Thousands of British people take part in Dry January each year for a wide range of reasons, whether it be to lose weight or kick a habit.
County councillor Stephen Cavinder, who represents Garston’s Meriden Tudor Ward, has recently celebrated his 200th day sober and says that he has “no regrets at all about doing it”. He spoke to GARSTONnews about his journey, which started off as a weight loss exercise.
He said: “For a while, I recognised that I was too heavy and in May of last year, I decided that I really needed to do something about this.”
Now, seven months on, cllr Cavinder has lost three stone and as a by-product has found, to his surprise, the joy of not drinking alcohol.
He said: “For me, the benefits for not drinking alcohol have far outweighed missing it.”
Along with improving his physical health, he says quitting has improved his mental wellbeing and sleep quality, and also means he doesn’t feel as sluggish.
Although he recognises that other people’s sobriety journeys are not always so easy, cllr Cavinder would strongly encourage others to try it.
He said: “It takes perseverance and determination. It is not always an easy ride but looking back on it, I have really enjoyed it. It has been a really positive experience.”
In October, cllr Cavinder raised £500 for Samaritans by completing the charity’s Dawn Walk. He believes that not drinking helped him achieve this feat.
He added: “I am proud of myself, but I do also recognise that it was hugely important for me to do it – I did it for my own wellbeing, and I have no regrets at all about doing it.”
When asked if he had any resolutions or goals for 2025, cllr Cavinder simply said: “If you only make one resolution – make every second count!”
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