☀️ Rethinking Summer: Letting Go of Drinking and Rewiring for Joy

# ☀️ Rethinking Summer: Letting Go of Drinking and Rewiring for Joy **June 1, 2025** **By Lauri McGivern, MPH, ALPC — Certified Alcohol-Free Coach, Founder of Free Spirits AF** As the summer sun☀️rolls in, so do the backyard BBQs, beach days, weddings, and long weekends—often wrapped in a cultural expectation that alcohol is not only invited, but required. We're shown that a cold drink is the ultimate way to relax, socialize, and soak up the season. But what if that narrative doesn't serve you anymore? For many of us, summer has been linked with drinking for so long that it feels automatic. We reach for alcohol not because it adds value, but because it's simply what we've always done. This isn't your fault—it's conditioning. From advertisements to social rituals, society has normalized alcohol as the key to enjoyment. But here's the truth: fun, freedom, and peace don't come from a bottle. They come from you. ## 🌿 New Season, New Patterns When we step away from alcohol—especially during seasons where it's deeply embedded in tradition—we're not just changing habits. We're literally changing our brains. Every time you choose a new response—whether it's taking a walk, journaling, breathing deeply, or simply staying present—you're creating new neuropathways. This is how long-term change happens: through repetition, awareness, and curiosity. The beauty of summer is that it offers space for new rituals. It's a season of expansion, of light, of possibility. What would it look like to design a summer that truly supports your well-being? What new routines could you explore that align with the life you're building? ## 🌱 Try These Alcohol-Free Summer Swaps: * **Stress relief?** Try grounding breathwork in the grass, forest bathing, or a long walk by water. * **Social connection?** Host mocktail meetups, join a book club, or try a new hobby group. * **Celebration?** Create new traditions like sunrise hikes, weekend road trips, or self-care Sundays. ## 🧠 Remember: You're Rewiring Each alcohol-free moment sends a message to your brain: We're doing things differently now. Over time, these new pathways become stronger. What once felt uncomfortable becomes natural. What once seemed impossible becomes empowering. You are not depriving yourself—you are giving yourself the chance to live with clarity, peace, and purpose. Summer doesn't need a drink to be memorable. You don't need alcohol to enjoy connection, celebration, or rest. This summer, let's flip the script. ✨ Ready to build new rituals and rewire from the inside out? Explore coaching, classes, and workshops at **FreeSpiritsAF.com**