It Begins (Tomorrow): One Year Alcohol-Free

I am taking myself by surprise here. But I haven't felt a good fire like this in my belly for awhile and so I know that it's there for a reason and this is where I am meant to be. Tomorrow, July 5, 2018: the first day of one year alcohol-free. It is ON.How did I get to this point? I have not hit rock bottom. There was no wake-up call. No emergency that propelled me to jettison myself out of dire straits.There is just me, my cognitive dissonance, and an opportunity.I have felt a bit adrift since I completed The Alcohol Experiment on April 30. I thrived within the structure of that program. Writing on each day's topic focused my general self-care efforts. It was educational, enlightening, rewarding.And then it was done. And drinking became drinking? and despite my iron-clad non-negotiables, the shadowy possibility of drinking slowly started looming larger and larger over my life.My days of alcohol-freedom during Dry January and The Alcohol Experiment were chock full of life-changing epiphanies, including the realization of the impact of cognitive dissonance on my daily existence. Liberating myself from that horrible inner conflict of not wanting to drink, but wanting to drink; knowing it's not good for me, but not being able to resist the emotional boost from pouring that first glass and taking those first few crisp sips before the soul-crippling guilt set in - felt like my brain bursting open with light and love. For reals.I may not be at rock bottom. I haven't broken any non-negotiables, though I have blurred the line a few times lately. I haven't been drunk. I haven't even had more than two drinks in one day in months. But I want that light and love back. And I want it bad.It struck me yesterday that this is the next step for me. A whole year alcohol-free, not just 90 days or even six months. It hit me like a firm gut punch. But instead of knocking the wind out of me, my new ab muscles were clenched and ready for it. Instead of gasping for breath, I felt butterflies.But when to start, I wondered? Should I wait until after my husband's birthday in a couple of weeks? Should I wait for August 1 so I can start at the beginning of a month? I've already missed the #DryJuly boat. Maybe I should wait. It is a whole year, after all...I logged into Connect and there was the final sign: I hit 1,000 followers. There are 1,000 people I have the opportunity to inspire with my choices, my lifestyle, my words, my pictures. And my 1,000th follower? She goes by the username @doitnowsexy. And that was that.Do it now, sexy.Ok, I'll do it now. I'll enjoy my last cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc today. I'll probably also have a final margarita, since those are my two favorite drinks. And, you know, 'Merica. Happy 4th and all that.And then tomorrow, July 5, it begins. One year alcohol-free. One year AF. One year AF AF! I got this.