 I am James Swanik and today we are speaking with Julia Price, a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, who recently broke up with alcohol, or at least she broke up with her prior relationship with alcohol. So she went 18 months alcohol-free and now she drinks on a case-by-case basis on occasion. And we're going to hear a little bit about Julia's story in just a second. And besides being a singer-songwriter, Julia also does musical workshops with entrepreneurs to help them get into their heart in a more expansive way, which sounds beautiful, which I'd love to dig in a little bit on. Julia, great to have you here. Welcome. So great to be here, James. That was like the best intro. You really have a special talent for that. Oh, thank you very much. And getting people to stop drinking. You're very talented. Very talented guy. Thank you. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. So tell us just a little bit more about what you do and with the musical workshops and your singing and songwriting career. We'd love to know a little bit about that. Yeah. So I pretty much always played music. I never really thought growing up it was a career that I could actually do. And so I just picked what was around me. My mom was a producer, a TV producer. So I would, I loved going to the studio with her and seeing her kind of like run the room and organize everything. And I loved that sort of adrenaline rush that you get with live TV. So I ended up working at Good Morning America as an intern right after college. They hired me. I was there for years. And I kept kind of getting pulled into music things, like, you know, how it's one of those things you resist it, but the universe will make sure that it, you know, tells you do this other thing. And so basically I just kept getting asked by friends to do music things. A friend of mine asked me to open for him at the bitter end. And I, which was a venue in New York City. It's pretty well known in the music scene there. And so I started playing there consistently. And some of the GMA Good Morning America crew would come and watch me sometimes. They watched the show. They mentioned it the next day in the hallway. The anchor overheard asked to hear my music, put me on air. And then all of a sudden I had press. And so that kind of led me to make the decision of going for it full time and starting to tour and all that sort of thing. And then I got to a point where I got really, really into personal development work. And because of it, the way that I was pursuing music wasn't necessarily as aligned as it used to be. And I started really loving just like any sort of way I could break down old patterns or walls. And the more I did that with myself, I love to kind of help people around me get to that place too. And I just thought one day, well, what if I combine all these like musical exercises that I've learned and things I've learned while touring and performing that have broken down my barriers and I can kind of like put it into a comprehensive workshop that people who are maybe not comfortable being creative in front of others could do together. All that to say, basically now I do that in more corporate settings and get to work with people, you know, sometimes who are in suits. I mean, you know, you speak all over the world, you go in their suits and by the end of it, they're like freestyle rapping on stage with their coworkers. And that's so rewarding. I get a lot more out of that than just, you know, a regular performance. Yeah. So most of the audience that you're performing to now, are they naturally more closed off than open and with your music and with your workshops, you try to open them up a little bit more. Is that right? Yeah. I mean, that's a great way of putting it. I think it's one thing to go to a show to watch someone perform. It's another when you all of a sudden are told like, hey, this is an immersive experience, because sometimes people don't know and I can see like the look of horror on their face. Wait, what is happening? But that's why it's really fun to see like the slow, you know, like, okay, maybe I could try this. Oh, that wasn't as scary as I thought. And like, you know, it's a it's a gradual thing. I don't just go and get on stage although I have done that as well. But well, it might be a nice kind of segue into maybe your relationship with alcohol was a gradual thing, or maybe you jumped right in the two feet at the beginning with alcohol. And then maybe it was a gradual or slow kind of breaking up period. So let's just go back to the beginning. Just tell us a little bit about, you know, where and how you think alcohol first came into your life. A lot of folks say, you know, when they grew up, wherever they grew up, they saw mom and dad drinking at the table, wasn't a big deal, no one was getting drunk or anything. But, you know, it was normalized just drinking a glass of wine, or having a half a bottle was very normal. And then when you go through school and college, obviously drinking a lot more is kind of cool and fun and all that kind of stuff. And then when you get into your 20s and 30s, it's against normalized in a different way. It's no one thinks anything is weird about sharing a bottle of wine or having some drinks over dinner, etc. So I'm just curious, what was your introduction to alcohol? And how did that develop over the years, I guess? Yeah, I mean, my introduction, it's funny, because I remember I had a fake ID when I was 16 in order to go to nightclubs, but I didn't drink, I didn't have a fake ID to drink. I just loved going out dancing. So I would just, I never understood why anyone needed to drink, because it was so freeing for me to just, you know, have the lights and like, well, I guess it would now be considered old school hip hop and like, because we're getting older. But I didn't understand it. And then I remember the first time I got really drunk, I kind of skipped there. But basically, I didn't really, I didn't understand the point of drinking. And then I just, I think maybe my beginning of college, it was just sort of normalized around me. So once in a while, I'd like try to drink, I didn't like the taste of it and like the feeling and like whatever. But I remember the first time I got blackout drunk was actually by mistake. I had, I went to like a little picnic in the summer, a barbecue picnic thing. And someone made rum or vodka soaked watermelon and left it on the table. And I didn't know that. And I was eating the watermelon, just as I would eat, you know, on a hot summer day, not thinking about it. And the next thing I know, like, I feel really weird. And through conversation realized, I was really drunk on watermelon. So it was not intentional. But I think that that did open up one thing for me is that I could black out. And I think that's a very scary thing when I had, you know, my friends telling me, Oh, you said this and you did this. And I'm like, I don't remember it. That's weird. And so in general, I'm someone who's very sensitive. Like if I have more than a cup of coffee, I'm my whole day is, you know, very wiry and kind of weird. And I get the shakes and all that. And alcohol was the same thing. I'd, you know, watch a lot of my friends as we go out drinking and college and stuff like that, it became more normalized. And I would just feel like I'd get to a certain point where my body would just be like, you add too much. And I just, you know, wasn't making the best decisions and stuff like that. But I think about it, you blame it on youth. You blame it on like, we're all crazy, we're doing this thing together. Like you might go home with someone and like you laugh about it with your friends. But I think getting into my thirties, I was like, not only is this not like fun and charming to make these stupid mistakes anymore, it's like very, it actually has an impact on your life. You know, like I would say things I didn't mean to say or I'd, if I was in a great mood, it was fine. But if I was like sad or angry about something that would come out when I was drinking and it wouldn't come out in ways that were like productive or kind even. And so I just started seeing that and I'm like, I don't like that feeling of not having full control over my reactions or even sometimes fully remembering them. And then slowly my body just stopped responding to certain things like I didn't want to drink vodka anymore. It just would, I'd feel really sick from it. I'm like, okay. And then I didn't, I kept like cutting down certain drinks. And I just had a very clear moment. I remember I was single and I went, so now at this point it was pretty much only drinking rosé because my body would like literally reject anything else I had. Like even a glass of red wine, my body was like, nope. It would just like, you know, I'd be puking the next day from one glass of wine. So I was getting all the signs like take a break. And I also knew like I knew for a while there was something in my gut that was like, you don't need to drink. You don't even have, like I have more fun not drinking. It's crazy. Like I don't have more fun when I drink, but I think it's like you said it's so normalized around you. It's a thing, you know, people say, do you want to go out and get a drink? Okay. So then I was on this date with this guy. I don't even remember his name. He was like British or something. He had a cool sexy accent. Of course he's thrilled to hear you refer to him. I don't even remember his name. Could have been British, but I don't remember. He was not forgettable. I mean, so, you know, I think it was more about the lesson than the guy for that date because we went out and, you know, British people, I'm going to stereotype here, but they can drink a lot. And so I was like trying to keep up with him. And I'm like, all right. And so it was on like my third glass of rose and I was feeling pretty drunk. And I had this moment and I never went home with a stranger. Mostly out of safety. Like, you know, I wish I could say it was like, I really have no filter in this conversation. I'm just realizing, but I wish I could say like, you know, I just, I don't know. But basically I was just like always so scared of having someone I didn't know in my house or being in someone I didn't know's house. But so here I am with this guy barely know. I'm like, come back to my house. I'll play some music for you, which like weird moves I was putting on him. And I get into my house and I remember, like, you know, kind of like walking in where you're not like walking fully straight, whatever kind of dizzy. And I start playing piano for him. And I turn around and he's on my bed. And I had this moment of panic of like, there's a guy I don't know in my bed in my space. I need him to get out right now. And there was nothing that he didn't do anything. It just was like the intimacy of being in my room. And I remember I said to him, I was like, Hey, you have to go. And he's like, haha, yeah, whatever. And I'm like, no, no, you got it. You got to go. Like, you got to get out right now. And he's like, Oh, okay. And like, luckily he was very gentlemanly. But I just there was something about that. I woke up the next day and I was like, I do not like the decisions I'm making. Like, enough is enough. And sorry, such a long winded way of saying how I got to this point. But I went to physical therapy because I was getting stuff done for my back. And it was very important that I be there. And I remember leaving physical therapy to go have to puke like three times from the alcohol. And I'm like, this is not a sustain like none of this is self love. Like I don't feel good about myself. I'm, you know, I have to either change something or I'm going to continue to break trust with me because I'm not like the person that I know I could be right now. And and I felt very clear that it was because alcohol. First of all, I want to thank you for being so open and honest and transparent. Thank you for sharing that story. Yeah, it's, it sounds like you had a scary realization. It sounds like you put all the things together and and in that moment, you were like, huh, I'm not making good choices when I am under the influence of what I call attractively packaged poison. Did it feel like an aha moment? Did it feel like a breakthrough moment or and was that breakthrough moment enough for you to actually change your drinking behaviors? Because if there's anything we know about human behavior is that sometimes even having an aha moment, still you choose to stay in those somewhat damaging behaviors. So yeah, that is a great question. And I kind of even for that very what I felt was a long answer. I I had to cut out so many different examples of that. I mean, luckily, that's like a pretty, you know, nothing was lost in that situation. But I've definitely, yeah, I mean, I over the years, I, you know, sent like, like some weird texts and some weird emails. And I would wake up and go, Oh, my gosh, like, I have to not like, I can't drink like that. Like, I can't do it. I had so many aha moments, but it wasn't. There was something that was so visceral about here I am trying to do this thing to get better, to make my body better from this car accident I had was why I was in physical therapy. And I'm like, I'm having to leave this room to go vomit. That that's not an alignment, like there's something really out of alignment there. And so the other thing that happened, you know, it's actually interesting because I remember you were doing the alcohol free stuff. And I just, I think it's like through conversations you and I had, or I remember I went to an event that you were throwing pre COVID and like sitting in the room and there were all these other people that wanted to not drink. And I just remember learning more about like, actually, you know, kind of what you said, the poison of alcohol, what it actually is. And I just felt really like encouraged by that. So you were actually a huge part in that. And yeah, it was just what I do really well with structure. And so I said, I'm going to give myself one month off. And that's what made it like attainable for me. Because if I had said right then in there, I'm going to do a year. I don't think I would have believed in myself. And so I was like, I'm just going to do a month because I'm really fed up with exactly what you said, having these moments where I think I need to do something different and not doing it, because it really is one of those things where it starts to translate to other parts of your life. And so I made this decision to do a month and I started sharing it on social media. And I'm like, I'm going to do a month. And I'm like, so many people were like, I want to do that. And good for you. And that's great. And I'm like, you know what? I can do a month. I know I can do a month. What would be really like, what if I did a year? And I'm like, I'm going to do a year. And I put it out there on social media, because I'm like, if I don't do it, I'm not going to hold myself accountable. So I think that's a big thing. It's like, sometimes you can't like, sometimes you don't, you know, that's why it's so important to have the support and to have a network. And I just put it out there. And I was like, Hey, everyone, I'm doing this for a year. So I'm like, I, and I had moments sometimes, you know, like the freaking pandemic hit in the middle of this. And I'm like, but I'm just like, but all those people, you know, who would probably not even remember. But in my mind, I was like, I can't let them down. And then what I started to notice is over time, because there is sort of this period where like, I'd say the first few months were very difficult because it's a lifestyle change. It's not like I had withdrawals or anything, but it's like suddenly certain people that used to be interesting to hang out with, born is fun to hang out with, because you're not, you don't have like the buffer of alcohol to kind of make you friends with everyone. And I'm like, ah, okay, I was starting to gravitate more toward people who would rather go on a hike on a Saturday morning than a drink on Friday night. So I was actually getting this, a lot of positive reinforcement. And once I started to adjust my lifestyle, it just became easier and easier and easier. But there was definitely a period, and I feel like this is what stops a lot of people is it's almost like the first three months were really difficult. But once I got past that. Oh, and another thing just to add in, I actually got really bad skin at one point. And I never really had this crazy acne all of a sudden, I'm like, where is this coming from? And a friend of mine was like, well, you're detoxing. Like your liver is detoxing. That stuff's going to come out. I'm like, ah, I'm supposed to make my skin better. And then eventually it did. But you know, everything was hard at first. And then it was so much easier. Yeah. Congratulations on taking that first step. Because that's the hardest one for most people. Certainly in my experience. Just to share a similar story to my own story, I remember it was back in Austin, Texas in 2010, March of 2010. And I'd had two Bombay sapphire gin and tonics at an industry party on a Friday night. And I didn't get drunk. But I got a taxi back to my hotel, which is about 20 minutes north of Austin, went to went to bed, work up in the morning, looked in the mirror. And I just felt like I looked weathered. You know, it looks tired. I'd put on about 20 pounds or so over the course of a year. You know, I just kind of crept up. And I just remember feeling like blah, like, man, I feel like a six out of 10 here. And I went to an IHOP, an international house of pancakes right next door to the hotel I was staying in. And I looked out the window and it was an overcast day. And there wasn't particularly nice view out the window. It was of a freeway or highway. And there was some pretty unhealthy looking people eating all you can eat pancakes with maple syrup and whipped cream. And the IHOP have these big bright menus with photos of the food. And I remember just going, oh, man, I just feel average. It wasn't like I was hung over. It wasn't like I was rock bottom. It wasn't like I was waking up in a ditch, or I'd got a DUI or anything like that. It was just I felt for the first time alcohol is really holding me back. It's really just making me feel average. And so that was my kind of moment where I committed like you to just doing 30 days. And I had no idea that I was going to go a decade because it's now, you know, coming up 11 years since I've had a drop of alcohol. But at the time it was like 30 days, I can manage that. I can I can manage 30 days, or at least I think I can. And that was all it took for me to step into that to get the ball rolling to get the momentum going. And then from there, one month turned into two turned into three and then turned into six. And then I got confidence as I as I went along. And it seems like you had a similar experience in that initially you were thinking, I'll go for 30 days. And then that turned into 60 days and then 90 days and then six months. So it seems like we have a similar story in that we didn't say, I'm never going to drink again. It was a bite size goal. Does that feel does that resonate with you? Yeah. And I think and I think that's like sometimes, you know, we see it even with like if someone goes on a diet and then they just do an extreme where they by the way, is that dog? Can you hear the dog? Oh, great. Can't hear the dog. No. Right. Just real life happening, real life happening. But if you go on a diet and you just decide to cut everything out, the chances of you sustaining that are very low. I think if you're like, okay, I'm going to, you know, ease off on some sugar and then you can do less sugar and then you do less, less and less and then eventually get to a place where you maybe only have sugar and an apple or something. But I think anything that's that extreme, you know, having an expectation of I will never drink again. It's like that. I mean, I think it's different. I do want to distinguish because I think it's very different when you're someone who's like in the program of AA versus someone who's making a choice based on, you know, lifestyle perhaps. And so I do think I, for example, my ex when I was 25 was two years into AA. I think when we started dating and I actually went to a lot of the AA meetings with him, like that you could bring friends and family, which is kind of how I got into personal development. Actually, I was like, whoa, 12 steps taking responsibility. Like there's a lot of good stuff there. But he was the kind of person where the way he described it was if he had one drink, he would, you know, maybe wake up on the beach with cocaine in his pocket, which happened. So it's like, I think there's sort of this, there is something to be said about. And while I never will like, you know, know how to advise someone on that, it's like what I experienced in watching him is he's someone who has to say, I will never drink again. That works for him. So that's different than someone like me, who if I said I will never drink again, that's like, that feels like a goal that wouldn't be something that I would achieve, which would make me feel bad about myself because I have a very different reason for not wanting to drink than he does. And so I think it's, it's really up to you as an individual. I think we all know this deep in our gut. And so there's, yeah, I just felt like that was very important to point out. I kind of forgot your original question, though. Oh, good. So I'm curious, what would the, you mentioned the skin, like a lot of the toxins were coming out of your skin and your skin was about, you're probably thinking, man, this quitting drinking stuff is terrible. I hate it. Let me get back to the drink so my skin looks better. Tell us what were the irritations or the seemingly bad things that happened when you stopped drinking? And then what did you notice were the good things, the seemingly good positive things that happened when you stopped drinking? So what were the bad, what were the good? Yeah, I mean, I think for me that the skin thing was big because I had this idea, just an expectation that like, I'm going to stop, I remember seeing these slideshows of people who would stop drinking that just looked like 20 years younger and just, you know, amazing. And then I'm like, I look worse. So that's like, and also it was really interesting. I lost like a lot of my, like, I had like, and this could just be getting older, but I had like chubbier cheeks before and I'm like losing all this weight in my face. And I'm like, wait a minute, I didn't want to lose the weight in my face. I have like long features already. I'm like, I want those cheeks. So that was interesting. But here's the alternative of like, such a superficial thing. Like once I, you know, got a lot of the, I don't know, maybe let's say for two weeks, I had really bad acne, but then my skin was like so clear under eye bags and darkness started to go away. My eyes just looked brighter. I looked more alive. Energy level was just like, it's funny because at first talking about the downside, I had less energy and I could not figure out why. And I realized that going out and having a drink is sugar. Like you're putting sugar into your body. So I'd go out and I'd be like, that's 930. I'm exhausted. Why did I stay up so late before? I'm like, I was drinking sugar. I'm not drinking sugar anymore. So something like that, I would notice. But another thing too, I think I started to become more aware of anxiety I have. You know, when you're drinking, you suppress that a lot of the time and then it's often worse the next day. But there's sort of a, you know, going to bed at night, all of a sudden, I'm sober. I have to deal with all my thoughts, conversations that I could add differently, things I have to do that I didn't do. Whereas, you know, I have a glass of wine before bed. Usually I'd be right out. And so that's why I had to learn about breathwork and meditation and all these other things that again, like they're all healthier in the long run. But there for sure was a period that, yeah, all those difficulties came up. I mean, did you have that? Yeah, I had more social difficulties in the first two weeks because I was worried what people were thinking. In fact, I went on a date with a woman named Andrea to the Jones Bar on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. And I got to the date at 715, the date started at 730. And I made a deal with the barman that when I ordered drinks from my date and I that he was to make it look as if he was making me a vodka soda, but in actual fact, just give me a soda. Because I was so afraid of what my date would think if I told her that I was going, I was trying being alcohol free, I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. And I didn't want to feel uncomfortable with her thinking that I was uncomfortable or that it was an uncomfortable situation. So I also experienced a little bit of irritability and some broken sleep in the first week, but then changed the physical aspects of the changed after about seven to 10 days. And all of a sudden I just started sleeping beautifully. Like you said, the bags under the eyes disappeared, the crow's feet disappeared. In fact, there was a study out of the UK. In fact, a similar study out of Sweden just last year that shows that if you stop drinking, like if you stop drinking alcohol, your the visible signs of crow's feet and wrinkles around your eye area reduces by 30 something percent. It's kind of crazy. So but you know, it takes takes a week. It's like you look at this if your entire adult life, you've been feeding yourself these toxins. And by the way, you don't need to be like getting drunk every night, even if you just have the occasional, seemingly innocent glass or two of wine. If you've been doing that consistently, most of your adult life and then you start depriving your body of that, there's going to be a period of adjustment. Your body's going to go, hang on, what's going on? I'm not used to this. In your case, it seems like toxins started coming out through the skin. In my case, there was irritability. My sleep patterns were disrupted. And then of course, there's the mental game where I'm like, oh, I'm so terrified at what my date's going to think. If I'm not drinking, I'm going to trick her into believing that I am. So you know, there is a period of adjustment, but then this beautiful thing happens. For me, it was seven to 10 days. For other people, it's different. We're all of a sudden you wake up one morning and go, oh, I can feel this now. I can see how my body's starting to operate the way I suspect nature always intended it to operate. This is what I'm supposed to feel. It's not kicked along or fueled by sugar or toxins, et cetera. It's just fueled by my breath and by good nutrition and by exercise and by sunlight and being outside. And this is the way that nature always intended me to live. That was a bit of a long-winded response. No, but you made a really good point about the irritability that for sure was a thing for me, too. And I love that you brought up the social component of it, because I'll be honest, living in LA, I have a lot of people that don't drink consistently. It's just the culture there. I did find it to be more of a challenge when I went home to have, I think it was Thanksgiving or Christmas last year with my family, where everyone's drinking wine. And that was where I actually missed it the most from a social component. So there are definitely situations where that would come up more than others. For sure, if you're someone who is living in an area where you go out and you drink, it's going to be more of a challenge. But with the bigger challenges comes the bigger reward. So I think you will find people, just that's what we do as humans. We find people who are like us. You'll find people who, again, by choosing to not go out and drink, you'll go to bed earlier, which means you'll go to an earlier gym class and you'll meet like-minded people. This will happen even if it feels lonely at first. And so it was interesting too with the dating thing, because I am already gluten-free, dairy-free. Don't eat avocados, because these are all allergies. So by the way, people get so upset about avocados in California. They can deal with everything else. They're like, avocados. I'm allergic. It is what it is. But then to add on top of that, you know, so poor, you know, we're already trying to figure out a place I can eat. And I'm like, and I'm not drinking for a year. It's like, people must have been like, geez, but I would just make a joke. Like, yeah, you know, I'm like super high maintenance. I know. Or I'm doing this year and I'm really excited about it. And most people are pretty supportive. I mean, I did have one guy who was a wine maker. And he was like, I wish we could just have a glass of wine together. And I'm like, it's my year, man. Like, not gonna happen. So you and there's sort of this like release, again, there's like so many, it's not like just quitting alcohol, it's really choosing to elevate, I think, in so many different ways, like being able to sit in comfort with yourself and honoring your boundary and saying, this is what, this is what I feel is best for me. And I'm not going to worry about what other people think or try to make other people feel comfortable. Like, I'm doing this for me. And I'm actually an emotional thinking about it, because there was that shift happened for me. Where at first, I kind of like downplay it. And then I got really proud of myself because it took so much for me to get to a place where I was genuinely unaffected. And by what other people thought, because I knew I was choosing from a place of self love. And that really reflected in all other areas of my life. I mean, that I think I give this decision credit for me, you know, being able to stand in that in many other times, you know, when it comes to dating or making a rare choice about, you know, negotiating a rate for something. But it's like that really set a tone for everything in my life. Yeah, beautiful. Many people, I'm sure listening to you share that will take comfort from that because the social aspect of it and feeling confident enough to be able to share with someone, whether it's a date or a husband or a wife or friends or peer network or boss or colleague or whoever it is. It's scary. It feels scary, doesn't it to be able to at times it can feel scary to actually say to someone I'm choosing to be alcohol free because there's the danger that someone's going to judge you. There's the feeling that people are going to create a story about you. There's people have shared with me that they feel shame or guilt. They feel like sometimes that the social group that they're with are going to ostracize them from the group. And then people's identity feels threatened. It's like, wow, my entire adult life, I've been a drinker, a social drinker and I've been this person and now that I'm not, is my social group who are still drinkers, are they going to still accept me? And it sounds like you had the confidence, you got your confidence. Maybe you didn't always have it, but you found that spot where you drew the line and you said, you know what, I'm confident enough now to be able to share this is my journey. This is who I am. And not to take it or leave it in an aggressive or combative way, but just like a, you know, take it or leave it kind of beautiful open. This is me type of way. Does that resonate with you? Oh, for sure. And I think one thing is like I definitely didn't have the confidence in the beginning. I think it was a lot of the confidence was established by not breaking my word to myself, you know, I had made this commitment to myself and it was, it required a lot of discipline. I'm an artist. Like my lifestyle is revolved around nightlife and drinking and being in nightclubs and like, you know, playing music until one in the morning in studios were bottles of wine or there, you know, it took like a lot of discipline. And I really, once I got to around the six, seven month mark and I was like, I am actually really going to do it. And I started to like, because I showed myself that I could, it built this other level of trust in me. Like honestly, it's a level I never had before. And that's when I noticed the shift. But it's again, by choosing to honor this goal that I had, regardless of what was happening around me. And I had never in my adult life been so unwavering with something. And this was the first time I did it. And now it's like, I mean, who would think, you know, it's like, you just think it's like a glass of wine or whatever. But for me, it was everything, it shifted everything. Yeah, beautiful. Congratulations on that. So fast forward now to you, but you were alcohol free for I think 18 months. So you broke up with alcohol for 18 months. And then jokingly, we can say you got back together with alcohol, maybe in a different style of relationship. So walk us through that process or what happened there where you're seemingly enjoying the benefits of 18 months of the alcohol free lifestyle. And then choosing to drink again, albeit as from what I understand at a far reduced level. So walk us through that. Yeah, like I can't, I haven't been drunk again. I just want to like, it's very interesting. I initially, so here's kind of the way this moment happened. I was in Park City, visiting about like one of my best friends were sitting. It's the first time we went out to a restaurant, you know, we're outdoors, post pandemic, sun is setting. And I see this glass of wine. And I'm like, Oh, you know what, that looks, I would really love to have a glass of wine and a steak right now. And I'm sorry to whoever's vegan. I have lots of vegan friends. And this is another ongoing conversation, but for a different time. It's like, I just really would love this as a whole experience. And she said, Well, why don't you want to? And I didn't answer with, you know, I didn't say like, Oh, I've been feeling so good, or I've been this, or, you know, I was like, Oh, I just feel like I'm going to let people down if I do. And she goes, That's interesting. And she's not like a personal development friend of mine or anything. She was, Oh, that's interesting. She just kind of looked at me and I go, All right. And I'm like, Well, let me check in with myself. Like, What, do I feel expansive? Or do I feel like I'm making this based on like, not wanting to miss out or like, you know, I kind of ran through and I'm like, I actually would really like to have a glass of wine. Like it felt expansive. I don't know how to like another word. And I was like, Okay. And I think it was for me realizing that I was at a point where anytime you're making a decision based on other people. I mean, look, there's a different spew of kids and stuff like that in a family who need you to do something. But like the, I was making that decision. I realized in that moment based on like the perceived disappointment that would happen if I did. And I'm like, Okay, I'm gonna have a glass. And then I did and I could have like three sips. And I was like, that is intense. And it's going right to my head. And I was like, Oh, yeah, that's, that's not a feeling I like, but I enjoyed the taste of a few sips. And I was like, cool. And then, you know, it's interesting because I don't know what happened with me, but it never, I'll put it this way. I used to notice I would drink when I was stressed or upset, or just doing it, not even consciously, just like I'm out with to dinner, I'm going to get a wine and not think about it, because that's what people do. Or this experience was so like, I was smelling it, I was doing all the things they do, like the fancy wine people, I was like swirling it around, you know, I had an experience with it. And I wondered, I'm like, does that mean I'm like drinking again? But it's really interesting because I know how good I feel when I don't get drunk. Or if I, you know, I just know what it's like, I know what a hangover is like versus not having a hangover. And so once in a while, I guess from there, like once in a while, I'll have a glass of wine. But as soon as I do, I like have a ton of water after I don't ever feel a need to have a second glass. It's like, and I do not see a world in which I would allow myself to be drunk again. And it's sort of hard to explain because it's like, but there's no part of me that wants to be drunk. And there's no part of me, literally, I will like, if I have a glass of wine, it takes me the whole night to have it, like, and I'm like constantly drinking water in between. And so I really like to see that because, of course, you know, you, you break a habit and then it's like, well, am I gonna, is this a risk? And again, I think for sure, for some people it is. But, you know, I'm someone who I found out I was allergic to gluten 12 years ago. I never cheated. I never eat gluten. I never eat dairy. I don't do these things because of my health. And I think some things you can, you can introduce with allergies, you can reintroduce in your body will have a different reaction if you give enough time. And so alcohol is actually very interesting. It was one of those things. But I do notice like I can tell the difference now where if I'm stressed out and I'm like, oh, I'd love a glass of wine. I'm like, nope, you did not get a glass of wine from that place. You get it? The same way you'd like, you know, just again, like having that moment of like having a steak and a glass of red wine, that feels expensive being stressed out and wanting a glass of wine does not feel expensive. And I'm like very clear on that. So, you know, it's still a process like I would never drink liquor again. I feel clear on that I'm complete with my liquor journey. That's pretty much like rosé and maybe red once in a while. And again, it's very like, it's when it feels right. Yeah. But I don't have that feeling of needing it to like, you know, have a conversation or have a date or any of those things. And so that I think ultimately was what I had to break up with. And honestly, like, I'm fine either way at this point. Like, it's not a thing that I really see as a part of my life anymore. So, yeah, like I've gone out with people, again, it's weird because of COVID, but you know, you might go out to like a distance park picnic or something. And I see wine there. I'm like, yeah, I don't really want it right now. You know, which in the past, if there was wine there was drinking it. So it's like, it's cool. It's like, it's almost like if you break up with someone and then you're like, you give it enough time and you're like, oh, now we can be friends. But it doesn't mean I need to hang out with you every day. We don't have to talk all the time. But it's nice to see you in social situations sometimes. Yeah. Yeah. What you're describing is probably what most people listening would love to get to. That's what they think or they feel in the beginning. Many folks, once they get, you know, many months behind them of being alcohol free and they get power over it, many folks say, that's it. I'm done. Never again. I don't see any reason why I would go back. Other people, I think maybe who are listening to this who haven't yet started their journey, who want to break up with alcohol would probably feel some relief. I think to hear you say that you're able to go 18 months alcohol free and then powerfully choose to have a drink on occasion. But you have ultimate power over alcohol. Does it feel like that now? Does it feel like you have ultimate power over it? Yeah. And you know how I actually know that is there's not there's not even a there's not even any power in the thought of it. Right? Like there was a time where even when I was debating, like, should I stop drinking? I would feel so much power with that. Like I'd be like, Oh, I can't do it. I can't do it. And now it genuinely is like, I could go either way. You know what I mean? So because of that, I tend to choose not to drink. It's just it's it really is one of those things again, where it's situational where once a month I have red meat, once a month I have a glass of rosé, once a month I have some sugar, you know, it's like these things. But I do think, you know, I don't know why my body has responded this way. It could be again, just because of the way that my mind feels. And I do also feel like if I was going through a really challenging or hard time, I would cut alcohol out again. Because I think any like right now I feel good, I feel strong. But I expect in life you're going to have peaks and valleys. And I do think in a time like that I now know that that's a time to not drink anymore. And so everyone's different. I mean, I think it is one of those things where we get these internal messages. And, you know, luckily for me, I never was in a position where I, you know, got into a car accident because of drinking or anything or pulled over anything. I know some people do have those moments. I know people have like affairs. And so, you know, there's a lot of things that can happen that's like the universe really screaming at you to stop drinking. But sometimes it can be almost more challenging when you just have a feeling, but you don't have like something shake up your life. And I think that's why it's so great with what you're doing. Because like I said to you, I had this thought in my mind for a while, but, you know, connecting with you is one of the things that really, really encouraged me because I'm like, okay, like it's time, you know, I have no excuses. And so like you building this community where people can share their stories with each other and kind of encourage each other. I think it's so great to have something like that. If you're thinking about it, here's the thing. Like if it's something that you feel in your gut, I kind of say, just go for it. Like take a leap and see what happens because nothing bad's going to happen. The bad things don't happen when you stop drinking. So it's like, really don't have anything to lose. Well said. Julia Price, thank you so much for sharing your journey with my community. And congratulations on the growth that you've seemed to have had over the past 18 months and beyond. And along my continue. And I just want to, if you're comfortable, maybe you might share your social media handles where people could reach out to you. And just to the listener or the viewer, I encourage you if something spoke to you, if something resonated with you, if something inspired you from Julia and her story today, please do send her a message. Julia, where can people connect with you? Yeah. So I think the easiest way is probably Instagram. It's Julia Price Music. And I, you know, if you, Julia Price Music pretty much any platform, you'll find me. So I'm around. But yeah, I mean, I just want to say to you, thank you again. It really, and I don't mean to make you feel weird because it's your podcast, but like, you know, I don't know if guests usually tell you this, but you really have been so like a huge inspiration in me, making that choice that ultimately changed my life. So I'm really grateful and, you know, grateful that you built such a strong community around similar values. So it's really an honor to come here and talk about this. And, you know, I think that I'm like even surprised how much I talked about it because I'm really excited about it. Like it's just, I'm like, I have so many feelings about this. So thank you for giving me space to just, you know, talk and talk and talk. You're so welcome. And thank you for sharing that with me. It really touches my heart. So Julia Price, thank you again. So wonderful to see you. Thank you for sharing your story and all the success in the world with your career and your health and your mindset and everything moving forward. Thank you again. Thank you. Thanks for listening to the Alcohol Free Lifestyle podcast. I want to load you up with some free stuff right now. So if you want to go to jameswanick.com slash guide, I will send you my quit alcohol guide, which has helped six figure entrepreneurs and top professionals produce or quit drinking. 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