“Since going alcohol-free, these problems have literally disappeared” Larry Williams

Throughout my life, I used alcohol in ways I thought were pretty positive. It helped me make friends at parties, win clients, close business deals and enjoy rounds of golf. Family get-togethers always involved plenty of booze, big parties and inevitable hangovers. But over time, I started to bring the party home to the people closest to me.

Friday nights became “Daddy’s beer night”. I still spent time with my kids – game nights, movies, backyard campfires and cookouts – but I always had a beer in hand. I justified it easily: I worked hard all week and brought home a steady, reliable pay cheque. I told myself I’d earned it.

When the fun started to have a cost

Gradually, a pattern began to form. Saturdays became something I had to endure rather than look forward to. I still got up, spent time with my wife and children, and got things done – but only with the help of Advil, Pepto-Bismol and sheer willpower. I was spending more and more time managing the physical fallout from the night before.

Instead of seeing the real cause, I started expanding my “beer nights” to other nights of the week, depending on what I had going on at work or at home the next day. Alcohol had quietly moved from being an occasional escape to a regular crutch.

Facing the truth

I had known about OYNB for a couple of years but never seriously considered it. As my health began to deteriorate in ways I’d never experienced before, I finally connected the dots and admitted that my relationship with alcohol was at the centre of the problem.

In January, I started seeing OYNB ads in my social media feed again. This time, they didn’t trigger resistance or scepticism. Instead, I felt a certainty that I needed to do something different. One day I clicked through, read the testimonials, watched a few videos and decided to sign up.

Twenty-eight days didn’t feel like enough to make a real change. Ninety days sounded better, but I knew how strong old habits can be. So I signed up for the full year. That was a little over three months ago.

The first changes I noticed

I’m 53 years old and have always taken pride in looking and feeling younger than my age. But alcohol was catching up with me. My face was changing for the worse. Rosacea was appearing on my cheeks and the bags under my eyes never really went away, even after what I thought was a good night’s sleep.

After more than three months alcohol-free, those problems have literally disappeared. My skin looks healthier, my face looks younger and I feel more like myself again.

Becoming a better leader at home and at work

Since removing alcohol, I’ve noticed a shift in how I show up – both at work and at home. I find it much easier to create space between a trigger and my response. That pause has helped me:

• handle stress more calmly

• improve my relationships with my kids, employees and clients

• think more clearly when opportunities or problems arise

I haven’t become a different person overnight, but I am a more present, patient and intentional version of myself.

The power of support

OYNB’s daily emails and videos have become a real anchor in my routine. I start each morning with them, and they help set the tone for the day ahead.

The OYNB Connect group has also been a huge source of inspiration. I don’t post very often, but I read a lot. When I see someone who seems to be struggling, I try to offer some encouragement. OYNB has done a great job creating a safe, positive and non-judgemental space where people can be honest about their struggles and victories.

Life still happens – but I handle it differently

I still have challenges with kids, accidents, dumb decisions, work stress and everything else life throws my way. Just like before, I deal with them. The difference now is that I no longer feel the need to decompress with alcohol afterwards. It simply doesn’t feel necessary anymore.

Could I reintroduce alcohol at some point and keep a different relationship with it? Maybe. But right now, I don’t have to decide. I signed up for the full year, so that’s a decision I can leave for another day.

For now, I’m enjoying the clarity, energy and calm that come with living alcohol-free – and that feels like more than enough.