Sunshine and road trips – a trigger list (Day 6)

It was a gorgeous, sunny day yesterday at our family’s lake cabin and by FAR the hardest craving day I’ve had so far. I just kept imagining relaxing into a patio chair with something chilled and sparkly in my hand.

A few important learnings from this:

– I reimagined the scene with a fizzy grapefruit drink in my hand and it was still lovely. Actually, it was better, because the imaginary happy hour happened guilt-free and with the knowledge that I wouldn’t be releasing a nasty, thirsty demon harpy by cracking into some booze

– part of the reason it sounded amazing in my mind is because even if I was still drinking, the scene would not have actually played out like that. I have a 3.5 year old and 2 year old and sitting to relax with a beverage is not a thing that happens with them around. What I was craving was not so much the booze but the ability to sit and relax without having to break up squabbles or help put on shoes or fill up water cups or or or…

Today, we will travel the 7 hours in the car back home, which is another massive trigger for me. My kids are actually mostly really great on car rides, but it takes so much prep and effort for it to be good (snacks! Games! Downloaded shows! Singalongs!) that I’m pretty beat when we arrive. I usually crack open some wine to help ease off the stressed buzz of the journey and guide me into the blah of unpacking.

Here’s my plan on arrival to make this time different:

– practice deep breathing and mindfulness the whole way home
– chug a bunch of water when I arrive – I don’t hydrate a ton while we’re traveling to avoid even more stopping
– I know I have an O’Douls in the fridge. I’ve got an eye on that chilled out little baby
– I will practice gratitude at how much better I know I will feel tomorrow morning for the effort

Also, pre-writing this makes me REALLY not want to end up drinking and have to tell you all. That helps too. High five for accountability! 😀