
Image by Brian G Wilson, used under its Creative Commons license.
How temporary sobriety changed my life: A personal reflection on what it takes to beat any addiction and build new habits.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be completely drug free? I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not sure what it feels like. For as long as I can remember, there has been some kind of drug in my system. These “drugs” aren’t necessarily bad when used in moderation, but they do alter the way we experience the world around us. I think it’s a good thing to be aware of the filters we put around our senses, even if we choose to keep them on. That’s why I’ve decided that for the entire month of January, I will be completely drug free. Specifically, I won’t be taking in any caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, THC, or OTC medicines of any kind. If you cringed at the thought of at least one of these, then you know how serious taking up a challenge like this is. Almost everyone I know regularly uses at least one of the things in this list. I’m not sure what I will feel like, how I will manage my emotions or what type of change in my energy level/appetite to expect. That is exactly why I’ve designed this experiment, and I’d like to invite you to follow along as I try to share my thoughts on the subject, along with the changes I see in myself every day for the month of January. To avoid coming off as arrogant or condescending, I picked something I personally struggle with in order to live my message as I try to explain it. Throughout this project, you’ll find I use drugs as a metaphor for the things we think we can’t do without. This is 100% authentic and as real as I know how to be. I wrote/did this for many reasons, one of them was to inspire anyone trying to build a new habit or kick an old one. This is my story…Day1: New Year’s Resolutions

Day2: Determination

Day3: Pain

Day4: Luck

Day5: The Deceptive First Choice

Day6: Untitled

Day7: The “Fixer”

Day8: I Don’t Wanna

Day9: Passivity

Day10: Gratitude

Day11: Unjustified Fear

Day12: We Can Do Better

Day13: Doubt

Day14: Integrity

Day15: Sacrifice

Day16: False Borders
Day17: The Challenge Of Clarity

Day18: Gradual Change is Our Revolution

Day19: The Cold Turkey

Day20: Real Improvement Isn’t Profitable

Day21: You’re Off Your Game

Day22: You Are Not Safe, and That’s Okay

Day23: Oops!

Day24: Comfort is a Gift to the Wounded, and a Wound to the Gifted

Day25: Cut Your Anchors

Day26: Wants and Needs

Day27: How To Suck and Be More Awkwarder

Day28: The Day I Took Drugs

Day29: Into The Unknown

Day30: Thank You For Reading
