the only time I watch cable TV is during football season, and thus, it's the only time I'm exposed to traditional commercials.

Even though I know what I'm signing up for, it's still shocking to be bombarded by two topics ad nauseam: 

1. Pharmaceutical drugs

2. Alcohol

I will save my soap box on #1 because it's just too ridiculous to critique, so let's talk about the damage of #2: glamorizing alcohol.

Somehow society realized that smoking cigarettes isn't all it's cracked out to be but booze still has a stronghold culturally. 

The images and videos flashing across the screen are so obviously meant to brainwash the viewer into thinking that alcohol is sexy, classy, and sophisticated. 

Rarely do they show someone exhausted or depressed... drinking to deal with stress or relying on booze to ease anxiety (which, by the way, has the opposite effect long-term). Here's what they usually show...

These commercials often show slim, well-dressed, attractive people bonding and socializing, as if alcohol is not only a pre-requisite to have a good time but also mandatory.

This is reinforced to our youth by the plethora of coming of age movies that center around binge drinking, keg stands, and blacking out. 

Growing up, I thought living life mostly drunk was a right of passage as an adult. I waited my whole life to turn 21 even though I had been binge drinking since age 15.

So, when these two types of commercials come on, I rush to the TV to mute it or change the channel.

My sons have already heard my TED talks about how NOT cool alcohol is, and how commercials are specifically created to sell a product.

In fact, it was a comment from my oldest son 5 years ago that changed my relationship to alcohol forever.

You see, I used to drink a nearly a bottle of wine every night after having my second son. 

I was completely in over my head trying to re-assume my role in the corporate world as the breadwinner, adjust to life with two kids while my firefighter husband was away for 24+ hours at a time, try to salvage some sanity from the lack of sleep that lasted 2 years straight...  oh and ya know, recover from childbirth.

I asked for help and certainly had a little more support than many, but I felt ashamed for not being able to handle it all. I turned to booze because I didn't know what I really needed was therapy and a total lifestyle overhaul.

If anything, parents around me affirmed that my increased drinking habits were totally normal... cue the much celebrated and acceptable Mommy wine culture.

So one night after polishing off a bottle, I went to kiss my 7 year old goodnight and he said "Mommy you smell like wine."

That was really it for me. 

It was like a moment frozen in time where I realized I didn't want to be that Mom.... the Mom who can't handle anything, so she must use a substance to alleviate stress. 

I didn't want my sons thinking that parenting was too much or that they were a burden.  I didn't want them thinking that drinking alcohol was a normal, cool thing like I thought growing up.

I wanted to be better for them! I wanted to get to the root of my overwhelm and get honest about my drinking habits. 

More than anything, I didn't want to use alcohol anymore as a numbing agent to avoid the pain of not living my best life.

The honesty of my son's comment paired with starting our 12-week nutrition program at the same time fast-tracked me into a new level of awareness.

And when you are presented face-to-face with the Truth, you either:

1) make up a story to justify your behavior, or

2) take radical ownership of your decisions and thus your life

The latter is what I chose. And I'll be the first to tell you that it's not always easy!

Dealing with your emotions, stress, stories, and conditioning requires much more work than drowning them out in a bottle of booze. (Or, sweets, THC, over-working, etc. - enter in your own coping mechanism of choice.)

It was (and is) hard, but WOW, is it worth it.

These days, I can count on one hand the number of times I consume alcohol for the entire year. The more I don't drink, the more I don't miss it at all. My life is so much richer and full of joy, which I never thought possible!

Not ready to reduce drinking? Check out our podcast on strategies for minimizing the negative impact of alcohol: