It's been over 8 months since I had my last drink. Here's another update on not drinking. (some past updates)

The latest challenge has been learning how to be social while not drinking. I've lived in NYC for almost two months now.

I've gone out with friends, dinners, parties, gone on dates, a weekend-long bachelor party, and even went to a wedding, completely sober.

I feel like I've learned a lot and become much better.

This past weekend was that wedding, and I can say with confidence that I had a fantastic time completely sober, and I don't think alcohol would have improved the experience!

I am saying with full honestly that I had a better time NOT drinking.

This is fascinating to me because I did not expect this! I figured that alcohol was essential for the wedding experience.

I also felt great at the wedding. More confident. Less needy. More of enjoying the moment and the people.

I still hit the dance floor, mingled with everyone, and had a great time. Being sober did not inhibit any fun.

Let me contrast this with something that happened two months ago...

I went out with a friend, his girlfriend, and another girl, who was cute. They were all drinking and I wasn't. I was hiding the fact that I wasn't drinking at first (drinking seltzers), and things eventually escalated to taking shots.

When we went to cheers the shots, the girl turned to me and asked why I wasn't drinking. I didn't have a good answer. I had to just say I wasn't drinking that night, and the girl looked at me puzzled, and kept urging me to drink with her. That was hard!

That night, I felt like I couldn't be fun, charming, or funny without alcohol. I was tense and awkward and nervous.

Now it's been a couple of months and I've tackled many different social situations without alcohol. That wouldn't happen anymore, I feel like I've come a long way!

It's funny, I actually feel more confident in social situations now that I'm sober. I'm more open to being social and less reserved than when I was drinking.

As for everything else (non-social stuff), quitting drinking has been amazing. But that's a post for another day.