Why I Quit Smoking, Drinking, and People Who Made Me Miserable

Why I Quit Smoking, Drinking, and People Who Made Me Miserable

(aka My Solicitor is My New Best Friend)

I smoked to get rid of my mother.

I drank to get rid of my ex.

And now I just hire people in suits to handle the drama so I don’t have to.

There’s this moment—if you’ve ever been through the absolute emotional meat grinder, you’ll get it—when a solicitor looks at you and says:

“Do you want us to put an end to it?”

And your whole nervous system exhales.

Like, finally. No more coping mechanisms. Just action.

It’s wild, really. For years, I relied on cigarettes and cheap booze to numb myself from the circus I was born into—and the one I accidentally dated for far too long. And then one day I realised: maybe it’s not me that’s the problem. Maybe I don’t need a bottle—I just need boundaries.

That moment made it into my book, Sober Not Sorry, because it was a turning point. It was the day I realised sobriety isn’t just about not drinking or not smoking. It’s about not tolerating sh*t anymore.

It’s about choosing real closure over wine-induced amnesia.

It’s about letting the professionals handle the mess while you take a long, hot bath and reclaim your peace.

A Few More Sober Truths That Hit Home:

• I didn’t need therapy—I needed receipts.
  Turns out, nothing says “he’s a narcissist” like a four-page summary from my solicitor and a court order.
• Some women get spa days. I got a “cease and desist” letter. Best self-care I’ve ever had.
• I used to cry in the bath with wine and a playlist called ‘Coping’. Now I cry at the sight of a clean credit report and a fridge full of food. Still emotional. Just more nourishing.
• I used to light candles to manifest peace. Now I just let my solicitor send one email. Inner peace? Delivered.
• They say, “let go with love.” I say, “let go with legal support and a whispered ‘f** you’ into the void.”* Works just as well.

If you’ve ever felt like drinking was your only escape, I see you. And if you’re ready for an upgrade—trust me—saying ‘I’m done’ with your whole chest and handing the mess over to someone qualified is better than anything you’ll find in a glass.

Want more no-nonsense, slightly cheeky sober motivation?

Grab a copy of Sober Not Sorry—because getting your life back doesn’t have to be boring. Or beige. Or done alone.