Today is a special day for me, and I wanted to share this story with you.

It was Time

December 7th, I celebrate my three years of being sober. 

I wasn’t a drunk or had a drinking problem, but I didn’t need to hit rock bottom to choose to change. I wasn’t liking who I was becoming with drinking. 

So I decided to stop drinking six weeks before my last Ironman Triathlon in 2019. And I had the best race of my life! 

An “Ah Ha” Moment

When I returned to Texas after Ironman Florida, I started having drinks again. Two glasses of wine a night. My stomach was hurting, and I felt awful. So when I went to the liquor store to grab some wine for a dinner party, I went down the vodka aisle because I thought, well, maybe the wine was bothering my stomach. 

So, I grabbed some vodka made from potatoes, and when I got home, I put everything up in the liquor cabinet. I saw my grandparents, Dad’s parents, wine holder, and it stopped me. My Dad, my Grandpa, and my great Grandma drank heavily, and I believe my Dad passed due to his drinking. It was like my Grandma Fritzsching was there by my side, saying, “Now you are going from wine to liquor?”

My First Costa Rica Trip

On December 6th, I went to Costa Rica for the first time to step away from the world and figure out, “What is next?” I just retired from my sport as an athlete after 30 years. I remember sitting in first class with a mimosa to “celebrate” my vacation to Costa Rica. And then I thought, isn’t traveling enough to celebrate? I didn’t drink in Costa Rica because I needed to familiarize myself with the area and didn’t speak the language fluently. 

When I returned to the States, I decided not to drink and get through the holidays, then wanted to wait for six months; lockdown hit, still not drinking; until I made it to 6 months, I knew that I could go a year. 

Now, here I am.

Three years of not drinking and never felt better in my life.

Why am I telling you this story? 

It is me getting comfortable with being more vulnerable because today, I turned in my speech for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Commencement Speech.

I was asked to be the speaker this year, and I am over the moon! Click HERE to learn more if interested.

I will be heading up to Whitewater, Wisconsin, to freeze my ass off, but I know the speech will fuel my heart with an opportunity for a new generation as they start their new beginning.

Just like I did when I stopped drinking, packed up my stuff, and moved to Costa Rica.

How did I get Sober?

I made a choice. I didn’t go to AA or meet with anyone. I just did it on my own. And yes, I know that can be challenging for people, I understand, but if you need help, here are some links that you can check out:

Alcoholics Anonymous: I never went, but I have heard great things about them.

Better Help: Get a Free Week! They helped me as I was transitioning into my move to Costa Rica.

Or if you need a friend, shoot me a message here!