[Unobstructed Issue No. 063]
Seven years before I got sober, I drunkenly told a friend that one day I’d have to. I don’t remember that.
But he did.
Sober-curious conversations don’t always take place with bold bravado. Actually, I can say with a lot of confidence that they don’t. Often, they start quietly… through a throwaway comment.
Or a casual text.
Maybe an unassuming DM.
It’s not usually the big dramatic moments that lead to that kind of vulnerability. For me, it was the small stuff that made me start to question things.
Hesitant moments like:
Counting your drinks out with friends.
Feeling insecure because of someone else’s sobriety.
Trying out “only drinking on weekends” (or days that end in Y).
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or looking for resources to help get sober, aa.org is a place you can visit to learn more about support.
Episode 12: Identity & Leadership
Episode 13: Boundaries & Belonging
The Unobstructed Podcast
Episode 14: Part 3 - Sober Curiosity & Where To Start
This one took a turn.
I didn’t know I’d share what I did, but I’m glad the conversation went there. Because I don’t know that I’d have gotten—and stayed—sober if I hadn’t read these two pieces of writing, or had the conversations that followed:
- .
For Some Skiers, Drugs and Alcohol Are Fun, But For Me it Was Darker by Paddy O’Connell.
Rachael and I also talk about:
Becoming “sober curious” in the first place.
Navigating the workplace stigma of telling people you don’t drink.
Seeing others do the damn thing, and finding courage to ask them how.
Thank you again for the kind messages after Part 1 and Part 2! They mean a whole lot. Listen to Part 3, and reach out if something stuck with you.
You can also get it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
onward.
-dmac
P.S. If the weekly newsletter’s helping you think differently, a paid subscription’s where we can put it into practice.
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