You know, they say life gives you lemons, but no one ever warns you about the lemons that come with a hangover the size of Mount Everest. That’s exactly where my story of a fresh start begins—with a headache so bad I swore my brain was doing the samba inside my skull.

Until recently, I was just a normal New Zealander who thought alcohol was the answer to, well, just about everything. That was until one morning with yet another hangover. I woke up feeling like I’d been run over by a herd of elephants. My head pounded, my mouth felt like the Sahara, and I couldn’t even remember how I got home. Pretty standard Saturday morning, right? It had become normal for me to wake up feeling like this, like I’d just poisoned myself – because I had. As I lay there, contemplating the meaning of life and why cheese toasties aren’t a cure for world peace, I realized I was sick of feeling like this. Sick of the blurry nights, the lost memories, and the “What did I do?” moments. I decided right then and there, sprawled on my bed like a starfish, that it was time for a change.

The first few days of going alcohol-free were, well, let’s just say they were as fun as a dentist appointment. Headaches, grumpiness, and a craving for a cold one so strong I nearly named it. But I stuck with it, armed with nothing but sheer willpower and a newfound love for herbal tea (yeah, I know, who even am I?).

Here’s the funny thing – life started getting better. I was waking up without feeling like a zombie every morning, my bank account wasn’t crying itself to sleep, and I could actually remember my evenings. I even started this new thing called “exercising” – turns out it’s not just for those fitness influencers on Instagram. Then came the ultimate test – my first sober party. There I was, armed with a bottle of sparkling water, facing a room full of tipsy friends. But you know what? It wasn’t the end of the world. I danced, I laughed, and I remembered every single moment. I even managed to tell a joke that got more than just a pity laugh. Score!

Months down the track, here I am, your sober, slightly more responsible, and surprisingly happier Kiwi. I feel like my life is better in so many ways. Everything has improved; I look better, I sleep better, I just feel better. Period.

And hey, if I can swap my beer goggles for a clearer view of the world, anyone can. So if you’re thinking about quitting the booze, just go for it. It’s so much better on the other side.