Connection: Building an Alcohol-Free Life You Love
Choosing to live alcohol-free is a deeply personal journey, one filled with triumphs, challenges, and moments of profound growth.
But at the core of this path is something that often makes all the difference: connection.
❤️ Connection with others who share your journey.
❤️ Connection with yourself as you rediscover what it means to be fully present.
❤️ Connection with life in all its vibrant authenticity.
For many women stepping into an alcohol-free lifestyle, the feeling of being understood and supported can be transformative.
“CONNECTION is imperative to our success in managing the choice to be alcohol free.”
—Alice Parvin
Why Connection is Key to an Alcohol-Free Lifestyle
The connections I’ve made with amazing women in alcohol-free spaces and at ZPE Sober In the City events have been truly special. ☺️💕💕
Whether these women have clawed their way out of hell (like my story), made the radical decision to go against society and ditch the booze to improve their health, or something in-between, NOTHING beats the shared resonance with other like-minded AF individuals who TRULY get you. 😌🙏💖
I’ve made many professional and personal relationships that I adore and value so much, and two of those wonderful women are Alice Parvin (@aliceparvincoaching) and Sarah Olsen of Drytality.
Alice and I bonded at the Sober In The City Seattle event (hosted by @zeroproofexperiences). A little while later, after realizing she would be attending a wedding near me, Alice reached out, and we made a plan to get together! 😍🙌 It was wonderful to spend quality time with my dear friend.
Our journeys are so intertwined – Both Alice and I are now new facilitators for ZPE Connect! It’s pure joy sharing the adventure together as we help other women.
My other beautiful friend Sarah and I also met at a ZPE Sober In the City Event, this time in Portland, in September 2023. It was friendship at first sight!
We quickly bonded, chatting about sunsets and life! I am so lucky that not only did I connect with Sarah but we were able to catch up in person almost one year later. She lives one state over and happened to be traveling nearby, so we met for lunch, and had an amazing time! ☺️ 💖
I love what Sarah says about our friendship:
“When you meet someone who shares your vibe, the conversations get real fast. True connection doesn’t need small talk—it needs authenticity, and Kristin’s got it in spades. Cheers to friendships that keep it real and keep us growing!”
Connection and finding other like-minded people in your life journey is incredibly important – especially when living an AF life! Alice recently shared a great message in Peggi Cooney’s “This Side of Alcohol” newsletter, and she has graciously allowed me to share it here with you.
The Beauty and Importance of Connection in My Alcohol-Free World, Inside and Out
—By Alice Parvin
Recently, Peggi Cooney led our ZPE ZOOM call in a discussion about the importance of connection as we navigate the waters of an alcohol-free life. The timing for me could not have been more perfect. There were many stories shared, and as I heard them, I reflected on how beautiful and touching they were. They touched each of us in a different way. However, the message was clear: CONNECTION is imperative to our success in managing the choice to be alcohol free. And TRUE connection is a gift we have all been given in our choice to become alcohol free. It is because of the connections that we realize we are not alone in this process. There is something so deep and heartwarming in that realization.
As someone who had chosen not to drink any more, I didn't have a clue as to how I would manage on my own, but I soon discovered I didn't have to. Finding Sober Sis and becoming part of that community changed everything. I made connections with women that I am now lifelong friends with, and I continue to grow that circle of friends and supporters through This Side of Alcohol (TSOA), Zero Proof Experiences (ZPE), their ZOOM calls and especially the Sober in the City events. And yes, those connections are key to my never wanting to pick up a drink again.
One weekend, I had two terrific experiences because of the connections I have made in the alcohol-free world and my own personal world. It went like this……I was attending the wedding of my dear friend (and adopted Tennessee daughter) Kim, on Long Island in NY. Kim and I met when I chose her office for chiropractic treatment when I moved to Knoxville over two years ago.
As I was planning my trip, I added a couple of extra days not realizing at the time that one of the gals I really connected with at SITC in Seattle in September would be at her home in the Village of Northport while I was in NY. After seeing photos on Facebook of her paddle boarding on Northport Harbor, I reached out to see if she was close enough that we could arrange to meet. We were! We met for dinner on Wednesday evening in her quaint little village where the town was hosting a Witches and Warlock walk. As we walked the village streets together, I felt a joy I would have never experienced had I only been in search of a place to sit and have a drink. Instead, there was laughter, hugs, amazing food (remembered) and storytelling. We were present and fully connected. We spent the whole evening sharing more of our stories and learning about our lives from one another. There was not one moment of silence. It was magical. A CONNECTION made through ZPE that will continue to grow into a very deep and personal kinship.
The next day I met Kim and her hubby-to-be at the hotel to head to the venue to drop of some items for the wedding. They needed to stop at a local seafood bar and meet up with one of Ryan's groomsmen and his wife. We walked in and met Chris, he offered to buy us a drink, Kim immediately said, “Oh, Alice doesn't drink.” He immediately said, “Oh really, my wife is 75 days in and really struggling with this weekend…. her first wedding.” A CONNECTION. So, his wife, Tammy, then came to meet us and she seemed so relieved to know someone else at the wedding would be alcohol free. Kim quickly told her that there would be NA Champagne at wedding events. Tammy and I had several chances to chat throughout the weekend. She shared that all the “firsts” of choosing not to drink were that hardest and she didn't know what to say when people asked if they could get her a drink. I shared with her Susie Streelman's classy response about drinking, “I drink, I just drink differently, and I'd like it in a pretty glass and a seat at the table.” She loved that and told me later it really helped during the weekend when it seemed everyone was “drinking” but her. We also talked about playing the movie forward asking her how do you want to feel in the morning? I shared with her that one of the biggest freedoms of choosing not to drink is you give yourself the gift of being fully present.
As we waited together for an UBER back to the hotel in the wee hours of the morning after the wedding (which was fabulous) she shared that meeting me had helped her stay strong and to choose not to get caught in the drinking web. That made my heart soar. We exchanged phone numbers and have been in touch since our return. I feel so fortunate to be able to provide her with the resources to get CONNECTED the way I have been fortunate enough to experience. I believe this connection was divinely guided and I was there at that moment to purposely be able to share my experience and knowledge with her.
These two experiences, so unexpected when I began planning my trip, were gifts of being fully present and provided opportunity for more CONNECTION in the future. We are inevitably linked through our shared journeys to be alcohol-free, and it reminded me of something I said quite often in the early days as I met others on the same path. It still resonates today. “We are all just walking each other home.” Our shared commitment to being alcohol free makes that connection even stronger.
I feel so fortunate that I have the ZPE community to share these experiences with. The deep connection I feel when on a ZOOM call with other members is such an incredible gift. I feel safe, I feel seen, I feel heard and most importantly, I feel validated in my decision to be alcohol free, over and over again. Thank you, Peggi and Susie, for creating such a beautifully wise, powerful and safe community. I am deeply grateful.
Why Connection Matters in Alcohol-Free Living
True connection happens when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and authentic, sharing experiences, joys, and struggles with others who can truly relate. When living an alcohol-free life, this connection becomes a lifeline that reminds us we’re not alone and that others understand, celebrate, and support our choices.
Connecting with others allows you to create genuine bonds that help you grow into the best version of yourself while lifting others up along the way.
Enriching Every Day with Alcohol-Free Connection
Connection with like-minded women brings a richness to everyday life that is so magical it can’t be overstated. It’s in the spontaneous calls, the shared meals, and the supportive smiles during a tough moment. It’s a profound sense of belonging that fills the void where alcohol once resided.
Every conversation, hug, and moment of shared vulnerability becomes a building block in your alcohol-free journey. These relationships remind you of your strength, your purpose, and the beauty of living authentically. They transform ordinary days into extraordinary ones filled with meaning and joy.
Discover Connection in Your Alcohol-Free Journey
So, to all the incredible women out there curious about or living an alcohol-free life, lean into connection. Seek out those who align with your values and vision. Celebrate each other’s wins, lift each other in tough times, and never underestimate the power of walking this path together.
Explore my FREE Resources page and EVENTS page for amazing ideas and resources to connect with other like-minded women.
As Alice beautifully reminds us:
“We are all just walking each other home.”
Remember, sunsets 🌅 are the new happy hour, and I’m rooting for you!
Kristin 🫶
How I Can Help You 🌅
FREE RESOURCES PAGE FOR LOVED ONES OF THOSE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER!
In my ongoing commitment to supporting not only those facing substance use challenges, but also the loved ones standing by their side, I’m excited to provide a FREE Resources page on my website.
This page is filled with valuable information, recommended books, and services designed specifically for friends and family of individuals struggling with substance use disorder. My hope is to provide you with the tools, understanding, and support you need during such a challenging time, all in one accessible place.
You are not alone on this journey, and these resources are here to guide you with compassion and care.
VISIT MY FREE RESOURCES PAGE VIA THE BUTTON BELOW. 💜
If you want to explore an alcohol-free life or would like to improve your health, it would be my greatest pleasure to help you on your journey.
I have two different coaching options:
Health Coaching Program
Are you experiencing sickness, fatigue, depression, pain or weight issues?
If so, then your body isn’t working as it should.
There are many reasons for these health issues, and sometimes working with a Health Coach can help.
As your Health Coach, I support you through diet and lifestyle changes to help you feel the best you can and live a brighter, happier life.
Gray Area Drinking (GAD) Program
It’s challenging to change your drinking habits - especially when they’ve crept up and have been happening for a long time.
That’s where I can help you. I work holistically, focusing on your gut health, neurotransmitters, and dysregulated nervous system to calm, soothe, and get everything back in balance. I teach you coping mechanisms to deal with cravings and give you all the tools you need to live an alcohol-free life.
Take the first step to brighten your life!
Book your FREE consultation to learn more about my Health Coaching and Gray Area Drinking Coaching programs and how I can help you.
Remember…
EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY TO BE ALCOHOL-FREE, and SUNSETS ARE THE NEW HAPPY HOUR! 🌅
Kristin ❤️ x
