Every now and then, I have a peek through the reviews of my book, READY. SET. LIFE, to see if any have emerged from new readers.
This week, one hit me hard. “… the mind opening insights,” it read, “into how I … WILL be better in everything I do, [while] knowing that it WILL still be tough are enough for me at the moment to try.” The reviewer noted his/her own situation as a “recovering alcoholic” and, while the book isn’t solely aimed at those who have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, the poignancy of this person’s experiences brought a tear to my eye.
Two lines of thinking then came to me:
The fact that this individual – ‘Kindle Customer’, who I’m going to call KC – has taken something away from it validates my sitting down and writing about my own experiences and those of my incredible interviewees. More pertinently, I think KC’s use of the word ‘try’ is spot on when it comes to sobriety.
KC has obviously been through some tough times, as have many who have lived through a dependency on alcohol. Many still are. But, please take solace from KC that, no matter how tough those times, it’s always possible to try. And it’s ok to fail, as long as you’re willing to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go again.
What you try depends on you. It might be that you simply try 24 hours of sobriety. Perhaps you go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in that time. You may try the Steps as a result of that. Or maybe you’re already further along the curve than that and you decide that your Higher Power is going to be the pursuit of a new hobby, as a form of mindfulness. Long-distance running served a purpose as part of my journey to sobriety, but now I practise Brazilian jiu jitsu. As I wrote in a previous blog, when I’m on the mats, I can’t think about anything else. If I do, I’ll get choked or armbarred.
Our relationship with mindfulness has changed markedly. Before the invention of the smartphone, we used to practise mindfulness all the time. We had to wile away spare minutes without mindless scrolling. We simply had to be. Three-minute wait for a bus; mindfulness. Advert break in your favorite TV program; mindfulness. Heck, sitting on the toilet; mindfulness.
Nowadays, we can’t go 30 seconds without whipping out a screen. And I’m as guilty as anyone. I can’t remember the last time I just sat and did nothing for a few minutes. (Although I have just acquired a record player and am building a fabulous collection of some of the vinyl classics; The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Boss, Jimi Hendrix … that said, as a father to a million-miles-an-hour toddler, I’m unsure when I’m ever going to listen to it. But spending time playing with Freddie is, in itself, a form of mindfulness.)
I think it’s fair to say that much of the trouble that arises from the misuse of alcohol stems from boredom and allowing thoughts to creep into your head that need to be ‘quietened’, let’s say, with a drink. As such, I would love to know how KC plans on trying – by which I mean filling those moments when he/she could be drinking. It’s very much horses for courses. Some people do BJJ, others choose a different form of exercise, some do crossword puzzles, others knit. Freddie’s godfather – who, I should add, has a perfectly healthy relationship with alcohol but nevertheless appreciates the importance of mindfulness – has recently taken up flyfishing. Imagine standing in a river for hours with nothing but the end of your line to focus on; salmon leaping, birds chirping, nature at its purest. Sounds heavenly, doesn’t it?
Whatever it is you try, I firmly believe that a regular pursuit of something improves our mental state. It’s impossible of course, to fill every waking second – and don’t be too hard on yourself if you do find yourself mindlessly scrolling – but by actively practising mindfulness in whatever form we choose, we are giving ourselves the tools to cope with life’s ups and downs when they present themselves.
And, as the saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
MASTERING MENTAL FITNESS WITH JAMES GWINNETT: UK Sober Curator Contributor James Gwinnett—author of Ready. Set. Life.—blends personal storytelling, science-backed insights, and practical strategies to strengthen your mind and body in sobriety. Covering three core pillars:
- Movement: Harness the power of regular physical activity to boost endorphins and reduce stress.
- Mindfulness: Cultivate self-awareness and emotional balance through intentional practices.
- Connection: Build lasting mental health through meaningful relationships and supportive community.
James’s writing equips readers with the tools to build resilience, protect their sobriety, and create a life that’s both healthy and deeply fulfilling.
#QUITLIT: Staying the Course – How Endurance Athletes Like James Gwinnett Harness Sobriety for Success
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