Have you ever drunk alcohol for "liquid courage"?
Drinking is not really a huge part of my life.
But I have certainly found myself using alcohol in the past as a means to help me feel more at ease in social situations.
Or to fit in with the crowd because everyone else was doing it.
For example, when I'm at a celebratory occasion and there's champagne being passed around, I always felt obligated to partake.
Even though I HATE the taste of champagne. I seriously think it tastes disgusting. But I would still partake because of social pressure or because I don't want people to think I'm not a "fun" person.
Or if I'm at a social event, and immediately go to the bar to order a drink, so I can "let loose" a little and feel more at ease.
The last few months, I have been reflecting on these reasons for drinking alcohol and I realized none of them were actually good reasons.
So I've been making a conscious effort to be more mindful of where, when, and why I'm drinking.
It's been liberating to let go of that crutch and find other ways to connect with others while also finding more confidence within.
Now, I still enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail from time to time, but I'm learning that I don't need alcohol to have a good time or feel confident.
Also, it's been cool discovering the plethora of zero-proof or non-alcoholic spirits and beverages that are out there! And I can wake up feeling GREAT. 
What's been your relationship with alcohol?
Have you found yourself using alcohol as a crutch in the past?
Our latest podcast episode delves into this topic.
We sat down with Aishwarya Balaji, founder of A Fresh Sip
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Tune in to hear our experiences and relationships with alcohol and discuss strategies and advice on navigating mindful drinking. 
We also chat on several other topics including her entrepreneurship journey, what it's like building a company w/ a good friend, burnout, manifesting in Bali, morning routines and so much more 
Listen and download HERE
WHAT I’VE BEEN LOVING 
I've been on a reading kick lately. 
I forgot how fun it is to get lost in a fiction book. It used to take me a long time to get through a book because I'd only read before bed, which meant almost instantly falling asleep 2-3 pages in.
Now I've been replacing listening to podcasts with reading from my Kindle while on my daily walks, so I've been getting through books a lot more quickly.
Current read: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
OTHER THINGS 
This week commences about 4 months of travel for me.
First stop is NYC for two weeks 
I'm planning to take a full week off from work to decompress, have some downtime & get caught up on personal projects. Probably spend a lot of my time at coffee shops. If you have any NYC recommendations for laptop-friendly coffee shops, or any other parks, restaurants, or workout places to check out, please send them my way!
As always thank you for reading and joining me on this little corner! 
