It’s Cinco De Mayo, a day that I used to celebrate each year with a case of Modelo, a baggie of joints, a big plate of cheesy Mexican food and a night fueled by Tito's Vodka. 

Let me tell you what, that next day, May 6th, was always ROUGH.

I remember one year I drank so much that I puked tacos all over the bushes next to the bar and later stumbled my way home, only to wake up the next morning with a massive hangover causing me to call in to my fast food job, resulting in me getting fired from my position. 

This outcome left me dazed and confused to say the least, but it pushed me to make some changes in my life towards a healthier lifestyle in the long term. 

Fast forward 16 years, I hardly recognize my former self as I no longer partake in the party lifestyle. I can’t even begin to describe the shift that happened during that time, but I saved my own life by learning to let go of social norms and making the decision to stop the party. 

It is only in the moments of silent reflection that I realize that I am a completely different person than that twenty something party animal used to be. 

So, what changed? 

How did I go from being a fun-loving party girl to the healthy, happy woman that I am today? 

I will tell you, it didn’t happen overnight and it was not easy. In fact, quitting the party life is one of the most difficult things I have ever accomplished. I hardly think about it anymore, but upon reflection, it is actually a real life miracle that I made that shift. I say that because if you knew me in my party years, you would know that I was “that girl” - you know - the one who was ALWAYS down for anything, as long as it involved getting lit. I smoked weed from the time I woke up until the time I passed out at night after downing a bottle of wine, or my favorite, 100 proof spiced rum by Captain Morgan. 

Now, the very thought of such behaviors sends a cringe down my spine. I can’t imagine consuming so many toxins at one time. It is kind of like the movie “The Matrix”, once you take the red pill, there is no going back. Once that perception has changed, it is hard not to see the impact such behavior has on one’s health. 

You see, making big changes like quitting drinking takes a shift in perception. It’s not enough to want to stop partying. A person has to understand WHY and HOW these behaviors affect their body at a cellular level in addition to how it impacts their long term decision making. Many people come to natural medicine in their most painful moments, the pain being the driving force to finding those answers for relief. 

In my personal experience, it helped to make small, incremental changes which later led to bigger shifts in personal development. 

The first big change I made was with my diet, eliminating processed foods and switching to a whole foods, gluten free diet became an anchor for me in my sustained lifestyle changes. Learning to say “no” to foods I loved made it easier for me to make the shift when it came to eliminating substances from my life. Learning to say “no” to things like doughnuts and fast food taught me that I was capable of living without these simple pleasures. 

The second shift I made was within my social circle and changing my idea of what is “fun”. This was honestly the hardest part of making big changes in my life because I am a very social person. I had to separate myself from the people, places and things that encouraged me to engage in drinking or smoking. 

This meant no more Friday and Saturday nights at music shows, which was heartbreaking for me at first because going to shows at the bar was what I loved to do. Instead, I opted for breakfast and brunch dates with friends on weekend mornings, or early morning hikes. Brunch with my gal pals is now a weekly ritual that I look forward to. 

At first, the change in activities cost me some friendships. People stopped showing up to spend time with me, they quit answering texts and stopped reaching out entirely in some instances. I still miss some of those people I used to spend time with, but I have since realized that they didn’t value my friendship. This realization was painful, I had to learn to accept that I had outgrown some of the people I truly enjoyed spending time with. 

On the flip side, my willingness to make changes and show up differently in the world inspired people I had never considered as close friends to make changes in their lives as well. I had messages from friends asking me how I made these changes and how they could make them as well. This pushed me to get my health coaching certification so that I could better help those around me make sustainable changes. Some of these people are now my closest friends and have since changed their lives to do the same. This ripple effect propelled me forward, inspiring me to keep going. 

Finally, my struggle with marijuana was ongoing, until one day I was cleaning my garage after getting really stoned and had a freak accident. I hurt myself so badly while I was not paying attention that I ended up in the emergency room having to get plastic surgery on my face. The event was so embarrassing that I made the decision to give up getting high once and for all. I had been partaking in this behavior for twenty years, so it was an epic task to commit to making a change. 

Making the shift from stoned to sober was quite the daunting task, even more so than alcohol for me, but it was imperative that I made it happen. This meant that I had to raise my standards of myself. I had to take a good hard look at myself, my goals and how I wanted to show up in the world. This self reflection and realization of changes that I needed to make helped me to show up for myself to make the shift once again. 

This time, I used exercise as my anchor. I had always wanted to get into shape but never actually took the time out of my day to make it happen so I set a goal and I made it happen. I started going to the gym every morning and held myself accountable by hiring a coach to help me. Having the coach really made all the difference because they held me accountable and pushed me to keep going when I didn’t necessarily “feel like it”. 

I am now in great shape, feel amazing about myself and am very proud of myself for making those big changes that seemed completely impossible. 

If you are reading this, and feel called to make similar changes, don’t hesitate to reach out, I would LOVE to hear from you! 

In conclusion, stopping the party and getting rid of substances can be challenging, but it's not impossible. You just have to recognize that life will be completely different and accept that reality. You must also be willing to admit that you have a problem in the first place, which takes a bit of humility and grace to recognize.

Here are some practical steps you can take to help you make the shift from substance abuse:

• Set a goal: Write down why you want to make the shift. Keep a journal and set some personal goals. Having clear goals in mind can help motivate and keep you focused.
• Create a plan: Develop a plan that outlines the steps that will help anchor you to stop the party. For example, you may want to gradually reduce your intake, make diet changes, start exercising, seek support from friends and family, or join a support group.
• Identify triggers: Identify the situations or feelings that lead you to crave substances. This can help you avoid those triggers and find healthier ways to cope with stress or negative emotions. People, places and things are cornerstones of addiction- so evaluate how and with whom you spend your time. 
• Seek support: Reach out to friends, family members, and/or a professional for support. They can help you stay accountable, provide encouragement, and offer guidance. Please know that you might lose some friends in the process, and that is a sacrifice you must be willing to make in order to choose a new life.
• Practice self-care: Taking care of your physical and emotional health can help you stay motivated and reduce your cravings. Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and find activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.
• Celebrate your progress: Celebrate each milestone you reach, no matter how small. This can help you stay positive and motivated on your journey to sobriety.

Remember, stopping the party is a process that takes time and effort. Raise your standards of yourself, but also be patient with yourself in the process. If you fall off the wagon, just get back up, dust yourself off and keep your end goal in mind. The most important thing to remember is that wellness is a lifelong journey, so you want to SHOW UP FOR YOURSELF and the results will follow.

YOU GOT THIS! 

In Health,

Coach Lacy