10 Years Sober: Reflecting back on my journey from alcohol sobriety and cannabis

Ten years ago, I decided I was ready to live a better life. I wanted to grow as a person and find a new appreciation for life - without alcohol.

I’ve come a long way since my first drink at 16. In fact, the night I had my first drink was the same night I first got drunk. This led to an unhealthy drinking habit that went well into my 30’s, and it certainly did not bring out the best in me.

No, I wasn’t an alcoholic per se, but when I did drink, I became this loud, obnoxious person that always woke-up with regrets, not to mention the unpleasant hangovers. Drinking always got out of hand and that’s not who I wanted to be anymore. So ten years ago I made the choice to stop drinking altogether. Becoming the person who doesn’t drink at parties though, made me feel isolated and left out at social gatherings. That’s when I found my muse in cannabis.

I had been using cannabis since the age of 18, and it was life-changing. Through its use, I was able to enjoy gatherings with my friends. I would even go as far as to say that I was able to taste food for the very first time because of it. There were no regrets and no hangovers. The use of cannabis became part of my routine. I would have a coffee or soda with a joint on the side, and made me feel just as much included as everyone else, minus the hangover and regrets. Cannabis just worked for me.

Many events and social gatherings revolve around alcohol consumption, and I wanted to change that. No you might not be sharing a joint with grandma at your cousin's wedding, but through responsible dosing and education, you can enjoy fun activities like a mocktail infused with cannabis serums at your wedding or event. That’s why I started High-minded events, to bring an alcohol alternative to the event world. My hope for the next ten years is to continue to destigmatize cannabis for those to enjoy just as much as their friends who enjoy a cocktail.

To those of you on the same sobriety journey, keep going. You’ve got this.