Let me first start by saying I'm someone who loves my pizza with a nice craft beer and my books with a smooth red wine. However, I don't need them to fully enjoy my delicious slice or riveting page turner. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against some alcoholic beverages on any given night; in fact, I have made some great memories involving drinking. I am going to argue, though, that I have made even better memories without them.

It all started to hit me more when I fully stepped away from the party scene for the first time and almost never went out. Without relying on 'going out' as a crutch for something to do with my time, or to keep me 'social', it was made clear to me all the wonderful things this world has to offer without alcohol. It was made even more clear to me the people I had nothing in common with other than having a "good time."

I kept hearing phrases like, "Can you imagine how fun that would be if you were drunk?" or "Man, I really wish I had a drink right now." Why? Why do we need to rely on being intoxicated to have fun, relax, have a meaningful conversation, play a game or dance like a fool? If we need to rely on alcohol to make us do normal things then we must not be that fun. Or maybe we are and we are using our "fear of missing out complex" to keep us from exploring our sober side.

I'm not going to lie, it's harder than you think.

Staying in with my parents on a Saturday night was a little weird at first (with my family it probably is always weird I suppose). I grew bored and found myself a little jealous of everyone who seemed to be having the drunken time of their life on my Instagram feed; but then I would hear about all the drama, money spent, pounds gained and hangovers that followed. When I was convinced I definitely didn't want to go out every weekend but I didn't want to be bored either, I was forced to actually learn to do new things, meet other people and embrace spending time with myself. I know, crazy right?

Endlessly I will hear about how lame I am or that I am grandma that prefers being in my cozy covers by 11:30 PM instead of a sweaty, sticky, stuffy bar. So what? I just smirk and think of all the lessons I've learned in my transition from being a typical party girl to the confident person I am today. I truly feel free because in all reality I am really not lame. Actually, I would argue that I am fun, even when I'm sober! And I am no longer the least bit jealous of the veneers I see on social media because I have no desire to be behind the exaggerated "best night everrrrrrrr #blessed."

I wish I could describe in words the beautiful memories I actually get to remember because I decide to stay sober. I would laugh incredibly hard to the point of tears with my roommates, late at night over stupid movies and silly conversations (sober). I absolutely love going on walks in the evening with my parents and learning more about them as people (sober). I've saved money to actually travel and see more of this world and go beyond my small perspectives (sober). I've meet people that have goals and ambitions to make a difference in this world and encourage me to do the same (sober).

I really don't want this to come off like I am saying you can't grow as a person while still enjoying the bar scene every now and then.

However, just like any environment we choose to hide out in for a long enough time, we aren't going to thrive or reach our full potential until we go out of our comfort zone.

I challenge you to take a step back and ask your friends to play ultimate frisbee at the park, volunteer at the homeless shelter, paint that painting, read a book, write a book, save up money for a trip, get dinner with your grandma, learn how to shoot a gun, create something, ANYTHING. If you really need tips on how to enjoy your alone sober time you can come to my house at about 10:30 on any given weeknight and watch my mom cry of laughter a Jimmy Fallon by herself. Actually, just take notes on her in general and you should be good.

The point is, we have a lot to offer this world and we should spend time thinking about it more.

We have all probably told ourselves we were never touching alcohol again. We regretted all the money we spent on a headache the next morning and tell ourselves it wasn't even worth it. I think there is a reason we have those thoughts, because we are right.

There are so much more activities, people, events, challenges, and opportunities begging us to take a weekend off to explore. I think if we were all brave enough to not care what others think of us sober and not hide ourselves in the crowd, we would like what we see in the mirror and what we feel inside; growth.