Sober 4th of July

4th of July is a holiday based on drinking. There's even red white and themed drinks... And for what? It's not like America has anything to be particularly proud of right now, especially after the Supreme Court's most recent ruling...

In a world that doesn't want anyone to be sober, how do we stay sober?

I've been scared for the 4th of July this year since May. I knew I didn't want to go to a party, but I also knew I didn't want to spend it alone and feel like a loser. I was afraid to really do anything, even going camping seemed like everyone around me would be plastered

I sat on this paranoia and fear for a while, trying to find a solution. A way to stay sober on a drinking holiday.

I reached the conclusion that instead of camping, backpacking would be a good idea.I would be mostly isolated from other partying campers and find peace in the wilderness. There's somethin so humbling about being in the woods, in a space bigger than you that reminds you how small you are. How small my problems are in the grand scheme of things.

I asked a sober cousin of mine who also loves the outdoors if she would be able to escape her family overnight and go with me.

Having her support and comradery over this scary holiday meant the world to me. The 4th is this coming Monday and I am feeling prepared and ecstatic to turn off my phone and just be one with the world.. Not caring what everyone on my Instagram is consuming and just nurturing my own soul.

Social media is hard for me, I see other people drinking and seemingly having fun and my FOMO kicks in. I feel like I'm missing out on this secret to success. Even though I know for me drinking is no longer fun. As me and another friend in the program say we're retired. Our drinking and drugging was fun for a while until it wasn't. We gained the experiences we wanted, and a lot we didn't and now we're done. I'm looking forward to having a social media and alcohol free 4th of July to just be me, to not have the feelings of missing out, to not compare myself. To not even look into the mirror but be one with the trees and the breeze.