it may have been a slippery slope.
From that point on I started letting people know that I didn’t drink. It wasn’t a holier-than-thou thing and I only brought it up when I was offered a drink.
How did this go down with others? Well, it wasn’t always understood, but it was respected. Some people even expressed to me their own desire to drink less or take a break from alcohol. It definitely provided the opportunity for some positive conversations.
However, Aussies have a reputation as big drinkers and sometimes people give you $h^t for not having a drink. But I reckon that’s changing for the better.
What was the impact on my wallet?
Because I wasn’t a big drinker before this, it didn’t shift the dial for me at this time. However, looking at current prices for what I used to drink, I can see this has saved our household $100-$120 a fortnight.
I recently published article an on ‘How to beat the rising cost of living’. In it I suggested that you can stretch the value of your bottle-o purchases by introducing one or two alcohol free days per week. Your wallet and your waistline with thank you (alcohol is just empty calories).
Big benefits for my energy.
I noticed that my get-up-and-go increased and my time with family was better. This was particularly obvious on a Saturday morning. Instead of feeling lethargic after a few Friday night drinks, I was able to rise early, get some exercise, and then spend meaningful time with my family.
Designing your best life.
When we define our best life and then actively work towards it, it’s interesting to see the crossover and mutual benefits that arise for us. In this case the Key Life Areas of ‘Family & Friends’ and ‘Health & Vitality’ were the major beneficiaries of my decision. And it also advanced the ‘Financial Wellbeing’ of our family.
Worth thinking about.
We’re all different, and while this decision was right for me, it may not be right for you. My point however is that when you start to improve one area of your life, keep an eye out for the other benefits that naturally come up. This will help you to stay motivated and embed positive change.
Sure, I’m a financial coach and I’m dedicated to helping you Win with Money. But as I’m fond of saying “It’s not just about the money. It’s about Life, Family & Experiences.”
Move to the Next Level.
Make the most of your income through smart, intentional decisions. Would you like some help with that? Let’s talk.
