Three Years: Sobriety Rocks

Three years ago, I made a decision that changed the entire trajectory of my life and it wasn’t just moving to Terlingua, buying a pizza place, or building new businesses. It was quitting drinking.

I didn’t quit because I hit rock bottom. I didn’t quit because something catastrophic happened. I quit because I was tired. Tired of feeling anxious. Tired of waking up foggy. Tired of seeing photos of myself and not feeling like the woman I knew I could be. Most of all, I was tired of spending energy on something that was quietly taking more from me than it was giving.

When I look back at old pictures, I don’t feel shame. I feel compassion. She was doing the best she could at the time. She was navigating stress, ambition, entrepreneurship, and life the way she knew how. But she wasn’t fully aligned. She wasn’t clear. She wasn’t operating at her highest level.

And deep down, I knew I wanted more. I knew I deserved more.

Sobriety didn’t magically make life easier. It made me sharper. It gave me clarity I didn’t realize I was missing. It gave me my mornings back. It gave me my discipline back. It gave me my edge back.

Entrepreneurship requires energy, real energy. Not hype. Not motivation. Sustainable, focused, consistent energy. When I stopped drinking, I stopped negotiating with myself. I stopped needing weekends to “recover.” I started showing up more intentionally, in my businesses, in my marriage, in my health, and in my faith.

The physical changes came. The mental clarity deepened. But the biggest shift was internal. I trust myself more now. When I say I’m going to do something, I do it. When I set a goal, I pursue it without compromise. There’s a quiet confidence that comes from keeping promises to yourself.

Three years sober isn’t about what I gave up. It’s about what I gained.

I gained presence.

I gained momentum.

I gained discipline.

I gained peace.

If you’re sober curious, hear this: you don’t need a dramatic story. You don’t need a rock-bottom moment. You don’t need permission. Sometimes the strongest move you can make is choosing clarity, even if everything on the outside looks “fine.”

For me, this decision was about alignment. About building a life that matches the vision I have for myself. About removing anything that dulls my focus or shrinks my potential.

Three years in, and I can confidently say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Clear. Focused. Grateful.

And just getting started.

If you ever want to talk, feel free to reach out. I know sometimes that's all it takes to make a decision. Love you.

-M