My First Sober Christmas: What I Learned When Life Was Still Falling Apart

Looking back on my first sober Christmas, during one of the hardest periods of my life, reminded me why staying alcohol-free through the holidays can change everything

As we approach Christmas, I’ve been thinking about my first sober Christmas, so pulled out my journal from that time to see what I wrote.

This entry is from Christmas Eve 2023.

“Had a lovely afternoon at Indy’s, then church, then The Bull. I’m also very happy to be sober. I didn’t want a drink at all. A little envious of the red wine but I just know it’s not worth it. My drinking days are done. It was wonderful to just be so present and feel festive and content. Grateful for my sobriety.”

At the time my mum was in hospital and, although I didn’t know it at the time, she wouldn’t ever go back home. The next few weeks were so incredibly hard. I’d already had my sobriety tested throughout the year with my mum’s ongoing brain cancer treatment, being made redundant and then leaving a toxic workplace. I was out of work and scared for what the new year held. I put on a brave face for the kids, while inside I was falling apart.

It’s only since September this year that I’ve started to feel some kind of peace for everything that’s happened over the last two years - after mum died there was even more to challenge me from mis-signed wills, inheritance tax, probate, sibling squabbles and (another) unsupportive boss.

I guess my point is this; if it’s your first sober Christmas and you feel you might be tested, I know how you feel and I know how good you will feel for sticking with it. So please do. There is such strength in sobriety. Give yourself a chance to see just how strong you are without alcohol.

And if you’re not sober but thinking about this being the last Christmas you drink, drop me a line and we can work together on building healthy habits that will last a lifetime.