I kept saying I’d get serious about quitting when life got easier, when I wasn’t invited to sooo many fun parties, or maybe when I could rope in some boozy friends on a quit plan.

I guess I was waiting for it to get “bad enough.” I thank my lucky stars every day that I had this one crystal-clear moment of insight, where my inner voice said, “It’s time.”

Once I made a decision I jumped the biggest hurdle. I’m an Aries, so a challenge fires me up and gives me a place to focus my excess energy.

Waiting for external circumstances to shift (for better or worse) just kept me in a limbo state I didn’t love. I hated how alcohol made me feel in all the ways- physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. But I just didn’t want to stop. I think I was secretly hoping I’d stumble across the magic pill that let me be healthy and keep drinking.

I’ve made a decision to stay AF. I can say the same for my sister, who is a Taurus and more stubborn that any bull. Once she makes up her mind, there is no changing it back (I almost want to see someone try).

If you want advice on stopping, start with deciding to stop. Not reading more about it, changing how and where you drink, taking quizzes, or comparing your drinking to that of others.