It's Beer Day (but that's not the point)

On habits, first sips, and the quiet power of asking “why?”

There’s a calendar at the front desk of the studio.

Not the serious kind.

The important kind.

The kind that tells you it’s National Squirrel Appreciation Day or Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day or, on this particular morning…Beer Day.

After class, I walked behind the desk, glanced at the calendar, and said, “Oh…today is a good one.”

Naturally, that made everyone want to know more.

So I told them.

“It’s Beer Day.”

And listen—before we go any further—I love a cold beer on a sunny patio just as much as the next gal. Maybe more. My husband and I? We like to consider ourselves low-key hobbyists. Craft beer, pairings, flavors…we’re in it.

So this isn’t a “never drink again” speech.

It’s something else.

The Shift No One Announces

Lately, I’ve been paying attention.

Not in a dramatic, overhaul-my-life, throw-everything-out kind of way.

Just… noticing.

Because as the years go by, the more I realize:

Alcohol doesn’t feel the same as it used to.

And maybe more importantly— I’m not trying to feel the same as I used to.

There was a time when a drink meant:

• Loosening up

• Feeling less nervous

• Saying yes to dancing, singing, meeting new people

But here’s the plot twist I didn’t see coming:

I already do those things now.

Without the drink.

So Then Why Am I Reaching For It?

That’s the question that stopped me mid–grab-the-wine-glass-while-cooking-dinner.

Not: Should I have this?

But: Why do I want this?

And when you ask that question—really ask it—you start to see patterns:

• Habit

• Time of day

• The weather

• A feeling you can’t quite name

• A routine you’ve repeated so many times it feels like truth

And suddenly, it’s not about alcohol anymore.

Because It’s Also About Coffee

At some point in the conversation, someone said:

“Wait… are we talking about alcohol or coffee?”

And I laughed, because… yes.

My coffee intake? Let’s just say it could power a small city.

And somewhere along the way, I convinced myself:

“I need this to function.”

But here’s the reality check:

I am already a high-energy human. 

Layer in 4–6 cups of coffee, and what do I get?

Not focus. Not clarity.

Just…jittery vibes and a false sense of productivity.

And yet—I still reach for it.

So again, the question becomes:

Why?

That First Sip Feeling

There’s this moment—you know it.

That first sip of coffee in the morning.

Everything pauses. Just briefly.

It’s not even about the caffeine. It’s the ritual.

The exhale. The “okay… we’re starting now.”

And that made me wonder:

What if it’s not the coffee we need…but the moment?

The Mug Matters More Than You Think

One of the women I was talking to shared something I keep thinking about.

She said that since retiring, one of her greatest joys is this:

Drinking her coffee out of a ceramic mug while sitting down.

Not in a to-go cup.

Not rushing out the door.

Just… being with it.

And I thought—

How much of what we feel is actually shaped by how we do something, not just what we do?

The Straw Theory (Yes, It’s a Thing Now)

I will drink significantly more water if there’s a straw involved.

It’s ridiculous. And also completely true.

Unscrew a lid? Hard pass.

Bendy straw in a tumbler? Hydration queen.

I’ve even been known to put a straw in sparkling water just to feel a little extra fancy.

And here’s the thing:

It works.

So What Are We Actually Talking About?

Not beer. Not coffee. Not even straws.

We’re talking about this:

Paying attention to the things we do on autopilot.

And gently—without judgment—asking:

• Why do I want this right now?

• Do I need it?

• Does it serve me?

• Or is it just… familiar?

Because the goal isn’t to eliminate the things we enjoy.

It’s to choose them on purpose.

Try This (No Overhaul Required)

You don’t need a new routine.

You don’t need a cleanse.

You don’t need to become a completely different person by Monday.

Just start here:

Pick one small, repeat habit.

Your morning coffee.

Your after-work drink.

Your snack-while-cooking moment.

And ask:

“Why this? Why now?”

Then—if you’re feeling bold—change one tiny variable.

• Use a different cup

• Sit instead of stand

• Add a straw (obviously)

• Pause before the first sip

That’s it.

Awareness Is the Real Upgrade

Not restriction. Not perfection.

Just awareness.

Because once you see your patterns, you get to decide if they still belong to you.

And that is where the real change happens.

Move Like It Matters.