I've never forgotten the first time I decided to stop drinking alcohol during the month of January. It was the morning after a particularly boozy month of December and yet another boozy New Year's Eve party with friends in Santa Barbara. I felt so terrible that I declared to my husband that I needed a break. He felt the same way, and together we decided we'd abstain from all alcohol wine, beer, hard booze for the entire month. And it felt so good after that first fast, we actually added another month July. We decided to take an alcohol break every six months. We continued that tradition together for the next several years, and then he dropped out. But I was not dissuaded. Today, January 24, I'm twenty-four days into my 2015 fast. I'm pleased to say I've been alcohol free in January (and July) for the last twenty years at least. Now you must think that I'm quite a boozer otherwise. Actually I'm not. I drink a glass of wine or two most nights, but that's it. I never drink … [Read more...]